The+Most+Dangerous+Game

Short Stories - Literary Devises Title: The Most Dangerous Game Point of View: 3rd Person Protagonist: Sanger Rainsford What type of character is the Protagonist? Rainsford is round and dynamic. Antagonist: General Zaroff Describe the setting This story is set around 1920, on the island of Ship-Trap. On this island, there is a large swamp, a rocky shore, an expansive jungle and an enormous chateau, a lofty place complemented by pointy towers. Type of Conflict: Man vs. Man Describe the main conflict: The main conflict is Sanger Rainsford versus General Zaroff, in a fight for survival. Rainsford must evade Zaroff for three days and nights to get off the island. For if Zaroff manages to hunt down Rainsford, Zaroff will shoot down Rainsford like a beast. Describe the Climax of the Story: The climax of the story is the part in which the General Zaroff and Rainsford square off in a fight in the very last paragraph for the fight of their lives, hunter versus hunted. How does the Protagonist change over the course of the story? When the story begins, the protagonist, Rainford, is an arrogant, celebrated animal hunter. After being hunted and terrorized by the General, he has sympathy for all those animals that he had unnecessary hunted and killed for sport, he understands the final moments of life for those animals were ones of absolute, overwhelming terror. Describe the relationship between the title and the theme. The word game has two meanings; it can be either used to refer to a structured form of playing or sport. It could also be used in hunting terms, to refer to the hunted animal. The relationship between the title and the theme is referring to the first definition, I believe. It's saying "The Most Dangerous Game" is actually letting oneself lower one's morals for the sake of vain enjoyment. How does the main conflict help to illustrate the theme? The main conflict illustrates the theme by showing how Zaroff was a cruel, inhuman man who had hunted his fellow human being for sport, and therefore letting a petty obsession with hunting get in the way of his morals. How does the climax help to illustrate the theme? The climax illustrates the theme by showing that Zaroff was murdered in the end by Rainsford, which in turn expresses how Zaroff had let his pleasure of hunting get in the way of his own humanity, and now, he would pay for that mistake with his life. Give examples of each of the following literary terms in the story (use quotes): Simile: "The sea was as flat as a plate-glass window." Metaphor: “I am still a beast at bay” Personification: “-where the sea licked greedy lips in the shadows.” Symbol: The small, 22 caliber pistol is a symbol of the General's cockiness, and how he believe himself able to defeat and hunt down any prey of his. Foreshadowing (give both elements): “Whenever he looked up from his plate he found the general studying him, appraising him narrowly.” This implies that the general seems to have upcoming plans for Rainsford. Irony: The fact that in the beginning, Zaroff wished to hunt Rainsford, but in the end, it was Rainsford who had killed Zaroff. The irony factor in this is that the hunter had become the hunted. Imagery: "-the jungle weeds were crushed down and the moss was lacerated; one patch of weeds was stained crimson." Describe the relationships between the class theme and the story. The relationship between the class theme and the story is that the story expresses a theme of warning against allowing oneself to compromise morals and human rights for the sake of vain enjoyments and pleasures. This shows yet another trait of humanity. QUESTIONS: Answer the following questions. /32   1. What is meant by “He lived a year in a minute”? /2   In the phase that the narrator uses to describe Rainford’s state, he is saying that Rainford was very aware of how precariously he dangled on the edge of life. Every moment seemed to last much longer because he had to lie in wait for Zaroff. 2. What is meant by “I am still a beast at bay”? /2   When Rainford states that he is still a beast at bay, he is saying that he will forever feel hunted and in danger as long as the General is still around, like how a beast feels when he is kept around waiting for the hunter to find him. 3. In which sea has Connell set Ship-Trap island? /1   Connell has set Ship-Trap island in the Caribbean Sea. 4. How is Zaroff able to finance his life style? /2   Zarrof is able to finance his life style because even though the people he had worked for back in Russia’s rule collapsed, he had invested heavily in American securities, so he would remain powerful and rich even in the case of Czar power collapsing. 5. If Rainsford wins the hunt, what does Zaroff promise him? /1   If Rainsford wins the hunt, Zaroff promises to ensure a journey back to the nearest town. 6. What happened to Lazarus? /2   Lazarus, Zaroff’s best hound was killed in the Death Swamp, by following a man into quicksand.

7. Where does Rainsford spend the first night of his hunt? /1   Rainsford spends the first night of his hunt in a tree, playing the cat to avoid capture by the General.

8. How many acres did Zaroff’s father have in the Crimea? /1   In the Crimea, Zaroff’s father had a quarter of a million acres. 9. Why does Zarroff suggest Rainsford wear moccasins? /1   Zarroff suggested to Rainsford to wear moccasins, to leave a poorer trail. 10. What caused Rainsford to believe Zaroff knew he was hiding in the tree? Do you think he was right? Give reasons. /3   Rainsford believed Zarroff knew he was hiding in the tree because he had smiled, and deliberately blew a smoke ring in his direction. Zarroff seemed to be saving his prey for another day. 11. How does Zaroff stock his island with “game”? /2   Zaroff stoked his island with “game” by waiting for ships to crash against the rocky shores, or using a mysterious device that caused the ship’s warning lights to go off, so that the sailors would think that there was a rocky channel, where there was not. 12. What happened to General Zaroff at the end of the story? /2   At the end of the story, it in implied that General Zaroff is defeated by Rainsford, and used as a repast for the hounds. 13. Inspite of being hurt, Zaroff congratulates Rainsford on his “Malay mancatcher,” why? /2  Zaroff congratulatory Rainsford on his "Malay mancatcher" because Zaroff is excited at finally having prey that could match wits with him, and he is inspired to save his prey for another day. 14. How do we know Rainsford is an exceptionally fit man? /2  We know Rainsford is an exceptionally fit man because of the terribly long swim he had in the beginning, and how he survives it. 15. Discuss the state of mind of Rainsford before he lands on the island versus that after he meets the General. What is different? (Especially about how he perceives animal feelings.)/5 Before Rainsford lands on the island, he appears to be a celebrated, ruthless hunter.He's arrogant and selfish, he tells his friend off when he tries to speak for the jaguars. However, on the island, the tables are turned on him, and he has become hunted by Zaroff! Rainsford finally understands what it feels like to be the hunted animal. He then knows the true meaning of terror, and how the animals he hunt must feel. 16. How does Connell inspire fear without obvious bloodshed/grotesqueness. /3 Connell inspires fear without obvious bloodshed or grotesqueness by describing only the aftermath in some scenes, and hinting at things in other scenes. For example, he hints at the fact that Zaroff was eaten by the hounds in the end. He hints that Zaroff has a libary full of stuffed human heads. He describes the scene after Zaroff's victim had been killed.

Completion 5/5 Effort 4/5 Content 4/4 Questions 32/32 Total 45/47