Most+Dangerous+Game

//Time-// Given that Ivan is still very strong, and still retains his black beard, it must not be all that much after 1918, when the Great White Czar fell. //Place-// At the outset of the story, Rainsford and a fellow hunter named Whitney are on a yacht heading towards their destination, The Amazon. After Rainsford falls off the boat, and is washed up on land, he is on the very island that sailors dread the most: Ship-Trap island. After following the trail of hunting boots, he ends up in a castle. After which he is sent back out into the woods. //Mood-//The mood of the story changes very rapidly. First, on the boat, the reader is almost bored, yet held in a certain amount of suspense about what might happen should one of the men be washed up on the island. After Rainsford reaches the island, the mood is fearful and the reader is held in suspense as to what happens on the island that makes sailors fear it so. As Rainsford is being hunted, the reader is fearful for the life of Rainsford, who is in grave danger of death. The main conflict of man vs man and the theme of violence and cruelty are easily closely intertwined. Most man vs man conflicts turn violent and/or cruel. Take any major war in the history of mankind. Civil war, Revolutionary war WW1, WW2, War in Iraq. The list goes on and on and on, and all of these wars cause death destruction and misery. Why, one may ask, do these wars come about. Two powerful opposing people get angry at each other and fight. At a smaller scale, this was exhibited on ship trap island by Zaroff and directed at Rainsford.
 * Short Stories - Literary Devises Title: The Most Dangerous game**
 * Point of View:** Third person omniscient
 * Protagonist:** Sanger Rainsford
 * What type of character is the Protagonist?** Round Dynamic
 * Antagonist:** General Zaroff (Author does not reveal first name)
 * Describe the setting**
 * Type of Conflict:** Man vs. Man
 * Describe the main conflict:** The main conflict of Man vs. Man is literally exhibited by the author through the direct confrontation between the two men, each trying to kill the other. The antagonist (Zaroff) is a murderous madman who hunts shipwrecked sailors that land on his island as sport. These men, he believes, are inferior to himself in hunting, and their capabilities do not meet his own he believes them to be substandard men. Finally, when Rainsford washes up on his shores, he has a chance to prove his worth against a real man, like him. The conflict is not only between two men, but it is between two similar men.
 * Describe the Climax of the Story:** Where Rainsford jumps off a cliff, and into the sea to escape Zaroff, and await him in his room. Until this point, Rainsford has tried numerous indirect ways to kill the general. On the third and final night, he goes for a direct attempt on Zaroff's life. After the point at which Rainsford jumps into the sea, the general reads a book, drinks liquor and, as one can assume, gets killed. Rather anticlimactic.
 * How does the Protagonist change over the course of the story?** The character of this story exhibits drastic changes over the course of this story. The most pronounced of these being his physical change, from what he called in the beginning of the story the hunter to the huntee. This change is brought about by the fact that he is hunted by General Zaroff. An emotional change is also brought about at this time. Towards the end of the story, Rainsford believes that he knew the feeling of an "animal at bay". Prior to this, in the beginning of the story, Rainsford states, in no uncertain terms, that animals (jaguars, to be specific) felt no emotion (fear), and had no understanding (thought). During the time at which he is running from the pack of dogs, Rainsford undoubtedly feels sympathetic to the plight of the animals, and can surely empathize with them.
 * Describe the relationship between the title and the theme.** The two key themes of this story were Violence and Cruelty. The title of this story being "the Most Dangerous Game", puts into mind
 * How does the climax help to illustrate the theme?** The climax being the point at which Rainsford decides that he has been chased around for long enough shows that violence and/or cruelty will drive people to go to the utmost extreme, for they have nothing left to lose.

pg 24 para 5 "Ugh! It's like moist black velvet" pg 25 para3 "The sea was as flat as a plate glass window" pg 28 para2 " ...his pointed military mustache were as black as the night..." pg 32 para3 " ...giant rocks with razor edges crouch like a sea monster..." pg 35 para 7" An apprehensive night crawled on like a wounded snake." pg 36 para 8 " Following the trail with the sureness of a bloodhound, came General Zaroff." Says Zaroff is like a bloodhound Footnote on page 36 compares Rainsford and Zaroff to a cat and a mouse (cat plays with mouse before killing it) pg 37para 4 "His hands were closed tight as if his nerve were something tangible..." pg 37 para 4 "... like some huge prehistoric beaver,..." pg 25 para 3 "-a mental chill; a sort of sudden dread" metaphor for fear pg25 para 5 "...evil is a tangible thing-" pg25 para8 "...the night would be my eyelids." pg 29 para 4 " Oh, that fellow. Yes, he was a monster" pg30 para 2 "... hunting, remember had been my life." pg 34 all of para 7: General Zaroff says that he will be hunting for Rainsford and calls it "Outdoor chess" pg35 para 6 "...the general was a devil." pg 38 para 2 "That was suicide..." Rainsford states that waiting is equivalent to killing himself. pg 39 para 7 "One of us is to furnish a repast for the hounds." Zaroff says that one of them will soon be equivalent to dog food. pg 26 para 5" ...the muttering and growling of the sea..." pg26 para 9 "...the moss was lacerated..." pg27 para 3 "...the sea licked its greedy lips in the shadows." pg 27 para 6" ...snarl of a beard..." pg 32 para3 " ...giant rocks with razor edges crouch like a sea monster..." pg 35 para6 "Night found him..." pg 35 para 7" An apprehensive night crawled on like a wounded snake." pg 38 para 8" ...sea rumbled and hissed..."
 * Give examples of each of the following literary terms in the story (use quotes):**
 * Simile:**
 * Metaphor:**
 * Personification:**
 * Symbol:** The island itself is symbolic of the ruined lives of people around the world. It is complete with a madman and people essentially on death row.
 * Foreshadowing (give both elements):**


 * Early:** Connell uses several instances of foreshadowing. On the first page of this story, Rainsford says that he and Whitney are lucky to be the hunters, while everyone else is a huntee. This foreshadows that things might get turned around and he will become the huntee. On the next page, the foreshadowing is of the sailors dreading this island. There would be no point in putting this crucial piece of information in, if it did not have something to do with the story. Later, on page 27, Rainsford describes the "palatial chateau", or castle with "pointed towers plunging upward into the gloom". The haunted castle type of feel that surrounds this dwelling is usually followed, in fairy tales or even other short stories by witches or devils that are up to evil. The last instance of foreshadowing is the dinner that Zaroff and Rainsford have together, where Zaroff appears to be "appraising" Rainsford narrowly.

//Verbal:// pg30 para5 "There is no greater bore than perfection" pg31 para 9 "I am a hunter, not a murderer" killing of animals is still killing so, to some degree can be thought of as murder. //Dramatic:// The reader can tell through foreshadowing that Rainsford will end up on the island through foreshadowing. Maybe Rainsford is a little slow, but through all of the hints that Zaroff gives about unintelligent wild animals, I realized that he hunted people long before Rainsford did. //Situational:// The largest bit of irony in this story is that Rainsford turns from the hunter to the hunted. In the outset of the story, Rainsford says that he and Whitney are fortunate enough to be hunters, and not huntees, yet, as the story progresses, and Zaroff hunts him, he is a huntee. The interesting part of this switch is that finally, the hunter in Rainsford emerges again and he kills Zaroff. "...a lofty structure with pointed towers plunging upward into the gloom. his eyes made out the shadowy outlines of a palatial chateau; it was set on a high bluff, and on three sides of it, cliffs dived down to where the sea licked its greedy lips in the shadows." Choices are prevalent in several stories, yet it holds exceptional sway over the plot of this one. Firstly, the choice of Zaroff to hunt humans instead of animals to prevent his boredom was one that eventually led him to his death. He ought to have known that one man out there was smarter than him, and could probably evade him for three days, and/or kill him. Zaroff's second bad choice was to let Rainsford live. Three times, Zaroff could have killed Rainsford, and three times Zaroff made the choice to let him live. Zaroff's pride at being the best hunter in the world gave him a false sense of security, and tried to extend his sick pleasure.
 * Late:** The opposite side of the foreshadowing in this story occurs everywhere in the story. The first instance of this is the time when Rainsford figures out why sailors dread the island. When he finds out that people are killed for sport on this island, he is aghast to think that this civilized general condones the term "cold-blooded murder" and prefers to think of it as sport. After this dinner, and after Rainsford has a rest, he comes down to lunch to meet Zaroff and declare that he no longer wishes to remain on the island. At this meeting, he finds out that he is to be hunted, demoting him from hunter to huntee. From this, he figures that the welcoming castle that he is staying in is a place of evil and the home of a mad mass murderer. The reader also finds, from this meeting that the reason for the General's careful appraisal of him was merely to see whether he was up to par with Zaroff's standards.
 * Irony:**
 * Imagery:** Description of the castle on page 27
 * Describe the relationships between the class theme and the story.**

Completion 5/5 Effort 5/5 Content 5/5 total 15/15

1. What is meant by “He lived a year in a minute”? 1/2 -The fact that Rainsford could not see Zaroff meant that he felt fearful and unknowing as to where Zaroff was -This fear led him to feel as if it took a year for him to see what happened with his tiger pit. 2. What is meant by “I am still a beast at bay”? /2/2 - Rainsford says that he is a beast at bay because, by the terms of Zaroff's game, he has not won yet, it being the second night. - This implies that, as a dangerous animal, Rainsford is liable to kill Zaroff. 3. In which sea has Connell set Ship-Trap island?1 /1 - The Caribbean sea 4. How is Zaroff able to finance his life style? 0/2 - Connell says that Zaroff's clothes come from a "London tailor who ordinarily cut and sewed for non below the rank of duke." - Zaroff says that his champagne has been brought from a long ocean trip. This leads the reader to infer that his food comes on boat, and possibly from London itself. 5. If Rainsford wins the hunt, what does Zaroff promise him? 1/1 - Cheerfully acknowledge defeat and give Rainsford a ride back to mainland on a "sloop" 6. What happened to Lazarus?2 /2 - He followed a man that Zaroff was hunting into a swamp of quicksand - He was Zaroff's finest hound, who Zaroff loved 7. Where does Rainsford spend the first night of his hunt?1 /1 - In the crotch of a large tree 8. How many acres did Zaroff’s father have in the Crimea? 1/1 - A quarter million 9. Why does Zarroff suggest Rainsford wear moccasins? 1/1 - So as to leave less traceable tracks 10. What caused Rainsford to believe Zaroff knew he was hiding in the tree? Do you think he was right? Give reasons. 3/3 - The fact that Zaroff's eyes went up the tree to the spot right below where he hid - The fact that the general smiled and blew a smoke ring probably indicated to Rainsford that the general was enjoying himself - I think that Rainsford was right to think that Zaroff knew he was in a tree, because on multiple occasions after that one, Zaroff let Rainsford live. 11. How does Zaroff stock his island with “game”? 2/2 - If there is a shipwreck, men wash up on his island - When there is a storm, Zaroff makes lights flash to appear as though there is a channel where ships can pass safely through. He leads them instead, towards sharp rocks, which destroy the ship, and force sailors onto his island 12. What happened to General Zaroff at the end of the story? 2/2 - As he goes into his bedroom to read a book, he is surprised by Rainsford. - Rainsford then kills the general in a fight 13. Inspite of being hurt, Zaroff congratulates Rainsford on his “Malay mancatcher,” why? 2/2 - Zaroff admires the fact that Rainsford knows how to make a Malay mancatcher, and says that he is one of the few who do - Zaroff also praises Rainsford, because Rainsford managed to wound him. Something that few others were capable of 14. How do we know Rainsford is an exceptionally fit man? 2/2 - In the beginning of the book, when Rainsford and Whitney were talking, Whitney says that the island is 4 miles away. When Rainsford falls off the boat, he managed to swim four miles to shore. - He managed to swim across the cove to the chateau where Zaroff lived 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.)5/5 - When Rainsford is talking to Whitney, he tells him that he does not care how a jaguar feels. - At this time, he also tells Whitney that jaguars had no understanding, or comprehensive capability. - When Rainsford is being chased by the hounds, and Zaroff, he says that he knows how a hunted animal feels. This shows that Rainsford changed his mind as to whether or not animals have feelings - When Rainsford is talking to Whitney about hunters and huntees, he makes the distinction to say that "The world is made up of two classes- the hunters and the huntees. Luckily, you and I are the hunters. - As Zaroff acknowledges defeat in the game, however, Rainsford calls himself a beast at bay, or an animal that is still at large. This tells the reader that he changes from hunter to huntee. 16. How does Connell inspire fear without obvious bloodshed/grotesqueness.2 /3 - Connell's description of the sailors' morbid fear of the Ship-Trap island coupled with the shots heard and the screams of pain, put into mind a fearful scenario. - When Zaroff is sniffling at the ground like a hound on a trail, and with Rainsford wondering whether Zaroff is a devil, the coincidence makes the reader believe that Zaroff is like a human devil - Any man who kills other people for sport inspires fear and a certain amount of disgust at the insanity of the man.

28/32 More effort on the screenplay would yield better results. 13/20