The Most Dangerous Game

1. The Most Dangerous Game Richard Connell

2. Important Facts • Protagonist - Sanger Rainsford • Antagonist - General Zaroff • Conflicts - person v/s person; person v/s self • Point of View - third person limited • Setting - a yacht & an island in the Caribbean Sea

3. Theme • While nature is predictable and animals follow instincts only man has the superior power of reason.

4. Freytag’s Pyramid • 1. Exposition • 2. Narrative Hook • 3. Rising Action • 4. Climax • 5. Falling Action • 6. Resolution 4 3 5 2 1 6

5. Exposition • Part of the work which introduces the characters, the setting, and the basic situation. • Aboard the yacht, Rainsford discusses hunting plans with his companion, Whitney.

6. Narrative Hook (Conflict) • The point in a story, novel, or play at which the author catches the reader’s attention by presenting a problem or conflict • Rainsford enjoys Zaroff’s civility until he learns what Zaroff hunts.

7. Rising Action • All of the events leading up to the climax • Rainsford falls overboard, finds island, meets Zaroff, learns of his “hobby”, and is told he is to be hunted next!

8. Climax • Highest point of interest or suspense • Rainsford confronts Zaroff in the bedroom

9. Falling Action • Any events occurring after the climax but before the resolution • Not much else in this story. Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution, all occur very close together

10. Resolution • End of the central conflict - loose ends tied up • Rainsford realizes that it is sometimes necessary to abandon one’s principles to survive • “He had never slept in a better bed, Rainsford thought.”

11. Denouement • French for “descending.” Any events that occur after the resolution.

12. Conflict • Exchange between Rainsford and Whitney about the feelings of the jaguar show two opposing views on hunting. Hunter v/s hunted • Man v/s Man - Rainsford v/s Whitney • Man v/s Nature - Rainsford v/s the island and the ocean • Man v/s Himself - Rainsford v/s feelings about hunting

13. Foreshadowing • Island seems dangerous; sailors fear it • Hunting of large animal with a .22 caliber rifle

14. Verbal Irony • Zaroff loves his dogs, but feels no love for humanity • Zaroff says he is civilized, but he is actually not because he hunts humans.