The Most

1. The Most Dangerous Game Through the Text Powerpoint by Melissa Soeltz

2. “The Most Dangerous Game” By Richard Connell Free Powerpoint Templates

3. First Thoughts Looking at the title and the artwork, what do you expect this story to be about? What do you think the title means? What do you expect the main conflict to be? (13)

4. Setting Rainsford and his crew were sailing on the ocean toward South America, where they planned to hunt along the Amazon River. (14)

5. Make an inference “Rainsford heard a sound. It came out of the darkness, a high screaming sound, the sound of an animal in an extremity of anguish and terror. He did not recognize the animal that made the sound; he did not try to; with fresh vitality he swam toward the sound. He heard it again; then it was cut short by another noise, crisp, staccato.” Rainsford, a famous hunter, does not recognize the sound of the hunted animal. What does this suggest he will find on the island? (15)

6. Metaphor “He saw no sign of a trail through the closely knit web of weeds and trees.” Look at the metaphor in the sentence. What does the word web suggest about the landscape? (16)

7. Metaphor “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 greedy lips in the shadows.” Why might Rainsford imagine the sea as a creature with “greedy lips”? List several other examples of metaphors you find in this story. (16)

8. Make an Inference Read the passage that begins: “Rainsford’s first impression was that the man was singularly handsome…” and ends with “He is a Cossack,” said the general, and his smile showed red lips and pointed teeth. “So am I.” Based on this description of General Zaroff, what can you infer about his character? What do you expect from him at this point in the story? (17)

9. Connections- What is a Cossack? A.S. Pushkin wrote about Cossacks: "Always on horseback, always ready to fight, always on the alert". The Cossacks of the frontier had to live in constant fighting trim, 24 hours a day. It was reflected even in their clothes. Daggers were provided even for women and children. Men were supposed to carry fire arms all the time, and even babies were carried in a special hood behind the back to have hands free to fight back in case of sudden attack. In later years, the czars of Russia utilized the Cossacks as border troops and as special military force during wars up to the World War 1, when they were used for the most dangerous missions. In the latter part of the 19th and early part of the 20th centuries, the czarist government used Cossack troops to suppress the Russian Revolution of 1905 (17)

10. Setting When Rainsford enters the large home, he feels at ease because the surroundings (the luxurious decorations, the trophy heads on the wall) and Zaroff’s interest in hunting would appeal to him. Do you think he should let down his guard? Why or why not? (17)

11. Make an Inference Read the passage that begins: “The general filled both glasses and said:…” and ends “It would be impossible to tell you how many animals I have killed.” Based on the details of General Zaroff’s upbringing, what can you infer about his character? What do you expect from him as the story continues? (19)

12. Connections- Survival of the Fittest In the early part of the twentieth century, Charles Darwin formulated a theory of evolution called Natural Selection, or Survival of the Fittest, which states that animals who are strong and intelligent will live long enough to propagate. Weak, less intelligent animals are usually killed or die young. To justify his hunting of humans, Zaroff cites Darwin’s principle of Survival of the Fittest, distorting the idea to mean that only the strongest members of a species were worthwhile. As you read, think about the various ways in which the evil General Zaroff distorted Darwin’s ideas to develop his own monstrous philosophy. (21)

13. Simile, Conflict “They indicate a channel where there’s none; giant rocks with razor edges crouch like a sea monster with wide-open jaws. They can crush a ship as easily as I crush this nut.” Look at the simile in the sentence. How does this simile contribute to the conflict in the story? How does the authors word choice generate feelings of suspense? (21)

14. Conflict “My dear fellow,” said the general, “have I not told you I always mean what I say about hunting? This is really an inspiration. I drink to a foeman worthy of my steel—at last.” At this point in the story, the conflict changes from clashing viewpoints to physical opposition. Are the opponents equally matched, or does one character have an advantage over the other? Explain. (23)

15. Irony Verbal irony takes place when a writer or speaker says one thing but means something completely different. Look at the following examples of irony: General Zaroff calls himself civilized, but engages in the hunting of men. He speaks of his sadness when he lost his best dog Lazarus, but feels no compassion at the people that have lost their lives in the hunt. (23)

16. Conflict “He had not been entirely clearheaded when the chateau gates snapped shut behind him. His whole idea at first was to put distance between himself and General Zaroff, and, to this end, he had plunged along, spurred on by the sharp rowels of something very like panic. Now, he had gotten a grip on himself, had stopped, and was taking stock of himself and the situation.” Rainsford is experiencing internal conflict. According to this passage, what forces, or emotions, within himself must Rainsford keep in check in order to survive? (24)

17. Make an Inference “Rainsford held his breath. The general’s eyes had left the ground and traveling inch by inch up the tree. Rainsford froze there, every muscle tensed for a spring. But the sharp eyes of the hunter stopped before they reached the limb where Rainsford lay; a smile spread over his brown face. Very deliberately he blew a smoke ring into the air then he turned his back on the tree and walked carelessly away, back along the trail he had come. The swish of the underbrush against his hunting boots grew fainter and fainter.” After reading General Zaroff’s actions, make an inference about why Zaroff behaves the way he does. Why does he smile? Why is the smoke ring deliberate? Why does he walk carelessly? (24)

18. Simile Read the passage that begins: “When the general, nursing his bruised shoulder, had gone, Rainsford took up his flight again.” and ends “He stepped back from the quicksand a dozen feet or so, and like some huge prehistoric beaver, he began to dig.” Find the two similes in the passage and copy them onto your paper. How do these similes, with their suggestion of Rainsford’s beastliness, indicate Rainsford’s changing perspective on animal life? (26)

19. Make an Inference “At ten, he went up to his bedroom. He was deliciously tired, he said to himself as he locked himself in. There was a little moonlight, so before turning on his light, he went to the window and looked down at the courtyard. He could see the great hounds, and he called: “Better luck another time,” to them. The he switched on the light.” Judging General Zaroff’s actions make an inference as to why he is so relaxed at this point in the story. (28)

20. Foreshadowing To hook our curiosity, writers drop clues that foreshadow, or hint at, what will happen later in the story. Go back through the story and answer the following questions: -What clues at the start of the story foreshadow danger ahead for Rainsford? -How does Rainsford’s discussion about hunting at the start of the story foreshadow later developments? -What details in the description of Zaroff’s unusual dental features and lips foreshadow the truth about his nature? (How do these details make him seem like a monster?) (29)