The Most Dangerous Game

Vocabulary

Palpable Indolently Bizarre Naïve Scruples Blandly Grotesque Futile Page 17

Richard Connell (1893-1949) ► He was born October 17,1893, in a New York state community ► Connell was a sports reporter at the age of 10 ► He started his writing career early, working as a reporter

► By the age of 16 Connell was editing his father’s newspaper ► Attended Harvard University where he was an editor for the Daily Crimson ► Reported on wartime events during WWI ► “The Most Dangerous Game was published in 1924

Background

► Big game hunting (Lions, bears, etc.) ► Famous example of a big game hunter was President Theodore Roosevelt, but was also a great advocate for conservation ► He went on African safaris, where he once killed 9 lions, 8 elephants, and 13 rhinos

What is this story all about?

► Name some games you have played that involve “The Chase” ► Are human beings really civilized?

 Zaroff = highly cultured tastes, but savage human hunting  Rainsford = Horrified at the thought of human hunting/ civilized?

Literary Analysis

► Suspense is the reader’s feeling of curiosity, uncertainty, or even anxiety about the outcome of events in a story. Writers can create suspense by putting characters into tense or risky situations

Literary Analysis

► Conflict plays a key role in creating suspense. A conflict is a struggle between opposing forces, setting one character against another character, a character against nature, or a character against himself or herself.

Setting/characters ► Ship-Trap Island = Island where ships have gone down ► This island is feared and dreaded by the sailors, it is seen as god forsaken ► Characters = Whitney, Rainsford, Zaroff and Ivan ► What happens?

Which details of Rainsford’s struggle build suspense?

► Falling off the ship ► A difficult swim to an unknown shore ► A desperate climb and a plunge into dense jungle ► His hunger

What conflict faces Rainsford?

► He has a conflict with nature.

► He is now in a jungle with no resources beyond his own strength, intelligence and instincts.

► Later on his conflict is with Zaroff and their ideas on hunting.

Suspense

► A gun shot on a “deserted” island ► Who lives in the huge house on the island?

► Ivan, the servant (How?) ► General Zaroff (How?)

Suspense

► The discussion about the biggest game, without telling what the hunted is ► (page 26) –specific example of how the author creates suspense – Animal = man

The Game

► Choice: To submit to torture, or to “hunt” with him ► Zaroff gives each man a knife, food and three hours ► If the man hasn’t been caught in 3 days he is free

How does the conflict between Rainsford and Zaroff resolve?

► Rainsford swims to the house, hides in Zaroff’s bedroom and wins the game.

Activities

► Review and Assess (page 36) ► Survival manual (page 39) ► Follow up questions http://www.eastoftheweb.com/short stories/UBooks/MosDan.shtml

► Good review worksheet http://www.argo217.k12.il.us/departs/englis h/blettiere/most%20dangerous%20game.d

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