The Most Dangerous Game
Reading Check
1. Fill out a story map like the one below to review the plot of this famous chase story:
Characters:
General Zaroff
Whitney
Rainsford
Ivan
Conflict:
Rainsford is stranded on Ship Trap island and
Zaroff is out to kill him.
Main events:
- Rainsford falls off the yatch
- Zaroff is out to kill him.
- Rainsford kills the general
Climax:
When Rainsford is stuck between the dogs and
the ocean, and he jumps off.
Resolution:
The general is killed by his 'prey' Rainsford
Thinking Critically
2. Did you predict the meaning of the story’s title? What is the most dangerous game?
No, i did not predict the title to mean what it really was. The most dangerous game is the
Hunt between two humans, which can be way deadlier than any animal.
3. To hook our curiosity, writers drop clues that foreshadow what is going to happen later in
 What clues at the start of the story foreshadow danger for Rainsford?
The mention of the island, Rainsford not caring about animals.

How does Rainsford and Whitney’s discussion about hunting at the
start of the story foreshadow later developments?
It showed that Rainsford didnt care about the feelings of an animal,
and the author was going to punish him for it.

What details in the physical description of Zaroff foreshadow the truth
about his nature?
?
4. In your opinion, what happens to Zaroff? Do you think Rainsford changes his
mind about hunting by the end of the story? Explain.
I think that Zaroff has become food for the dogs, as it is Rainsford who sleeps
in the warm bed, though the bed could have been the peace of heaven.
Rainsford must have definitely changed his mind about hunting after a very
traumatic experience. If not, then he must be very strong and crazy.
5. List the unknowns Rainsford encounters in the story, and think about how he
reacts to each one. What enables him to triumph in the face of the unknown?
6. Compare and contrast the characters of Rainsford and Zaroff. Fill out a
Venn diagram like the one below, listing the characteristics of each man in his
circle. In the shaded area, list the characteristics the two men share.
7. Think back to the villain you described in your Quickwrite. How does Zaroff
compare with that evil character?
Compared to my character, Zaroff is much more violent. In similar ways,
they both have a twisted way of seeing the world’s problems and how to
solve it.
Extending and Evaluating
8. Look back at Zaroff’s arguments for hunting men (pages 24–26). What is your opinion of
his comments?
9. Think about Zaroff’s civilized tastes and his favorite game. Do Zaroffs—people whose
refined manners mask their true nature—exist in real life? Explain.
WRITING
The Sequel