The Most Dangerous Game
by Richard Connell
Feature Menu
Quickwrite
Vocabulary
Introducing the Story
Literary Focus: Foreshadowing
Reading Skills: Making Predictions
Meet the writer
The Most Dangerous Game
by Richard Connell
The Most Dangerous Game
Quickwrite
Make the Connection
Some of the most exciting narratives pit villain
against hero in a life-or-death struggle. The
tension in such stories often depends as much on
the character of the bad guy or gal as on that of
the hero. Write a few sentences describing a villain
from a novel, story, or movie. Why does the
character fascinate you?
Vocabulary
The Most Dangerous Game
Vocabulary
Previewing the Vocabulary
receding v. used as adj.: becoming more distant.
disarming adj.: removing or lessening suspicions
or fears.
prolonged v. used as adj.: extended.
imprudent adj.: unwise.
surmounted v.: overcame.
unruffled adj.: calm; not disturbed.
The Most Dangerous Game
Vocabulary
Previewing the Vocabulary
invariably adv.: always; without changing.
diverting adj.: entertaining.
impulse n.: sudden desire to do something.
protruding v. used as adj.: sticking out
The Most Dangerous Game
Vocabulary
Vocabulary Activity
Answer the following questions with yes or no.
1. Does a man with a receding hairline have much hair?
2. Would a disarming leader be able to calm an angry
crowd?
no
yes
3. Would you be displeased if a vacation was prolonged? no
4. Is it imprudent for bicyclists to wear helmets?
5. Would you admire a person who surmounted a
difficulty?
no
yes
The Most Dangerous Game
Introducing the Story
There is a passion for hunting something deeply
implanted in the human breast.
Charles Dickens (1812-1870)
The Most Dangerous Game
Literary Focus: Foreshadowing
Foreshadowing is the use of clues that hint at
later events in the story. Foreshadowing
•
creates suspense
•
makes you curious, even anxious, to know what
happens next—it keeps you turning the pages
The Most Dangerous Game
Literary Focus: Foreshadowing
•
Once you’ve finished reading, you can piece
together the clues and enjoy the story all the
more.
•
In this suspenseful tale the ominous
foreshadowing will hook you early on.
The Most Dangerous Game
Reading Skills: Making Predictions
When you read a suspense-filled story, you
make predictions about what is going to happen,
often without even realizing it.
A prediction is a type of inference or a guess
based on evidence. Predictions may be based on
•
clues the writer plants
•
your own experiences in life
•
your understanding of how stories work
The Most Dangerous Game
Reading Skills: Making Predictions
The titles of stories and any illustrations can
also provide clues about the story.
•
What do you predict
the title of this famous
adventure story might
mean?
•
What do the
illustrations hint at?
The Most Dangerous Game
Introducing the Story
This adventure story is set on Ship-Trap Island, a
mysterious island inhabited by General Zaroff.
Zaroff is a cultured but sinister Russian who hunts
the most dangerous game in the world.
Russian takes refuge
on a tropical island.
Why is General Zaroff so
far from home?
Click here to find out.
Meet the Writer
The Most Dangerous Game
Meet the Writer
Richard Connell was born in
1893 in Duchess County, New
York. At the age of ten, he
began his writing career as a
cub reporter for the
newspaper his father edited in
Poughkeepsie, New York.
He went on to write hundreds
of short stories, as well as
novels and screenplays.
Proofreading Warm-up
Item 1
Luz rose her hand, and answered
conflict is a struggle against an
outside enemy or an inner problem.
Item 2
“The conflict in the story is among the
evil man and the hunter she added.
Proofreading Warm-up
Item 3
after he falls overboard Rainsford
swims to an island but he don’t know
what to expect.
Item 4
Zaroffs pursuit has a galvanizing
affect on rainsford.
Proofreading Warm-up
Item 1
Luz rose her hand, and answered
conflict is a struggle against an
outside enemy or an inner problem.
Corrected
Luz raised her hand and answered, “Conflict is a
struggle against an outside enemy or an inner
problem.” (comma after hand deleted)
Proofreading Warm-up
Item 2
“The
conflict in the story is among the evil man
and the hunter she added.
Corrected
“The
conflict in the story is between the evil man
and the hunter,” she added.
Proofreading Warm-up
Item 3
after he falls overboard Rainsford swims to an
island but he don’t know what to expect.
Corrected
After he falls overboard, Rainsford swims to an
island, but he doesn’t know what to expect.
Proofreading Warm-up
Item 4
Zaroffs pursuit has a galvanizing affect on
rainsford.
Corrected
Zaroff’s pursuit has a galvanizing effect on
Rainsford.