“The Most Dangerous Game” Essay: Sample Body Paragraphs (Period 6)
Sample A
Theme: Fear brings out our evils to endure life.
In the story, mood plays a big factor in bringing out the theme, because as the story shifts
from suspenseful to fearful, Rainsford’s life as well as his superiority gets threatened. When the
story starts, the island where Zaroff resides “‘has a reputation--a bad one,’”(1). The island is
even called “‘Ship-Trap Island,’”(1). By not actually explaining why or how the island has a bad
name and reputation, Whitney gives off a suspenseful mood to the story. Also, since none of the
sailors want to even be near the island, there is something to be feared there, something that will
do anything to be superior over all. Something that threatens the characters’ sense of superiority
over each other. The story shifts to a fearful mood when General Zaroff tells Rainsford that he
will be hunted by him, because now the protagonist knows his life is going to be threatened as
well as his superiority.
Sample B
Theme: When faced with true terror or death, people tend to reveal their inner evil.
Throughout “The Most Dangerous Game,” Richard Connell uses a shift from an ominous
and eerie mood to a frantic and terrifying mood to convey the idea that humans will do whatever
it takes to escape their biggest fears. For example, Whitney swiftly responds to Rainsford’s idea
that cannibals inhabit the island with, “Even cannibals wouldn’t live in such a God-forsaken
place” (1). This sets the scene up for the worst, seeing as if cannibals wouldn’t live there, there’s
absolutely no reason for the duo to venture to the island and risk their lives. It represents the
worst of fears. It represents fear itself. The mood then switches, as Rainsford, “knows the full
meaning of terror” (12). This terrifying mood helps to show how Rainsford, the brave and manly
hunter, has faced his biggest fear - being hunted. He will now do anything to escape from this
fear, regardless of the ethics surrounding his actions. The author uses a differing mood to convey
the theme to the reader.
Sample C
Theme: Our worst reveals itself when our lives are threatened.
The character arc of Rainsford from just to hypocritical is the other piece of the puzzle.
Rainsford reacts in terror to General Zaroff’s “big game” and bluntly rejects Zaroff’s offer for
him to join in hunting human-beings, “ “Thank you, I’m a hunter, not a murderer.” “ (page 8). In
addition, this demonstrates Rainsford’s high morals and his civilized state. In contrast, when the
game to be played is forced upon Rainsford, civilization no longer exists in him as it is his only
token of escape from the island. With adrenaline pumping through his body, Rainsford is putting
all efforts on surviving the three days. Using all of his skills from previous hunts, he himself was
ready to kill anything or anyone, regardless of being a human. Ironically, Rainsford had just
criticized General Zaroff of murdering human-beings. As a result, Rainsford’s character changed
to hypocritical as he killed Ivan “[...] General Zaroff was still on his feet. But Ivan was not. The
knife, driven by the recoil of the springing tree, had not wholly failed.” (page 14). After
surviving the three horrendous days, Rainsford could finally go home. However, instead of
asking to be freed, he murders General Zaroff and feeds him to the hounds. It had only been
three days since Rainsford was civilized and just, but he had become what he feared. Ultimately,
the unexpected character development of Rainsford emphasizes the effects of fear on our
mentality and actions.
“The Most Dangerous Game” Essay: Sample Body Paragraphs (Period 1)
Sample A
Theme: Fear brings out our evils to endure life.
In the story, mood plays a big factor in bringing out the theme, because as the story shifts
from suspenseful to fearful, Rainsford’s life as well as his superiority gets threatened. When the
story starts, the island where Zaroff resides “‘has a reputation--a bad one,’”(1). The island is
even called “‘Ship-Trap Island,’”(1). By not actually explaining why or how the island has a bad
name and reputation, Whitney gives off a suspenseful mood to the story. Also, since none of the
sailors want to even be near the island, there is something to be feared there, something that will
do anything to be superior over all. Something that threatens the characters’ sense of superiority
over each other. The story shifts to a fearful mood when General Zaroff tells Rainsford that he
will be hunted by him, because now the protagonist knows his life is going to threatened as well
as his superiority.
Sample B
Theme: When faced with true terror or death, people tend to reveal their inner evil.
Throughout “The Most Dangerous Game,” Richard Connell uses a shift from an ominous
and eerie mood to a frantic and terrifying mood to convey the idea that humans will do whatever
it takes to escape their biggest fears. For example, Whitney swifts responds to Rainsford’s idea
that cannibals inhabit the island with, “Even cannibals wouldn’t live in such a God-forsaken
place” (1). This sets the scene up for the worst, seeing as if cannibals wouldn’t live there, there’s
absolutely no reason for the duo to venture to the island and risk their lives. It represents the
worst of fears. It represents fear itself. The mood then switches, as Rainsford, “know the full
meaning of terror” (12). This terrifying mood helps to show how Rainsford, the brave and manly
hunter, has faced his biggest fear - being hunted. He will now do anything to escape from this
fear, regardless of the ethics surrounding his actions. The author uses a differing mood to convey
the theme to the reader.
Sample C
Theme: Our worst reveals itself when our lives are threatened.
The character arc of Rainsford from just to hypocritical is the other piece of the puzzle.
Rainsford reacts in terror to General Zaroff’s “big game” and bluntly rejects Zaroff’s offer for
him to join in hunting human-beings, “ “Thank you, I’m a hunter, not a murderer.” “ (page 8). In
addition, this demonstrates Rainsford’s high morals and his civilized state. In contrast, when the
game to be played is forced upon Rainsford, civilization no longer exists in him as it is his only
token of escape from the island. With adrenaline pumping through his body, Rainsford is putting
all efforts on surviving the three days. Using all of his skills from previous hunts, he himself was
ready to kill anything or anyone, regardless of being a human. Ironically, Rainsford had just
criticized General Zaroff of murdering human-beings. As a result, Rainsford’s character changed
to hypocritical as he killed Ivan “[...] General Zaroff was still on his feet. But Ivan was not. The
knife, driven by the recoil of the springing tree, had not wholly failed.” (page 14). After
surviving the three horrendous days, Rainsford could finally go home. However, instead of
asking to be freed, he murders General Zaroff and feeds him to the hounds. It had only been
three days since Rainsford was civilized and just, but he had become what he feared. Ultimately,
the unexpected character development of Rainsford emphasizes the effects of fear on our
mentality and actions.