“The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell
Name__________
Part I. Vocabulary Words: All of the following words are found in “The Most Dangerous Game”.
They are in the sentences as you will read them in the story. Please write the appropriate definition
on the line provided. If you can’t figure out the word’s meaning from the sentence, then use a
dictionary.
1. “…peer through the dank tropical night that was palpable”__________________________
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2. “…indolently puffed on his favorite brier”______________________________________
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3. “…cut short by another noise, crisp, staccato”___________________________________
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4. “Jagged crags appeared to jut into the opaqueness”______________________________
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5. “…a most thoughtful and affable host”________________________________________
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6. “…I can show you that your scruples are quite ill founded”__________________________
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7. “…invariably, Mr. Rainsford…they choose the hunt”_______________________________
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8. “I don’t wish you to think me a braggart”______________________________________
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9. “…could not quiet his brain with the opiate of sleep”______________________________
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10. “Even so zealous a hunter as General Zaroff”__________________________________
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11. “Rainsford knew now how an animal at bay feels” _______________________________
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12. “One of us is to furnish a repast for the hounds”________________________________
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Part II. Reading Guide: As you read the story, answer the questions.
1. What is the setting of the story? **Be sure to add to this throughout the story.**
2 –3. Why are the sailors so afraid of Ship-Trap Island? What is the island’s reputation?
3.–4. Describe the debate Rainsford has with Whitney about the jaguar. What does the debate reflect
about Rainsford’s attitude towards animals that are hunted?
5.-6 Rainsford states that the world is made up of two classes. What are they? Do you agree or
disagree with Rainsford? Why?
7.-8. What causes Rainsford to fall from the yacht? Where does Rainsford then swim to?
9. What are some items that Rainsford finds while he is exploring the island?
10. Describe the mansion that Rainsford finds on the island.
11. How does General Zaroff know Rainsford?
12. Describe General Zaroff’s hunting background?
13. Why did General Zaroff invent a “new” animal to hunt?
14. What characteristics must General Zaroff’s new animal have?
15.-16. What is General Zaroff’s new “animal”? What is your reaction to this?
17. -18. What does General Zaroff mean when he says, “life is for the strong, to be lived by the
strong, and, if need be, taken by the strong.” How is this statement similar to Rainsford’s statement,
"This hot weather is making you soft, Whitney. Be a realist. The world is made up of two classes--the
hunters and the huntees. Luckily, you and I are hunters.”
19. Describe how General Zaroff traps ships and “stocks” his island with “game.”
20. What is the irony in General Zaroff’s statement, "Oh, yes," he said, casually, as if in answer to a
question, "I have electricity. We try to be civilized here."
21. Describe General Zaroff’s hunting routine (or game as he refers to it) on the island. Be sure to
include what the hunter and huntee get.
22.-23. What is General Zaroff’s reaction when Rainsford tells him he wants to leave the island?
What are Rainsford’s options and what is his choice?
24. – 29. Rainsford tries to defeat Zaroff in six different ways during the game. Describe the result of
each effort.
Effort
a. Rainsford creates a complicated trails.
Result
b. Malayan Mancatcher
c. Burmese Tiger Pit
d. Ugandan Indian Trick
e. Rainsford leaps into the sea.
f. Rainsford ambushes Zaroff.
30.-31. Why does General Zaroff say that Rainsford “hadn’t played the game”? Do you think that
Rainsford played the game? Why or why not?
32. Who was the real “winner” of the game? How do you know this?
33. -34. Do you think that General Zaroff planned to hunt Rainsford the whole time (from the
moment the two met)? Why or why not?
Part III. Understanding Foreshadowing. Review the events of the story and identify these
elements of foreshadowing.
35.-40. Review these details from the beginning of the story. What danger did they foreshadow for
Rainsford?
Foreshadowing
“An abrupt sound startled him. Off to the right he
heard it, and his ears, expert in such matters, could
not be mistaken. Again he heard the sound, and
again. Somewhere, off in the blackness, someone
Danger revealed
had fired a gun three times.”
“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.”
“Some wounded thing--by the evidence, a large
animal--had thrashed about in the underbrush; the
jungle weeds were crushed down and the moss was
lacerated; one patch of weeds was stained crimson.”
Part IV. Understanding Conflict. Review the events of the story and identify these
elements of conflict.
41.-46. Identify an example of each.
Conflict
Example
a.
Man vs. Man
b.
a.
Man vs. Nature
b.
a.
Man vs. Self
b.
Part V. Final Reflections.
47.- 50. Why do you think that “man” is ultimately “the most dangerous game?”