By: Richard Connell
 Caribbean

Sea, then Ship Trap Island
The reputation of the island has been built.


“Sailors have a curious dread of the place.”
According to Captain Nielsen: “This place has an evil
name among sea-faring men.”
 Protagonist

– Rainsford
Clearly an accomplished hunter; feels the world
is made up of 2 class, “the hunters and the
huntees.”
 Whitney

A fellow hunter of Rainsford’s
 Rainsford
has had a rough time getting to
shore safely.

“What perils that tangle of trees and underbrush
might hold for him did not concern Rainsford just
then. All he knew was that he was safe from his
enemy, the sea.”

Rainsford wrongly perceives the sea as his enemy.
 Rainsford

is hungry
“Where there are pistol shots, there are men.
Where there are men, there is food.”
 He
sees blood stained brush
 Also notices foot prints made by hunting
boots
 Follows lights, which lead him to a chateau
 Ivan



“In his hand the man held a long-barreled
revolver, and he was pointing it straight at
Rainsford’s heart.”
Is a stereotypical character; he is a big, dumb,
goon whose job is to kill unwanted
visitors/trespassers
Ivan is flat and static
 General


Zaroff
A well-read hunter who recognizes Rainsford’s
name as the author of a book about hunting snow
leopards
Interesting character: as we read, we’ll find him
to be static, yet round

Zaroff seems to have refined tastes, is very intelligent,
and is quite hospitable to his guest.
 Zaroff
claims to have stocked his island
with the biggest game possible
 Rainsford is intrigued and wants to know
to which type of game Zaroff is referring.
 Zaroff begins relating his stories of
hunting experiences and says…


“Hunting was beginning to bore me!”
“It had become too easy. I always got my
quarry. Always.”
 Zaroff

needed to invent a new animal
“It must have courage, cunning, and above all,
it must be able to reason.”
 Rainsford
finally understands what Zaroff is
getting at…

“Hunting? General Zaroff, what you speak of is
murder.”
 Zaroff
pushes a button from inside the
chateau, which turns on lights indicating a
safe channel for approaching boats.
 In reality the channel is filled with jagged
rocks, which destroy the boats.
 The sailors are forced to swim to shore and
become Zaroff’s prey.
 His




A supply of food
An excellent hunting knife
A 3 hour start
If the quarry avoids Zaroff for 3 days, the quarry
is the winner


“guests” receive:
Zaroff claims he has never lost
Those who refuse to hunt get turned over to Ivan
 The
next day, Rainsford informs Zaroff that
he’d like to leave the island.

Rainsford must be hunted before he may leave
the island; Zaroff assures him that if Rainsford
wins, he will be taken to the mainland.

Do you believe this?
 Rainsford
gets through the first night without
seeing Zaroff
 As he hides in a tree, Zaroff stands at the
bottom.

Clearly Zaroff knows Rainsford is there.

Why doesn’t Zaroff go after Rainsford at this point?
Trap #1 – Malay Mancatcher
 A dead tree is resting on a living one; a bough
is used as a trigger; once disturbed, the dead
tree falls hitting Zaroff on the shoulder.
 Trap #2 – Burmese Tiger Pit
 Sharpened stakes are arranged at the bottom
of a pit; the mouth of the pit is covered with
weeds and twigs; claims one of Zaroff’s dogs.
 Trap #3 – Ugandan Knife Trap
 Rainsford tied his knife to a springing sapling;
the sapling is tied back with a grapevine; kills
Ivan.

 Rainsford
has no choice but to jump into the sea.
 Zaroff returns to his chateau and enjoys his dinner;
however, Zaroff is disappointed.


Ivan would be hard to replace
Rainsford had escaped him
 Zaroff
heads to bed and finds Rainsford hiding in
the bed curtains.
 “One
of us is to furnish repast for the
hounds. The other will sleep in this very
excellent bed. On guard, Rainsford…”

The reader must imagine what this fight was like.
 The
reader can be sure that Rainsford is
victorious.

“He had never slept in a better bed, Rainsford
decided.”