The Most Dangerous Game
Literary Analysis and Response
Writing
Literary Terms for the Story:
Foreshadowing: a hint or series of hints about what
is to come.
Foreshadowing can come as a title, a description,
or through narration in the form of descriptions or
dialogue that make greater sense once the story is
told to the end.
Why Use Foreshadowing?
Hinting at things to come helps an author
build suspense and prepares the reader's
mind for the conflict that is being
developed.
Foreshadowing also helps the reader
believe things that are really unbelievable
by giving clues ahead of time that they are
possible.
Foreshadowing Examples:
"The old charts call it `Ship-Trap Island,"'
Whitney replied." A suggestive name, isn't it?
Sailors have a curious dread of the place. I
don't know why. Some superstition--"(6).
On your own: look through the first three pages
of the story. Find an example of foreshadowing
and write it down. Remember to use quotation
marks and put the page number in
parentheses.
Irony
Irony occurs when there is a double-meaning, or an
unexpected occurrence, or some other happening or
statement that just doesn't match up to expectations. It's
what causes us to say, "THAT'S FUNNY, BUT NOT HAHA
FUNNY."
Situational Irony: Something happens that is the opposite of
what is expected, but still often oddly fits in to the story.
Verbal Irony: Something is said that does not fit with what
the character really means or intends.
Why Use Irony?
Irony forces us to stop and think. It makes the
reader re-evaluate, often even re-read, the story to
see why things happened differently than expected.
Irony often also adds an element of surprise or
humor to a story.
Irony Examples
Situational Irony:
Rainsford is a hunter who is constantly searching for more
and more challenging game. In the end, he himself becomes
the game for another hunter who is bored and looking for a
challenge.
Verbal Irony:
"'We'll have capital hunting, you and I,' said the
general'"(14). The general is talking about hunting
Rainsford, not hunting WITH Rainsford.
On Your Own:
Find an example of irony either verbal or
situational, in the story The Most Dangerous
Game. Write it in your notes, using correct citation
(quotation marks and page number notation).
Imagery
Imagery is the descriptive language used by
an author to evoke all of the sensed. This
can be done with a lot of descriptive words,
but is most effective when the author uses
just a couple of really well-chosen words to
create the feeling.
Why Use Imagery?
In the absense of being there, a reader wants to feel as
much a part of the story as possible. This is why movies are
so incredibly popular; they enhance the story-telling
experience with sight and sound as well as language.
An author wants to give the reader a sense of exactly what
mood exists in his mind. Word choice (diction) is extrememly
important to imagery.
On Your Own
Find an example of imagery in the story. Write it, using
quotation marks and citing the page number.