The Best Answers From Students—“The Most Dangerous Game”
1. What do you admire or dislike about Rainsford?
What I like about Rainsford is that he is very brace and smart. He is brave because he stood up for the people
being hunted in the island right in front of Zaroff’s barbaric self. He also outsmarted General Zaroff.
What I admire about Rainsford is that he realized that Zaroff was going to hunt him. Therefore, Rainsford had
to become the hunter in the situation. I also admire him because he found out a way to keep himself safe and
didn’t give up.
2.a. What, according to Zaroff, is the most dangerous game?
According to Zaroff, the most dangerous game is hunting people, because they are smarter than animals and
they put up a better fight.
To General Zaroff, hunting intelligent beings who are trained and ready is the most dangerous game.
2.b. Based on his attitude, would you call Zaroff “civilized”? Why or why not?
I do not think that Zaroff is “civilized”. Killing people for your own pleasure is not what I would call civilized in
our society. Maybe, if a cannibal were asked this question he might think so, but in modern times nothing
about it is “civilized”. He had no conscience.
In my opinion, I would say that Zaroff is very civilized. He is civilized because he isn’t a rabid muderer. He is a
hunter. And a hunter gives the prey a chance until the right time. He is successful and well-educated and still
strives for a challenge.
3.a. Early in the story, what do you learn about Rainsford’s views on hunting?
You learn early in the story that Rainsford thinks “there is no finer sport in the world” than hunting. Also, he
thinks the animal has no feelings or ways to think.
3.b. How does Rainsford’s attitude toward hunting compare with Zaroff’s?
Rainford’s attitude toward hunting compared to Zaroff’s is different because Rainsford has a state of mind to
hunt animals only and for fun, but Zaroff likes to hunt something that has a mind to reason which is humans.
Rainsford is a hunter. Some people play baseball, some people fish, and some people play golf, but Rainsford
hunts for a hobby. Zaroff is also a hunter, but he doesn’t hunt animals like Rainsford; he hunts real live
humans. In Rainsford’s mind, hunting humans is like murder. He thinks that it is a sick thing to do, but Zaroff
likes it. That is how Rainsford’s attitude toward hunting compares to Zaroff’s.
4.a. What happens at the end of the story?
At the end of the story, Zaroff congratulated Rainsford for winning the game, but Rainsford didn’t want the
game to end just yet. So, they decided to fight to the death in a swordmatch and the winner sleep in the most
comfortable silk bed. Rainsford said that was the most comfortable bed he’d slept in.
4.b. In the last scene of the story, why does Rainsford say, “I am still a beast at bay?”
In the last scene, when Rainsford says, “I am still a beast at bay,” I believe that he says that to show that even
though he was being hunted like an animal, he came out on top and won the battle. He used his cunning
hunting skills and outsmarted Zaroff and ended up beating Zaroff at his own games.
5. How do you think the hunting experience with Zaroff changed Rainsford?
The hunting experience changed Rainsford by showing him what it’s like to be a hunted animal, and now he
probably won’t hunt anymore.
6.a. How would you describe Zaroff’s character?
I would describe Zaroff as a civilized crazy man. Zaroff would be normal if he weren’t hunting humans.
I would describe Zaroff as a narcissist because he doesn’t think how other people may feel for his own form of
amusement.
6.b. Do you think people like Zaroff exist in real life? Explain.
I do believe that people like Zaroff exist all around the world. I imagine that some prisoners of war, once freed,
have some form of mental problem which could lead to killing people for fun.
People like Zaroff definitely exist in real life. There are notorious murderers, serial killers, stalkers, etc. They
may not do what they do for sport, but they are still messed up in the head either way, just like Zaroff.
7.a. Find three details that provide clues early on about Zaroff’s hobby.
Three details that provide clues about Zaroff’s hobby is when he says, “I want to hunt something that has the
ability to think,” and when he says, “Oh, it isn’t here naturally, of course. I have to stock the island.” Also,
when he says “the animal must have courage, cunning, and be able to reason,” is a final detail.
9. What are the three most suspenseful events in the story and why?
A suspenseful time is when Zaroff was hinting his love for hunting people, as well as when Zaroff was racing
after Rainsford in the forest. Another moment is when Zaroff was talking about how even cannibals wouldn’t
want to get trapped on the island.
The first one where Rainsford fell off of a boat; that is what I’m afraid of, also trying to fight the current. The
second was when Ivan was holding the gun up to Rainsford’s chest. I would be sweating bullets if that was
done to me. The third one is where Rainsford is being hunted. I really don’t want to be the sore loser who has
to be hunted in the jungle with a general.
10. Early in the story, Rainsford says, “The world is made up to two classes—the hunters and the
huntees.” How does his conflict with Zaroff help Rainsford understand this expression in a
new way?
The expression helps Rainsford in a new way because he now understands that he is being hunted by General
Zaroff. He also understands that he’s in a game and he has to outsmart the hunter and be very clever at the
same time.
11. Internal and External Conflicts for Rainsford
Rainsford v. nature
He must fight through the
environment of ship trap island.
He must battle through the
confusion of the forest.
He must swim through the ocean
when he falls off of the boat.
Rainsford v. man
Him versus Gen’l Zaroff and Ivan
when he is being hunted on ship
trap island.
Rainsford is not one to be mean to
others.
Rainsford v. self
He must fight with himself to keep
his spirits up when he’s being
hunted.
He must fight his fears.
He must be intelligent.
He battles anxiety, stress, and
exhausion.
12. What careers other than hunter would be suited to someone with Rainsford’s skills and
attitudes? Why?
I think that Rainsford will make a good football player instead of a hunter, because he is very determined and
never gives up.
Some careers, other than a hunter, that would be suitable for Rainsford’s skills and attitudes is a survival expert,
because he is so good at hunting, and he is good in the woods. Also, he could be a general in the army,
because he is a mean person.