“The Most Dangerous Game” Story Questions
1. Based on the title of the story, what do you think it is going to be about? (pg. 17)
2. What is the name of the island they are passing? What might this foreshadow? (pg. 17)
3. What is the setting of the stories opening? How do you know? (pg. 17-18)
4. How does Rainsford feel about hunting animals? How does Whitney feel about hunting animals?
How do you feel about hunting animals?
5. Based on the conversation between Whitney and Rainsford regarding the island, what possible
roles could the island play in the story? (pg. 18)
6. What do you predict is going to happen after Rainsford hears the three shots in the dark? (top of
pg. 19)
7. 7. What might the “Blood-warm” water foreshadow?
8. 8. What do we learn about Rainsford from his actions in the water? (pg. 19)
9. 9. To what earlier part of the story does the passage “Rainsford heard… a high screaming
sound… of anguish and terror.” allude? (pg 19)
10. 10. How has the setting changed? Describe the new setting at the end of pg 19.
11. 11. What do you predict is going to happen next in this story? What aspects of the setting,
character, plot and foreshadowing contribute to your prediction? (pg 19)
12. 12. After Rainsford examines the bullet cartridge, he speaks to himself about the scene before
him. What questions do you have about the scene? Why do you think the author doesn’t answer
these questions? (pg 20)
13. 13. How is the sea personified (fig. language giving something non-human human
characteristics)? (pg. 20)
14. 14. What type of conflict occurs after Rainsford knocks on the chateau door? How does it
heighten the suspense?
15. 15. Write your conclusions about the character of General Zaroff based on the narrator’s
description, the dialogue and Zaroff’s actions. (pg 21)
16. 16. Answer the yellow box question on pg 21. What does Zaroff’s description of Cossacks
contribute to your prediction? (pg 21)
17. 17. On pg 22, Rainsford is uncomfortable with the way the general is judging him. What does the
general’s inspection hint at? (pg 22)
18. 18. Answer the yellow box question on pg. 22
“The Most Dangerous Game” Story Questions
19. 19. Do you think General Zaroff is a civilized man? Give specific examples from the story that
show he civilized and/or uncivilized.
20. 20. Do you agree with Zaroff’s assessment that jaguars (or other animals) are not cunning
because they can’t outwit a hunter with a rifle? Explain why or why not. (pg. 24)
21. 21. What are the ideal characteristics for Zaroff’s new animal to hunt? What mammal in the
world has all these characteristics? (pg 24)
22. 22. What is Zaroff’s new quarry for hunting? How does he attempt to justify it to Rainsford? (pg
25)
23. 23. Looking back at the story, what are the hints the author uses to foreshadow this
development? (pg. 25)
24. 24. Answer the yellow box question #4 on pg. 26.
25. 25. How does Zaroff find men to hunt? (pg. 26)
26. 26. What are the rules of Zaroff’s “game”? (pg. 28)
27. 27. In what ways is this “game” an unequal contest? (pg. 28)
28. 28. What kind of heads do you suppose are in the general’s new collection? Why do you think
Rainsford is not feeling well? (pg. 28)
29. 29. Rainsford is locked in his room high up in a tower. What future event do these circumstances
hint at? (pg 29)
30. 30. Answer the yellow box question #5 on pg. 29.
31. 31. The game between Zaroff and Rainsford is what type of conflict? (pg. 29)
32. 32. What hints did the writer provide earlier that Zaroff would force Rainsford into this contest?
(pg. 29)
33. 33. What does Rainsford’s response to Zaroff’s demand for silence tell you about Rainsford’s
character? (pg. 30)
34. 34. Answer the yellow box question #6 on pg. 30.
35. Answer yellow box question #7 on pg. 34.
36. Based on the last 3 paragraphs of the story, what effect does the “game” seem to have had on
Rainsford?
37. Who won the game? How do you know?
“The Most Dangerous Game” Story Questions
 End of story Questions on pg. 36:
#1. Do this as a Plot Diagram NOT as a chart. (between 5-8 main events)
#3. Using you earlier answers, answer all three bullets about foreshadowing in the story.
2 Additional questions:
 Give a general setting for the story (when and where). What are the clues that help us figure out
the setting?
 What are the types of conflict in this story? Explain them.
 There will be a comprehension quiz based on the story tomorrow. We will correct the quiz in
class and review the answers for the in-story questions as well.