English 1H: "The Most Dangerous Game" by Richard Connell Study Guide

Plot

A big-time hunter, Sanger Rainsford, gets stranded on an island called "Ship-Trap Island" when he falls off his yacht. He went up to a nearby house and meet General Zaroff. The general has a great passion for hunting. He feels he has conquered every animal but one, the human. The general challenges Rainsford to hunt with him. Rainsford has to survive three days without the general killing him.

Exposition

Rainsford feel off his ship heading to the Amazon and swims to "Ship-Trap Island".

Raising Action

Rainsford meets Ivan and General Zaroff at a large house. He hunts and is very good at it.Rainsford must be hunted with General Zaroff and survive three days without the general killing him.

Climax

Rainsford saves himself from a group of hounds by jumping of the edge of a cliff.

Falling Action

Rainsford hides in General zaroff's curtains and goes face to face with the general.

Resolution

Rainsford had pushed the general to the hounds and won the game. He had never slept better that night.

Who are the main characters?

sanger Rainsford, ivan, and general zaroff

Sanger Rainsford

Rainsford is a very good hunter. He has written books about hunting and his experiences. He only thinks of hunting through the hunters view not the preys. He can be smart when he makes the right choices.

Ivan

Ivan is a gigantic creature, solidly made and black breaded to the waist. He is a Cossack, very strong and intimidating. Unfortunately, he is deaf.

General Zaroff

General Zaroff is also a Cossack. He is a tall man, passed middle age, white hair, and a military mustache as black as night. He was an excellent hunter and has hunted anything to be hunted. The general is intelligent, experienced, and high-headed.

What is the setting of the short story?

The setting of the short story is in the Caribbean Sea, where Ship-Trap island. An experienced hunter was traveling on a boat to the Amazon when he fell off and became stranded on Ship-Trap island. It takes time around the 1920s.

Conflict

The main conflict in "The Most Dangerous Game" is Rainsford has to outsmart one of the best hunters of all time, General Zaroff and his hounds. He needs to find ways to prolong his death to three days so he can be free from the dangerous island.

What is an example of foreshadowing?

The general mentions at lunch time many of the sailors are caught in quicksand and do not make it out. Rainsford feels it will not be a problem for him. When he reaches the quicksand he uses it to his advantage to make a trap.

What type of irony is used in the story?

Verbal irony

What is an example of irony?

At the beginning of the short story, Rainsford mentions that no cares how the animal being hunted feels. He says they have no understanding and they are meant to be hunted. Later in the story, you find out that Rainsford is the prey, the huntee, the one being hunted by General Zaroff.

What is the name of the island that Whitney points out? And how do sailor feel about it?

"Ship-Trap Island", sailors do not like the island because they know no sailor will ever come out.

What happens to Rainsford when he falls off the yacht?

Rainsford swims to Ship-Trap island because he heard multiple gunshots.

What did he find on the island and who did he meet?

He found a very large house with lights. Inside he meet Ivan and General Zaroff.

What did the general do that made Rainsford uncomfortable?

At dinner, the general continually would study Rainsford and appraised him narrowly.

Why did hunting no fascinate General Zaroff anymore?

The animals that he had hunted had no reason and it was so easy for the general to catch his prey.

What did the general hunt now and why?

The general hunted humans because they had courage, where more dangerous, but above all they had reason.

Why couldn't Rainsford leave the island?

Rainsford could not leave the island because the General wanted to hunt with him. If Rainsford refused, Ivan would take care of him.

What were the "rules" of the game?

If Rainsford survived all three days, he would be able to leave the island. If he lost then General Zaroff would kill him.

What was the first trap Rainsford set up and what was the outcome?

The first trap was an intricate track of footprints set up to confuse the general. The general found the tracks and was able to find Rainsford but he left him for another day's sport.

What was the second trap and how was the outcome?

Rainsford cut a tree almost all the way. When the general walked by the tree fell right on him. The tree hid the general's shoulder and he left to get it fixed up.

What was the third trap that Rainsford set up and how was the outcome?

Rainsford dug a pit by the quicksand and swamp. He covered the pit up with leaves and branches to made it unseeable. One of the general's hounds fell into the pit.

What was the last trap Rainsford set up and what was the outcome?

Rainsford used a native trick he learned in Uganda. He used his knife and set up a trap. Ivan had been caught in the trap he was killed. General Zaroff was unharmed and the hounds followed closeby.

How did Rainsford avoid the hounds?

The hounds chased Rainsford to the edge of a cliff. Rainsford was hesitant but then jumped off the cliff to save himself.

How did Rainsford get into the general's bedroom?

When Rainsford jumped off the cliff he had swam to the shore and hid in the general's curtains.

How did the story end?

The short story ended when general Zaroff and Rainsford go face to face. Rainsford beat the general and pushed him to the hounds. Rainsford had never slept better that night.

Who is the author of the story?

Richard Connell

What is the point of view?

The point of view is third person.