The Most Dangerous Game
This is the post that sparked this Constructed Response: “In
Language Arts class a few years back, my class was assigned to
invent our own version of the last fight between Rainsford and
Zaroff in the short story The Most Dangerous Game by Richard
Connell (personally one of the most fascinating short stories I’ve
ever read, next to Edgar Allan Poe’s works).” Our task was to
write a descriptive story about their last battle, a battle in the
dark.
Here is the ALTERNATE ENDING this person wrote:
Outside was a dark, eerie, moonless Caribbean night; the calm before a
storm. Rainsford prowled around the frigid medieval bedroom, eyes
fixed in utmost concentration on general Zaroff’s stealthy steps that
echoed his. Suddenly, thunder struck malevolently! The abrupt gale
slammed the bedroom windows shut; rain pounded harshly on the
palatial chateau as if it could pierce through its impenetrable stone
walls. Immediately, the only source of light flickered off, leaving the room in utter darkness.
“Well, general,” Rainsford mocked. “You tried to be civilized, I see.”
General Zaroff did not reply. Instead, Rainsford only detected the howling of fierce wind outside accompanied by the scraping
of the general’s boots on the frigid, hard, and uneven surface. In the meantime, Rainsford frantically raced away from the
direction of the sound. He felt along the cool, rough walls that enclosed the stale atmosphere blindly. Nearby, he caught a
familiar wisp of musty cigarette fumes entwined with a scent of liquor. Alert, Rainsford spun around! He blocked the swishing
weapon coming in his direction in time. The weapon clattered to the floor.
Zaroff chuckled. “You’ve done well, Rainsford. But only one can indulge himself in the soft, excellent bed.”
Rainsford scrambled for the walls in the opaque space. Although unaware of where he was going, Rainsford was desperate to
put some distance between the general and himself. His heart thumped wildly. He breathed rapidly. I will not lose my nerve!
thought Rainsford as he composed himself. The tangible bile of terror slowly crept into Rainsford’s parched throat as
Rainsford realized that he had lost track of Zaroff’s position in the gloom! As if to ease Rainsford’s fear, a violent gust of
frozen wind blew through the creaking window shutters, carrying Zaroff’s scent of cigarette and liquor with it.
With an approximate position of Zaroff, Rainsford frantically rummaged through his wet clothes for a snagged tree branch or
a rock. Finally, Rainsford’s finger enclosed on a small, round pebble. He threw it in the direction of Zaroff. As the pebble
clattered when it struck the stone floor, general Zaroff leaped. Rainsford surged in the direction of the sound of Zaroff’s boots
with blind estimation. The mildly intoxicated Devil was finally tackled to the stone walls! While wrestling with Zaroff in the
dark, Rainsford used his foot and felt inch by inch on the cold, rough floor for the fireplace poker that was the protruding
trigger. Once his foot touched the freezing metallic rod, the velvet curtains of the smooth, wooden canopy bed weaved with
various jagged fireplace tools came crashing down from above the bed.
Rainsford heard Zaroff’s yelp followed by a stagger. Then, a sudden gale ripped the window shutters from its hinges, blinding
Rainsford with the moon’s radiance. A shadow embraced the moonlit sky as it soared through the gaping hole.
A scream pierced through the opaque darkness of the Caribbean night as the hounds were furnished with a repast.
He had never slept in a better bed, Rainsford decided.
OVER
Assignment: “Most Dangerous
Game” Constructed Response:
For The Most Dangerous Game write
a descriptive different ending about
their last battle, a battle in the dark.
Your alternate ending should be
between 130 – 250 words.
Give close attention to verb tense,
tone, mood and imagery. You may
use dialogue. This new ending must
fit what has happened in the story
prior to the ending. Your word
choice is very important – think back
to the “Voice” exercises…. Diction!
Go back to the alternate ending given on page 1 --- look carefully at the diction used to create mood and
tone throughout the text With an approximate position of Zaroff, Rainsford frantically rummaged through his wet clothes for a snagged
tree branch or a rock. Finally, Rainsford’s finger enclosed on a small, round pebble. He threw it in the direction of
Zaroff. As the pebble clattered when it struck the stone floor, general Zaroff leaped. Rainsford surged in the
direction of the sound of Zaroff’s boots with blind estimation. The mildly intoxicated Devil was finally tackled to
the stone walls! While wrestling with Zaroff in the dark, Rainsford used his foot and felt inch by inch on the cold,
rough floor for the fireplace poker that was the protruding trigger. Once his foot touched the freezing metallic
rod, the velvet curtains of the smooth, wooden canopy bed weaved with various jagged fireplace tools came
crashing down from above the bed.
Rainsford heard Zaroff’s yelp followed by a stagger. Then, a sudden gale ripped the window shutters from its
hinges, blinding Rainsford with the moon’s radiance. A shadow embraced the moonlit sky as it soared through
the gaping hole.
A scream pierced through the opaque darkness of the Caribbean night as the hounds were furnished with a
repast.
Remember, this is a summative writing grade –
DUE: ____________________________________