Name
THE MOST DANGEROUS GAME
Date
Reading Check
Directions: Recall the events in Richard Connell’s short story. Then answer the questions in
complete sentences.
1. How does Rainsford meet General Zaroff?
2. What does General Zaroff want to do with Rainsford?
3. How do Rainsford’s experiences as a hunter help him on the island?
4. Draw Conclusions At the end of the story, Rainsford makes an important decision. He
could attack Zaroff from behind. Instead, he decides to fight Zaroff face to face. Based on
his characterization throughout the story, why does Rainsford makes this decision? Be sure
to provide a quote from the story to support your answer!
5. Examine Foreshadowing Reread these lines from the story.
“I had to invent a new animal to hunt.”
“I am a hunter, not a murderer.”
What event does this discussion between Zaroff and Rainsford foreshadow? Make sure you
supply a quote from the story to support your answer!
Literary Analysis--Conflict
A conflict is a struggle between opposing forces. A complication is an event or detail that makes a
conflict more intense.
Directions: Use the chart to record the conflicts that Sanger Rainsford faces and any complications that
arise. Then answer the question that follows.
Quote Representing Conflict
Complications
“…he had reached too far and lost his balance. The cry was It is night. People on the boat cannot hear his
pinched off short as the blood-warm waters of the Caribbean shouts. The island is not close.
Sea closed over his head.” Page 63, line 71-72
A story usually has a main conflict. This is the story’s main focus. Of the quotes you have chosen above,
which one do you think represents the main conflict? Why is this quote more important to the conflict of
the story than the others?
THE MOST DANGEROUS GAME
Literary Analysis--Characterization
Characterization is the way a writer creates and develops character’s personalities. How the author
characterizes his characters directly supports the conflict of the story.
Directions: Use the chart to record quotes of characterization for both Rainsford and General Zaroff
that support the main conflict you discovered on the previous page.
Quote Representing Rainsford’s Characterization
“Who cares how a jaguar feels?” page 60
How this quote supports the conflict:
Shows that Rainsford is selfish, and does not
care about the things he kills.
Quote Representing General Zaroff’
How this quote supports the conflict:
Literary Elements Study: Foils
In literature, a foil is a character that provides a striking contrast to another character. By using a foil, a writer
can call attention to certain traits possessed by a main character or simply enhance a character by contrast. In
the spaces provided below, you will analyze the two main characters from “The Most Dangerous Game” and
identify how General Zaroff serves as a foil to Rainsford.
Characterization of General Zaroff
(provide quotes with page
numbers as evidence!)
Characterization of Rainsford
(provide quotes with page
numbers as evidence!)
Both
Characters
In the space below, explain how General Zaroff’s character serves as a foil to Rainsford throughout the story.
How do the traits possessed by Zaroff help you as a reader to better understand the character of Rainsford?