“The Most Dangerous Game”
Paragraph Notes/Tips
Topic Sentence:
You must begin with a topic sentence that answers all the
questions in the prompt. Omitting the topic sentence or failing
to answer some of the questions provides no focus for your
paragraph.
This prompt asked you to identify a tone or mood, the
strategies used to develop it, and the author’s purpose in
doing so.
In “The Most Dangerous Game,” Richard Connell creates a
frantic tone through his use of unnerving details and tense
diction to build suspense about his ability to survive the
increasingly hostile environment.
Blending Quotes:
Quotes must be blended with your own words to read/flow smoothly. You
cannot use a comma to connect two independent clauses because it creates a
comma splice.
• Comma Splice: Rainsford is running frantically to escape Zaroff when he
steps into some mud, “He tried to wrench it back, but the muck sucked
viciously at his foot as if it were a giant leech” (78).
• Weak: Rainsford’s fear is evident when the texts states, “the darkness was
trying to tear from his grip (78).
• Better: Running frantically to escape Zaroff, Rainsford steps into some ooze:
“He trie[s] to wrench it back, but the muck suck[s] viciously at his foot as if it
were a giant leech” (78).
• Best: Rainsford tries to retreat from stepping in some oozing mud, “but the
muck suck[s] viciously at his foot as if it were a giant leech” (78).
Analysis:
Effective analysis must be specific to the quote (that’s why it’s important to
choose good quotes!). It is not a cookie-cutter format:
• “[insert quote here]” The graphic imagery creates a suspenseful
tone because Rainsford does not know what is going to
happen. [What imagery are you referencing? How does it
create suspense?]
• “[insert quote here]” The frantic diction heightens Rainsford’s
sense of fear and increases the tense tone. [What diction do
you mean? How does it heighten fear?]
Analysis:
Good analysis does not rephrase the quote or relate the
plot:
• He heard “a distant sound, faint and wavering, but he
knew it. It was the baying of a pack of hounds”(78).
Rainsford knew the hounds were drawing near
because he heard the sound of their approach.
[restatement] He realized he had to flee quickly so he
plunged deeper into the jungle away from Zaroff.
[additional plot]
Analysis:
Strong analysis does not continually focus on the reader’s
reactions to the story:
• He heard “a distant sound, faint and wavering, but he knew it.
It was the baying of a pack of hounds”(78). The reader can
imagine just what Rainsford is experiencing and it creates
tension in the reader. The reader understands that something
bad is going to happen and feels apprehension for Rainsford’s
fate.
• Rather than focusing on the reader’s experience, focus on the
character’s experience within the story
Keep in mind that the entire story is technically written for “the reader,” so it’s not necessary to frequently use this
phrasing. The author’s use of imagery, detail, and connotative wording are all choices meant to create an effect upon
the reader.
Analysis:
• Good analysis does not refer to your own writing
• Good analysis does not address the audience
• (i.e. “you”/”we”/”our”) – remain objective & use third person pronouns
As Rainsford approaches the sea, he observes that “twenty feet
below him the sea rumbled and hissed. [He] hesitated. He heard
the hounds. Then he leaped far out into the sea…” (80). This quote
proves my thesis because it increases suspense since we don’t
really know if Rainsford is going to live or die. Furthermore, as I
stated earlier, the jungle setting plays a huge role in building
suspense because Rainsford is always facing the unknown.
Analysis:
Good analysis focuses on specifics in the quote:
•Rainsford tries to retreat from stepping in some
oozing mud, “but the muck suck[s] viciously at
his foot as if it were a giant leech” (78). Not only
does Zaroff present a formidable foe, but nature
itself seems to conspire to “viciously” bring
Rainsford down. Comparing the quicksand to an
oversized leech magnifies its drawing power and
increases the threat to his survival.
Analysis:
Good analysis focuses on specifics in the quote:
•As Rainsford was hiding from Zaroff he could
hear “the baying of the hounds [grow] nearer,
then still nearer, nearer, ever nearer” (78). The
repetitive use of the word “nearer” not only
heightens Rainsford’s suspense of being
discovered, but also mirrors his frantic mental
state as the distance closes between them.
MLA Reminders:
• Font should be 12 pt. Times New Roman (TNR)
• 1” margins all the way around
• Double space
• If spacing looks different in heading – highlight the text > click
on spacing icon > select “Remove Space Before (or After)
Paragraph”
• Make sure you change the font & size in the top right header!
How to get rid of extra
spacing in header
and/or essay.
The essay should be
exactly doublespaced throughout.
Be aware that MS Word
often defaults to include
extra spacing before
paragraphs!
Make sure last name and page # are in top right header of every page.
It’s best to double click on header and insert page number FIRST, before typing last name
DON’T FORGET TO CHANGE TO 12 PT. FONT, TIMES NEW ROMAN!