Lesson Nine The Most Dangerous Game

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The Most Dangerous Game Meet the Writer
Richard Connell was born in 1893 in Duchess
County, New York. At the age of ten, he began his
writing career as a cub reporter for the
newspaper his father edited in Poughkeepsie, New
York. He went on to write hundreds of short
stories, as well as novels and screenplays.
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The Most Dangerous Game by Richard Connell
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The Most Dangerous Game Introducing the Story
There is a passion for hunting something deeply
implanted in the human breast. Charles
Dickens (18121870)
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(No Transcript)
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Yes, A most dangerous game indeed. Eeexcellent.
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The Most Dangerous Game Introducing the Story
This adventure story is set on Ship-Trap Island,
a mysterious island inhabited by General Zaroff.
Zaroff is a cultured but sinister Russian who
hunts the most dangerous game in the world.
Zaroffs philosophy "Life is for the strong, to
be lived by the strong, and, if needs be, taken
by the strong. The weak of the world were put
here to give the strong pleasure. I am strong.
Why should I not use my gift? If I wish to hunt,
why should I not? I hunt the scum of the earth
sailors from tramp ships-- lassars, blacks,
Chinese, whites, mongrelsa thoroughbred horse or
hound is worth more than a score of them.
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Zaroffs philosophy What ideas and people in
history have agreed with Zaroff?
Life is for the strong In what ways is this
philosophy advantageous?
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Characterization

• There are three types of characterization from
  the author direct description, portrayal of
  behavior, and internal states.
• Rainsford
• Writer (DD)
• Hunter (DD)
• Smoker (B)
• Good swimmer (B)
• Wealthy (B/I)
• Strong Morals (B/I)
• Well traveled (B)
• Strong survival skills (B)

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Characters
Characterization

• Which are round? Flat? Stock?
• Static? Developing?
• Protagonist Rainsford
• Antagonists Zaroff and Ivan
• Minor character Whitney

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Connell uses Indirect Characterization to develop
Rainsford

• Rainsford is an excellent hunter
• Rainsford has written a book about hunting.
• Rainsford recognizes the cartridge that he picks
  up as that of a twenty-two caliber gun.
• Rainsford sets traps for Zaroff.
• Rainsford is the only person to survive the game
  with Zaroff.

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Rainsford is a dynamic character

• At the beginning he believes that animals dont
  feel any fear.
• Once he is hunted and feels fear he says he knows
  how animals feel.
• When he confronts Zaroff at the end Rainsford
  tells Zaroff that he is still a beast at bay --
  he has adopted an animal mentality.

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• Rainsford doesnt view hunting animals as murder.
• He says animals dont understand fear.
• He says that Zaroff is a murderer because he
  hunts people.

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Rainsford is motivated by the desire to stay alive

• If Zaroff catches him he will be killed.

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Connell uses indirect characterization to develop
Zaroff

• Zaroff is an excellent hunter
• No one has survived his game so far.
• He is no longer challenged by hunting animals.
• He has read lots of books about hunting.

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• Zaroff is sophisticated and refined.
• He has read books about hunting that were written
  in English, French and Russian.
• He hums a tune from an opera.
• He lives in a well decorated Chateau (oaken
  panels, high ceiling, vast refectory table).
• He serves a sophisticated, refined meal to
  Rainsford.

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Connell uses direct characterization to develop
Zaroff

• Zaroff is either evil or animalistic
• thick black eyebrows and pointed black moustache
• black, bright eyes
• dead black eyes (pg. 23)
• curious, red-lipped smile (18)

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Zaroff is motivated by the desire to be
challenged in the hunt

• Animals had ceased to challenge him.
• Rainsford had presented the best challenge yet.

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Characters

• Choose a quote that defines each of the main
  Characters Rainsford, Zaroff, and Ivan

Namely, does Rainsford adopt Zaroffs way at the
end? Is he now the new Zaroff?
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Types of Conflict in The Most Dangerous Game
Plot

• Person vs. Person
• physical
• moral
• Person vs. Nature
• physical
• Person vs. Self
• emotional

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Connells tone is straightforward and
non-judgmental

• Connell doesnt show bias toward Rainsford or
  Zaroff.
• He doesnt judge Zaroffs game or Rainsfords
  opinion of hunted animals.
• He doesnt comment on the events of the story.
• He chooses a third person limited point of view
  and remains within that context.

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Figurative Language/Metaphor
Symbolism

• Darkness
• Look in the text for references to the natural
  darkness outside and the inner darkness of human
  cruelty and evil
• Blood-warm waters
• Animal or human traits of the sea
• muttering
• growling
• Animal lust of the land
• licked its greedy lips
• unbroken front of snarled and ragged jungle
• Other metaphors and symbols?

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Title and Point of View
Title and Pt. of View

• Title
• What is the play on words?
• How does the title contribute to the effect of
  the story?
• Third person limited point of view is used
• Find evidence for this
• Why is it more effective than omniscient?

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Connells tone is straightforward and
non-judgmental

• Connell doesnt show bias toward Rainsford or
  Zaroff.
• He doesnt judge Zaroffs game or Rainsfords
  opinion of hunted animals.
• He doesnt comment on the events of the story.
• He chooses a third person limited point of view
  and remains within that context.

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• The first round smugness
• The second round being injured
• The third round loss of the best hound
• The fourth round loss of Ivan
• The last round loss of his life

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• Detailed Analysis of the Text
• I wish to go today, said Rainsford. He saw the
  dead black eyes of the general on him, studying
  him. General Zaroffs face suddenly brightened.
• Rainsford sees the general staring at him
  with his cold, severe, expressionless eyes. The
  general was surprised at Rainsfords response. He
  does not know whether or not he is serious.

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• The general shrugged his shoulders. As you wish,
  my friend. The choice rests entirely with you.
  But may I venture to suggest that youll find my
  idea of sport more interesting than Ivans?
• Notice how the general makes it sound like a
  free choice while he is, in fact, posing a
  threat to Rainsford by mentioning Ivan, the slave
  whose duty is to flog to death any who dares to
  violate his masters order.

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• He nodded toward the corner to where the giant
  stood, his thick arms crossed on his hogshead of
  a chest.
• He nods toward Ivan, who is standing in
  the corner of the room, whose chest is as big and
  thick as a barrel. Pay attention to the use of
  of here. It connects two nouns , one modifying
  the other.
• More examples
• Sometimes we have to suffer from the fool of a
  doctor when we receive medical treatment in
  hospital.
• The old soldier is still haunted by the memory
  of the nightmare of life in the concentration
  camp.
• On the 60th anniversary of the victory of World
  War II, the old soldiers who survived the war
  danced and sang with the monkey of a child.

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• Youll fine the game worth playing, the general
  said enthusiastically. Your brain against mine.
  Your woodcraft against mine. Your strength and
  stamina against mine. Outdoor chess! And the
  stake is not without value,eh?
• Notice that the general viewed this hunting game
  as a contest of intelligence, ability, knowledge,
  skill, experience as well as physical
  endurance.

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• Ivan will supply you with hunting clothes, food,
  a knife I suggest too that you avoid the big
  swamp in the southeast corner of the island.
• Notice how considerate the general is. What he
  is doing now simply shows his self-assurance and
  over-confidence in the coming contest, the result
  of which turned out to be ironical.

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• One foolish fellow tried it. The deplorable part
  of it was that Lazarus followed him. He was the
  finest hound in my pack.
• What the general says here shows this is not
  the first man-hunting game he has ever played.
  Rainsford isnt the first victim. At the same
  time his evil contempt for human life is made
  evident in his much sorrow for the loss of his
  dog instead of the life of his captive.

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• The night crawled slowly like a wounded snake,
  and sleep did not visit Rainsford although the
  silence of a dead world was on the jungle.
• Night fell slowly. Rainsford was still wide
  awake although it was very quiet in the jungle.
  Notice the use of simile here.
• The night is compared to a crawling snake,
  slow but dangerous

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• Toward morning when a dingy gray was vanishing
  the sky, the cry of some startled bird focused
  Rainsfords attention in that direction.
• Something was coming through the bush, slowly,
  carefully. By the same winding way Rainsford had
  come. He flattened himself down on the limb, and
  through a screen of leaves, saw it was a man.
• Notice how the author skillfully builds up the
  tension. First, the cry of a startled bird, then
  something moving by the same winding way, then
  the sight of a man, finally the realization of
  who the man is.

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• Very deliberately he blew a smoke ring into the
  air, and then turned and walked carelessly away.
• .
• Why does the general walk away carelessly?

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• Rainsford, called the general, If you are
  within sound of my voice, as I suppose you are,
  let me congratulate you. Not many men know how to
  make a Malay man-catcher. You are proving
  interesting, Mr. Rainsford.
• The general knew the trick. He wants to show
  his appreciation for Rainsfords effort. But he
  still does not give up his condescending tone
  because he is still confident that he is the
  better hunter.

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• MANCATCHER
• a two-pronged pole arm
• curved to encircle a humanoid creature of man
  size
• spikes and sharpened edges to both damage the
  opponent and prevent the use of hands and arms
• with a technique often used to pull the victim
  off his feet, either to a kneeling or prone
  position

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• The general made one of the deepest bows. I
  see, he said. Splendid! One of us is to furnish
  a repast for the hounds. The other will sleep in
  this very excellent bed. On guard, Rainsford
• Notice that there is something amusing about the
  way the conflict is finally resolved. It was like
  a duel between knights in the Middle Ages, in
  which they fought hard but fair.
• He had never slept in a better bed, Rainsford
  decided.
• Quite unexpectedly, Rainsford became the
  winner.
• Notice that the author tells about the result
  in an inexplicit way, leaving much room for
  imagination on the part of the reader.

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Plot Diagram
Rainsford hides in Zaroffs room

• Rainsford jumps over the cliff to escape from
  Zaroff
• Rainsford is hunted by Zaroff
• Rainsford swims to Ship-Trap Island after falling
  off the yacht

Rainsford and Zaroff fight

• Conflicts
• Man Vs. Man
• Man Vs. Nature
• Man Vs. Self

Rainsford kills Zaroff
Setting Ship-Trap Island Protagonist --
Rainsford Antagonist -- Zaroff
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Most Dangerous Game Map of Ship-Trap Island

• Your job is to create a map of Ship-trap island
  that illustrates Rainsfords journey from
  beginning to end as he encounters the uncanny
  General Zaroff. Details and description are very
  important. Make sure you look carefully through
  the short story to include all locations.
• Various settings in the short story
• Various locations on the island mentioned in the
  short story (quicksand, swamp, shoreline, cliff
  Rainsford jumps from, etc.)
• Locations for each of the traps Rainsford used to
  confuse Zaroff
• Probable path of Rainsford beginning with where
  he landed, where he went following his landing,
  his trail during the hunt, and how he escaped
  back to the house

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• You must create a list of these locations
  before beginning to design you map. This list
  will be turned in with your map of Ship Trap
  Island.
• Map should be labeled and clearly marked. The
  map should also be colored. Various aspects of
  the geography of the island should be included on
  your map. Rainsfords trail should be clearly
  marked on the map.
• The map should include a key. The key should
  denote the symbol for the locations east,
  north, south, west and a symbol for Rainsfords
  trail on the island.
• Rubric for Grading
• Colorful 20 17 15
• Labeling/Neatness 20 17 15
• Accuracy 20 17 15
• Key/Trail Marked 20 17 15
• Detailed Locations 20 17 15
• Total________________

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The Task You will create a video game proposal
that you will present to the executives in charge
of the Educational Game Expo. Your proposal will
be created in PowerPoint and must include the
following slides. 1. Title Slide - State the
name of your game, what novel it is based on and
name the creators of the game (You!) 2.
Character Slides - Include pictures and
information about all the characters that will
appear in your game - the protagonist (main
character), antagonist (villain, adversary, etc.)
and any other characters that appear in your
game. Also include the goal of each character in
the game and their status with regard to the main
character - do they seek to harm or help them?
You should make sure to cover all the characters
in the story. 3. Objective Slide - State the
ultimate objective of your game. What is your
main character's mission or strategy in the game?
How do they know when they have won the game?
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The Most Dangerous Game by Richard Connell,
captures the readers interest through the use of
intense conflict. The most obvious conflict is
that of human vs. human as General Zaroff is
literally hunting Rainsford as he would an animal
to the death. Another conflict that is present,
is the conflict that Rainsford has with nature
and the elements. Rainsford struggles with the
ocean and the harsh conditions of the jungle. At
one point during the hunt, Rainsford steps in
quicksand. Then, as he stepped forward, his foot
sank into the ooze. He tried to wrench it back,
but the muck sucked visciously at his foot as
though it were a giant leech (p.26). Finally
Rainsford struggles internally with constant fear
that sometimes compromises his judgement. As
Rainsford is being chased by Zaroffs hounds
toward the end of the story, Rainsford has to
remind himself to stay calm. Nerve, nerve,
nerve! he panted, as he dashed along (27). All
three types of conflict help to add suspense to
the story.