“The Most Dangerous Game”

By Richard Connell

Mrs. Leach 2011-2012

Style: Powerful Verbs• I told the Doberman to stop snarling. • I screamed at the Doberman to stop

his snarling. Which of these sentences is more interesting?

Which contains more information? Both sentences are basically the same except for the choice of verbs. Verbs are the engines that drive your writing forward. POWERFUL VERBS take your reader for a fast-paced, fascinating ride!

Identifying Powerful VerbsMatch each verb in the left-hand column below to a more vivid and precise verb in the

right-hand column. Write the letter of the more precise verb in the space provided.

• ____ 1. likes• ____2. follow• ____3. walked• ____4. fell• ____5. light• ____6. take• ____7. write• ____8. tried• ____9. laughed• ____10. broke

• A. ambled• B. snapped• C. adores• D. giggled• E. pursue• F. crashed• G. scribble• H. ignite• I. struggled• J. grasp

Using Powerful Verbs• Write ten sentences using ten of the

verbs listed in the right-handed column of the previous exercise. Use one verb in each sentence, and underline the verb. Write your sentences about the characters, events, and the setting in “The Most Dangerous Game.”

• EXAMPLE: General Zaroff adores the finer things in life.

Making Powerful Verbs Your Own• Write one paragraph

describing your thoughts, feelings, and actions as if you were the person being chased. Write in the present tense and use at least five POWERFUL VERBS!

Conflict• Conflict is a struggle between

opposing forces. There are two types of conflict: internal and external.

• Internal: a character struggles with his or her own opposing feelings, beliefs, needs, or desires.

• External: a character struggles against an outside force, such as another character, society, or nature.

A REAL SOLUTION

• Conflict and the search for a solution are the mainspring of a story’s plot. The solution, which usually occurs near the end of the story, is called the resolution.

AN EPIPHANY

• In some stories, the conflict is not truly resolved. Instead, the main character experiences an epiphany, or sudden flash of spiritual insight. Although the conflict is not resolved, the character’s thoughts about it change.

LITERARY ANALYSIS: CONFLICT• Directions: “The Most Dangerous Game: contains a number of

conflicts. Briefly describe the story situations surrounding each conflict, below.

• 1. Rainsford vs. Nature• 2. General Zaroff v. the “visitors” to his island• 3. Rainsford v. General Zaroff• 4. Rainsford within himself

Literary Analysis: CONFLICT• In 4-6 sentences, discuss the story’s

ending. Does the ending contain a resolution that solves the story’s main conflict? Have Rainsford’s experiences changed his views about hunting? Explain your answer by citing details from the story.

Enrichment: Dealing with Competition

• General Zaroff develops his gruesome variation on hunting because he says that hunting animals is no longer a challenge for him. He is driven by competition. His need for ever- greater challenges spins out of control.

Competition• Competition can be a positive

quality in life as a whole, and specifically in the environment of the workplace. However, competition can also be troublesome if taken to the extreme.

Dear ADVICE-GIVER,

• In each of the following situations, a competitive situation causes problems. Write 2-3 sentence for each. Give advice to the people in each situation.

Dear ADVICE-GIVER, My younger brother and I play one-

on-one basketball every night. I am older and taller than my brother and always win. He insists on playing, however, and he insists on keeping score. Should I let him win?

Sincerely, Robert

Dear ADVICE-GIVER, This girl at our school, Tiana, has the

best voice in the school chorus. During tryouts, she always wins the solos for the choral concerts. The other singers are feeling left out and are thinking of quitting the chorus.

What should I do? Sincerely, Carmella

Dear ADVICE-GIVER,

A friend and I are working part time at Dairy Queen. I would like to work together, but my friend is continually trying to outdo me in every task. I am afraid that this will make me look bad and I will be fired. What do I do?

Sincerely confused in Blizzard-land, Lydia

Anticipation Guide Revisited

Now that we have read “The Most Dangerous Game” go back to your Anticipation Guide and re-answer the same questions. Did you change your mind? If so, why? Did any of your beliefs stay the same? What do you think this is attributed to?

The Map Project After Rainsford returns to civilization, he is

asked by police to help in their investigation of General Zaroff. They would like for him to describe to the police artist the island so that they can fully understand what occurred there. YOU ARE THIS POLICE ARTIST! The next slide is a list of important locations on the island which Rainsford has given you; however, he is still shaken from his ordeal, so you will have to help him place these locations on the map since you have read the police report. (Use your knowledge of the story to help.)

The Map ProjectBe sure to include the following:1. Channel- trap for ships2. Chateau3. Tree- where Rainsford first hid after making a

trail4. Jungle- Malay Mancatcher, Uganda Knife Trick,

Death Swamp, Burmese Tiger Pit5. Cliff6. Use symbols to represent what happened in

each location and include these symbols in a key or legend to explain your map.

The Map Project