Themes in “Most Dangerous Game”

Tuesday, November 2nd

Today, I will read a given text, identify a theme, and provide support from the text by writing quotes from MDG and explaining how it aligns to a theme (6.c).

Definition

Theme: A belief about life or human nature that the writer hopes we learn from the work.

How do we determine a theme?

Think of big ideas in the text. This means we have to know what is happening in the story and what it tells us about life or human nature.

What’s happening in the story?

Brainstorm with your partner main events of the story.

How would you summarize the story thus far? Do so in 2-4 sentences.

What’s going on in the story?

Rainsford, a professional hunter, is stranded on an island. He meets General Zaroff and discovers that Zaroff hunts humans because he became bored with hunting animals. Then, Rainsford begins to question hunting.

Hold on…

Rainsford changes throughout the story. This is a big deal. Pay attention to who he was… before meeting General Zaroff during his first night with General Zaroff

after his second day with General Zaroff.

Before meeting General Zaroff

Quote: “Be a realist. The world is made up of two classes --- the hunters and the huntees. Luckily, you and I are hunters” (40).

Rainsford’s Thoughts: Rainsford loves hunting and does not show respect for those he hunts.

During his first meeting with General Zaroff

Go to page 49 and reread from the bottom of the first column to the bottom of the second column.

What quote shows how Rainsford is changing how he thinks? Work with a partner and write it down.

What are we learning?

What change are we seeing in Rainsford? What does this show us?

In other words, what’s the big idea?

In other other words, what is the observation on human nature we can make?Discuss with a partner.

Write it down

Whip Around

What did you and your partner decide it shows us?

Write down any answers you don’t have

Read and Select Quotes

You will track quotes that show changes in Rainsford. Write these down under your “Theme” tab on your flip chart.

Day 2

Wednesday, November 3rd

Warm Up

Get out your notes sheet from Tuesday and summarize how Rainsford was BEFORE and DURING his time with General Zaroff on the back.

After meeting General Zaroff

On page 52 or 53, find a quote that shows how Rainsford has changed after meeting General Zaroff.

Write the quote down on your sheet and say why it relates to the idea of Rainsford changing.

What did we learn?

Look at the changes we see in Rainsford in your BEFORE, DURING, and AFTER quotes.

What are we learning?

What change are we seeing in Rainsford? What does this show us?

In other words, what’s the big idea?

In other other words, what is the observation on human nature we can make?Discuss with a partner.

Write it down on the bottom of the page.

Changes in Rainsford

Rainsford begins to understand an alternative point of view when he is forced out of his comfort zone.

Big Ideas in “Most Dangerous Game”

Empathy helps you understand another perspective

Write this down!

Support the theme with quotes!

To support themes, find quotes from the text that relate to the theme.

Yes, this means you will reread the text. Yes, you have to.