The Most Dangerous Game

Richard Connell

Important FactsProtagonist - Sanger RainsfordAntagonist - General ZaroffConflicts - person v/s person;

person v/s selfPoint of View - third person

limitedSetting - a yacht & an island in

the Caribbean Sea

Theme

While nature is predictable and animals follow instincts only man has the superior power of reason.

Freytag’s Pyramid

1. Exposition2. Narrative

Hook3. Rising Action4. Climax5. Falling Action6. Resolution

1 2

3

4

5

6

ExpositionPart of the work which

introduces the characters, the setting, and the basic situation.

Aboard the yacht, Rainsford discusses hunting plans with his companion, Whitney.

Narrative Hook (Conflict)

The point in a story, novel, or play at which the author catches the reader’s attention by presenting a problem or conflict

Rainsford enjoys Zaroff’s civility until he learns what Zaroff hunts.

Rising Action

All of the events leading up to the climax

Rainsford falls overboard, finds island, meets Zaroff, learns of his “hobby”, and is told he is to be hunted next!

ClimaxHighest point of interest or

suspense

Rainsford confronts Zaroff in the bedroom

Falling ActionAny events occurring after the

climax but before the resolution

Not much else in this story. Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution, all occur very close together

ResolutionEnd of the central conflict - loose

ends tied upRainsford realizes that it is

sometimes necessary to abandon one’s principles to survive

“He had never slept in a better bed, Rainsford thought.”

Denouement

French for “descending.” Any events that occur after the resolution.

ConflictExchange between Rainsford and

Whitney about the feelings of the jaguar show two opposing views on hunting. Hunter v/s hunted

Man v/s Man - Rainsford v/s WhitneyMan v/s Nature - Rainsford v/s the

island and the oceanMan v/s Himself - Rainsford v/s

feelings about hunting

Foreshadowing

Island seems dangerous; sailors fear it

Hunting of large animal with a .22 caliber rifle

Verbal Irony

Zaroff loves his dogs, but feels no love for humanity

Zaroff says he is civilized, but he is actually not because he hunts humans.