The Most Dangerous Game by Richard Connell (Intermediate)

Intermediate

story

Once upon a time, a famous hunter named Rainsford was sailing through the Caribbean Sea with his friend Whitney. As they sailed into the night, Whitney pointed into the darkness and said, "Off there to the right—somewhere—is a large island. It's rather a mystery—"

"What island is it?" asked Rainsford.

"The old charts call it Ship-Trap Island," Whitney replied. "Sailors have a curious dread of the place. I don't know why. Some superstition—"

"Can't see it," remarked Rainsford, trying to peer through the thick tropical night.

"You've got good eyes," said Whitney with a laugh, "but even you can't see four miles or so through a moonless Caribbean night."

"Nor four yards," admitted Rainsford. "Ugh! It's like moist black velvet."

"Well, I think I'll turn in now, Rainsford," Whitney said. "Good night."

"I'm not sleepy," said Rainsford. "I'm going to smoke another pipe on the afterdeck."

Rainsford sat there in the dark, listening to the engine's muffled throb and the swish of the propeller. Suddenly, he heard three gunshots off to the right. Intrigued, he stood up and leaned over the rail to see better, but lost his balance and fell into the sea.

He struggled to the surface, tried to cry out, but the yacht sped away, leaving him behind. Remembering the gunshots, he swam towards the sound. After a long swim, he finally reached a rocky shore and dragged himself up. Exhausted, he fell into a deep sleep.

When he awoke, he was hungry and thirsty. He followed the shore until he found signs of a struggle and an empty cartridge. "A twenty-two," he remarked. "That's odd."

He continued along the trail and came upon a palatial chateau. Surprised, he knocked on the door. A giant man with a long-barreled revolver opened it. "Don't be alarmed," said Rainsford. "I fell off a yacht. I'm Sanger Rainsford of New York City."

Another man, elegantly dressed, approached and introduced himself as General Zaroff. "It is a great pleasure to welcome the celebrated hunter, Mr. Rainsford," he said.

Rainsford was treated to dinner, where he learned that Zaroff was also a hunter, but of a different kind. "I hunt the most dangerous game," Zaroff revealed. "I hunt humans."

Rainsford was horrified. "That's murder!" he exclaimed.

Zaroff dismissed Rainsford's objections. "Life is for the strong, to be lived by the strong. The weak were put here to give the strong pleasure."

Zaroff gave Rainsford a choice: be hunted or face Ivan, the giant. Rainsford chose to be hunted. Armed with only a knife and a head start, he plunged into the jungle.

He used all his hunting skills to set traps and evade Zaroff. First, Rainsford constructed a Malay mancatcher, a trap he had learned about during his travels. He carefully balanced a dead tree on a smaller, living one, setting it up to fall when triggered by a tripwire. When Zaroff approached, the trap was sprung, but Zaroff's keen instincts saved him; he jumped back just in time, though he sustained a minor injury.

Next, Rainsford dug a deep pit in the path he anticipated Zaroff would follow. He lined the bottom with sharpened stakes and covered the top with a camouflage of branches and leaves, creating a Burmese tiger pit. As Zaroff's hunting dogs came close, one fell into the pit, but Zaroff himself remained unharmed and continued his relentless pursuit.

Desperate, Rainsford devised one last trap. He tied his hunting knife to a sapling, bending it back and securing it with a delicate trigger of vines. When Ivan, Zaroff's formidable assistant, followed Rainsford's trail, he triggered the trap. The sapling sprang forward, driving the knife into Ivan and killing him instantly.

Despite these efforts, Zaroff and his remaining hounds continued their chase. Rainsford realized that even his most cunning traps were not enough to stop the determined general. With the hounds drawing nearer, Rainsford knew he had to make a final, desperate move.

In a final desperate move, Rainsford leaped into the sea. Zaroff, thinking Rainsford had perished, returned home satisfied. However, that night, when Zaroff went to his bedroom, he found Rainsford waiting.

"Rainsford!" exclaimed Zaroff. "How did you get here?"

"I swam," Rainsford replied. "I found it quicker than walking through the jungle."

Zaroff congratulated him, but Rainsford was not done. "I am still a beast at bay," he said. "Get ready, General Zaroff."

The next morning, Rainsford slept peacefully in Zaroff's bed, having finally ended the most dangerous game.

The End.

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Words and Idioms

Study it with Flashcard

https://quizlet.com/kr/928440148/the-most-dangerous-game-by-richard-connell-flash-cards/?i=3en6ue&x=1jqt

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Superstition (n.) - a belief that certain events or things will bring good or bad luck.

Cartridge (n.) - a case containing a charge of gunpowder and a bullet.

Chateau (n.) - a large French country house or castle.

Intrigued (adj.) - aroused the curiosity or interest of.

Muffled (adj.) - not loud because of being obstructed in some way; muted.

Palatial (adj.) - resembling a palace in being spacious and splendid.

Dismiss (v.) - to reject or put aside.

Anticipate (v.) - expect or predict.

Camouflage (n.) - the disguising of military personnel, equipment, and installations by painting or covering them to make them blend in with their surroundings.

Relentless (adj.) - oppressively constant; incessant.

Formidable (adj.) - inspiring fear or respect through being impressively large, powerful, intense, or capable.

Turn in - go to bed.

Dragged himself up - pulled himself up with great effort.

Head start - an advantage given at the beginning of a race, a task, or a competition.

Plunged into - jumped or dived into.

Questions

1. What is the name of the island where the story takes place?

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a) Skull Island

b) Treasure Island

c) Ship-Trap Island

d) Mystery Island

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2. Who is General Zaroff's assistant and enforcer?

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a) Whitney

b) Ivan

c) Captain Nielsen

d) Rainsford

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3. Why does Rainsford fall into the sea?

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a) He is pushed by Zaroff

b) He jumps in to catch a fish

c) He loses his balance while leaning over the rail

d) He dives in to save someone

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4. What happens when Rainsford sets the knife trap?

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a) It kills Zaroff

b) It kills one of the hunting dogs

c) It kills Ivan

d) It fails to trigger

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5. What does Ship-Trap Island symbolize in the story?

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a) A place of adventure and excitement

b) Isolation and danger

c) Wealth and prosperity

d) Peace and tranquility

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6. Which theme is most prominent in "The Most Dangerous Game"?

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a) The value of friendship

b) The conflict between good and evil

c) The struggle for power

d) The thin line between hunter and hunted

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AP-Test Style Writing Topics

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1. Analyze the transformation of Rainsford’s character throughout the story. How do his experiences on Ship-Trap Island challenge and ultimately change his views on hunting and survival? Use specific examples from the text to support your analysis.

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2. Discuss the ethical implications presented in "The Most Dangerous Game." How does Connell use the character of General Zaroff to explore the moral boundaries of hunting and human nature? Provide a well-reasoned argument that addresses the complexities of these ethical questions.

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3. Examine the use of setting in "The Most Dangerous Game." How does Connell create a sense of suspense and foreboding through his descriptions of Ship-Trap Island? Analyze how the setting influences the mood of the story and the actions of the characters.

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Answer Keys

1. c) Ship-Trap Island

2. b) Ivan

3. c) He loses his balance while leaning over the rail

4. c) It kills Ivan

5. b) Isolation and danger

6. d) The thin line between hunter and hunted

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Sample AP-Test Style Writing

1. Rainsford begins the story with a clear, unambiguous view on hunting: he sees it purely as a sport, with no empathy for the prey. His conversation with Whitney reveals his belief that animals do not understand fear or pain, and he dismisses concerns about the morality of hunting. However, his ordeal on Ship-Trap Island dramatically alters this perspective. When Rainsford becomes the hunted, he experiences the terror and desperation that he previously believed were beyond the comprehension of his prey.

His transformation begins with his initial fear and struggle for survival after falling off the yacht. As he faces General Zaroff's sadistic game, he learns to empathize with the hunted. His cunning and resourcefulness are tested as he sets traps, such as the Malay mancatcher and the Burmese tiger pit, which mirror the tactics he used as a hunter. These experiences force him to confront the reality of being pursued, hunted, and fearing for his life.

Rainsford's final confrontation with Zaroff signifies the culmination of his transformation. When he confronts Zaroff in the bedroom, declaring himself "a beast at bay," it symbolizes his complete understanding of the primal fear and instinct to survive that he once dismissed. This phrase indicates that Rainsford has fully internalized the terror of the hunted, blurring the lines between hunter and prey.

By the end of the story, Rainsford's experiences have profoundly changed his outlook on hunting and survival. He is no longer a detached observer of the hunt but has become deeply aware of the fear and pain it involves. His transformation is a commentary on the nature of violence and the ethical implications of hunting, challenging the reader to reconsider the boundaries between hunter and hunted.

2. "The Most Dangerous Game" presents a complex exploration of ethical boundaries through the character of General Zaroff. Zaroff embodies the extreme end of the hunting spectrum, where the hunt transcends sport and becomes a perverse exercise in power and control. Connell uses Zaroff's character to challenge readers to think about the morality of hunting and the value of human life.

Zaroff's philosophy is rooted in a Social Darwinist worldview, where the strong dominate the weak. He rationalizes his actions by claiming that life is for the strong to enjoy and that the weak exist to provide pleasure to the strong. This belief system allows him to dehumanize his prey, viewing them as mere objects for his amusement rather than as sentient beings with intrinsic value. His cultivated manners and refined lifestyle starkly contrast with his barbaric practices, highlighting the dissonance between his outward sophistication and inner savagery.

Connell forces the reader to grapple with the ethical implications of Zaroff's actions by placing Rainsford, a fellow hunter, in the position of the hunted. This role reversal highlights the inherent cruelty of hunting when viewed from the perspective of the prey. Rainsford's initial dismissal of Whitney's concerns about animal suffering comes full circle when he experiences the same fear and desperation he once inflicted on his quarry.

The story questions whether there is a moral distinction between hunting animals and hunting humans. Zaroff's justification for his actions—that his prey can reason and therefore provide a greater challenge—suggests that he views the ability to reason as both a blessing and a curse. It elevates the thrill of the hunt while simultaneously stripping his prey of their humanity.

In conclusion, Connell uses "The Most Dangerous Game" to probe deep ethical questions about the nature of hunting and the value of life. Zaroff's character serves as a vehicle to explore these themes, forcing readers to confront the moral ambiguities and potential for cruelty inherent in the pursuit of power and domination over others. The story challenges us to reflect on our own beliefs about violence, empathy, and the ethical treatment of living beings.

3. In "The Most Dangerous Game," Connell masterfully uses the setting of Ship-Trap Island to create a pervasive sense of suspense and foreboding that drives the narrative and shapes the characters' actions. The island itself is shrouded in mystery and fear, described initially as a place of superstition and dread among sailors. This ominous reputation sets the stage for the tension that follows.

Connell's descriptions of the island are rich with atmospheric details that enhance the mood of the story. The dense jungle, with its "snarled and ragged" vegetation, creates a claustrophobic environment where danger lurks behind every tree. The oppressive darkness of the tropical night, described as "moist black velvet," adds to the sense of uncertainty and fear. These elements combine to create a setting that is both exotic and menacing, a place where normal rules do not apply.

The isolation of the island amplifies the suspense. Cut off from the rest of the world, Rainsford is plunged into an environment where he must rely solely on his wits and survival skills. The island's geography, with its rocky shorelines and treacherous terrain, further complicates his efforts to evade Zaroff. This physical isolation mirrors Rainsford's psychological isolation as he grapples with the horrors of being hunted.

The chateau, Zaroff's palatial home, stands in stark contrast to the wildness of the jungle. Its grandeur and sophistication are juxtaposed with the brutality of the hunt, underscoring the duality of Zaroff's character. The opulence of the chateau initially provides Rainsford with a false sense of security, which is quickly shattered as he learns of Zaroff's true nature.

Throughout the story, the setting influences the characters' actions and heightens the tension. The jungle becomes a battleground where Rainsford's ingenuity is tested against Zaroff's relentless pursuit. The treacherous landscape forces Rainsford to use every ounce of his skill and cunning to survive, while Zaroff's familiarity with the terrain gives him an advantage.

In conclusion, the setting of Ship-Trap Island is integral to the suspense and mood of "The Most Dangerous Game." Connell's vivid descriptions and the stark contrasts within the island create an atmosphere of tension and danger that drives the story forward. The setting not only shapes the characters' actions but also serves as a reflection of the story's deeper themes of survival, power, and the thin line between civilization and savagery.

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