The Most Dangerous Game Study Guide

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The Most Dangerous Game Study Guide

Literary Analysis

1. Using your literature book, define the word suspense: __________________________
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2. How do writers create suspense?
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3. Using your literature book, define the word conflict: ___________________________
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Reading Strategy

4. What is context clues used for? ____________________________________________
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5. What are you looking for when you are using context clues? ____________________
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The Most Dangerous Game

6. Look at the painting on page 18 of your story. How does this painting create a feeling
of suspense?
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7. How do sailors feel about the mysterious “ship-trap island” (page 19)?

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8. How does the sound of the shot add suspense (page 20)? ________________________
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9. What is about the last paragraph that makes the reader want to turn the page and
continue? _______________________________________________________________

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10. What were the dangers that Rainsford faced before he was able to pull
himself on shore?
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11. A cartridge is the casing for a bullet. How could you use this knowledge
as a context clue that might help you determine what a twenty-two is?
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12. What did Rainsford see that astonished him?
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13. How does the repeated phrase “was real enough” help you to understand
what a mirage is in the first paragraph?
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14. Disarming has more than one meaning. It can mean “to remove anger or
suspicion. “It can also mean “to take someone’s weapon away.” Why is the
author’s use of the word disarming humorous in this passage?
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15. How dies the general’s secretive behaviors increase the sense of
suspense?
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16. What do we learn about the general that explains his confident attitude
and interest in hunting?
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17. Has your impression of Zaroff changed since you met him on page 17?
Explain.

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18. Why is the general bored with hunting ordinary animals?
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19. The general is intentionally building the suspense here. Can you predict
what the animal is? If you have guessed, pay close attention as you read the
rest of the page. Write the sentence at the point that you figure out what the
animal is.
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20. To what Rainsford referring when he used the underline phrase “This is
a grisly joke”?
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21. What do you think is the meaning of condone? Underline the context
clues that help you determine its meaning.
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22. What does he mean when Rainsford says “I’m a hunter, not a murderer”?
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23. What trick does the general use to bring ships to the island?
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24. What would Zaroff refer to shipwrecked sailors as “specimens”?
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25. What do you think is the meaning of invariably? Write the context clues
that help you determine its meaning.
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26. Does Zaroff ever have and difficulty defeating the men he pursues?
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27. What kind of heads is likely to be in Zaroff’s “new collection” in the
library?
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28. Why is General Zaroff not feeling well this morning?
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29. Do you think Zaroff expected Rainsford to turn down his offer of
hunting with him? Explain.
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30. What is Rainsford thinking in the underlined sentence?
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31. Why do you think Zaroff gives Rainsford so much advice if Zaroff wants
to hunt and kill him?
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32. Why does Rainsford decide to change him strategy?
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33. What leads Rainsford to believe that Zaroff is toying with him?
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34. What impact does each of Rainsford’s narrow escapes have on you as a
reader?
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35. What gives Rainsford the idea to dig a trap?
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36. He lived a year in a minute. How do you think Rainsford feels after his
efforts?
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37. How do Zaroff’s unemotional speeches after each incident contribute to
the suspense?
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38. The two words bay and baying are closely related but have different
meaning.

What is an animal at bay?_________________________________________

Which context clues led you to your definition?
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What is the baying of hounds?
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What context clues helped you determine the meaning?
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39. What is the outcome of the story?
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40. Were you satisfied with the outcome of this story? Why or why not?
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41. Did using clues, such as words and ideas, from the surrounding context
help you understand this story?

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