The Most Dangerous Game by Richard Connell

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Quickwrite

Vocabulary

Introducing the Story

Literary Focus: Foreshadowing

Reading Skills: Making Predictions

Meet the writer

The Most Dangerous Game by Richard Connell

The Most Dangerous Game Quickwrite

Make the Connection

Some of the most exciting narratives pit villain against hero in a life-or-death struggle. The tension in such stories often depends as much on the character of the bad guy or gal as on that of the hero. Write a few sentences describing a villain from a novel, story, or movie. Why does the character fascinate you?

Vocabulary

The Most Dangerous Game Vocabulary

Previewing the Vocabulary

receding v. used as adj.: becoming more distant.

disarming adj.: removing or lessening suspicions or fears.

prolonged v. used as adj.: extended.

imprudent adj.: unwise.

surmounted v.: overcame.

unruffled adj.: calm; not disturbed.

The Most Dangerous Game Vocabulary

Previewing the Vocabulary

invariably adv.: always; without changing.

diverting adj.: entertaining.

impulse n.: sudden desire to do something.

protruding v. used as adj.: sticking out

The Most Dangerous Game Vocabulary

Vocabulary Activity

Answer the following questions with yes or no.

1. Does a man with a receding hairline have much hair?no

2. Would a disarming leader be able to calm an angryyescrowd?

3. Would you be displeased if a vacation was prolonged?no

4. Is it imprudent for bicyclists to wear helmets? no

5. Would you admire a person who surmounted a yesdifficulty?

The Most Dangerous Game Introducing the Story

There is a passion for hunting something deeply implanted in the human breast.

Charles Dickens (1812-1870)

The Most Dangerous Game Literary Focus: Foreshadowing

Foreshadowing is the use of clues that hint at later events in the story. Foreshadowing

• creates suspense

• makes you curious, even anxious, to know what happens next—it keeps you turning the pages

The Most Dangerous Game Literary Focus: Foreshadowing

• Once you’ve finished reading, you can piece together the clues and enjoy the story all the

more.

• In this suspenseful tale the ominous foreshadowing will hook you early on.

The Most Dangerous Game Reading Skills: Making Predictions

When you read a suspense-filled story, you make predictions about what is going to happen, often without even realizing it.

A prediction is a type of inference or a guess based on evidence. Predictions may be based on

• clues the writer plants

• your own experiences in life

• your understanding of how stories work

The Most Dangerous Game Reading Skills: Making Predictions

The titles of stories and any illustrations can also provide clues about the story.

• What do you predict the title of this famous adventure story might mean?

• What do the illustrations hint at?

The Most Dangerous Game Introducing the Story

This adventure story is set on Ship-Trap Island, a mysterious island inhabited by General Zaroff. Zaroff is a cultured but sinister Russian who hunts

the most dangerous game in the world.

Russian takes refuge on a tropical island. Why is General Zaroff so far from home?

Click here to find out.

Meet the Writer

The Most Dangerous Game Meet the Writer

Richard Connell was born in 1893 in Duchess County, New

York. At the age of ten, he began his writing career as a cub reporter for the newspaper his father edited in Poughkeepsie, New York.

He went on to write hundreds of short stories, as well as novels and screenplays.

Proofreading Warm-up

Item 1 Luz rose her hand, and answered

conflict is a struggle against an outside enemy or an inner problem.

Item 2 “The conflict in the story is among the

evil man and the hunter she added.

Proofreading Warm-up

Item 3 after he falls overboard Rainsford swims to an island but he don’t know what to expect.

Item 4 Zaroffs pursuit has a galvanizing affect on rainsford.

Proofreading Warm-up

Item 1 Luz rose her hand, and answered

conflict is a struggle against an outside enemy or an inner problem.

Corrected Luz raised her hand and answered, “Conflict is a struggle against an outside enemy or an inner problem.” (comma after hand deleted)

Proofreading Warm-up

Item 2 “The conflict in the story is among the evil man and the hunter she added.

Corrected “The conflict in the story is between the evil man and the hunter,” she added.

Proofreading Warm-up

Item 3 after he falls overboard Rainsford swims to an island but he don’t know what to expect.

Corrected After he falls overboard, Rainsford swims to an island, but he doesn’t know what to expect.

Proofreading Warm-up

Item 4 Zaroffs pursuit has a galvanizing affect on rainsford.

Corrected Zaroff’s pursuit has a galvanizing effect on Rainsford.