1. The Most Dangerous Game by Richard Connell
Feature Menu
Introducing the Story
Literary Focus: Foreshadowing
Reading Skills: Making Predictions

2. The Most Dangerous Game by Richard Connell

3. The Most Dangerous Game Introducing the Story
There is a passion for hunting something deeply implanted in the human breast.
Charles Dickens (1812–1870)

4. 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.
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5. 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 nervous, to know what happens next—it keeps you turning the pages

6. (Your notes should look like this)
Foreshadowing: Clues and hints about what will happen later in the story
creates suspense
makes you curious and want to read more

7. 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 puts in (Foreshadowing hints)
your own experiences in life (“This happened to me before!”)
your understanding of how stories work (“Of course the good guy will win. He always does!”)

8. (Your notes should look like this)
Prediction: a guess about what will happen based on evidence like:
Author’s clues
My life experience
My knowledge of stories

9. 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?
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10. 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?
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11. Vocabulary

12. 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.

13. 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

14. The Most Dangerous Game Vocabulary
Vocabulary Activity
Answer the following questions with yes or no.
Does a man with a receding hairline have much hair?
Would a disarming leader be able to calm an angry crowd?
Would you be displeased if a vacation was prolonged?
Is it imprudent for bicyclists to wear helmets?
Would you admire a person who surmounted a difficulty? no
yes no no
yes
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15. Meet the Writer

16. 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.
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