Recalling Events
This is the name of the story’s main character.
Who is Sanger Rainsford?
Rainsford hears these sounds from the island shortly before falling overboard.
What are gunshots?
Zaroff provides fine food and clothing to Rainsford while planning to hunt him. This contrast shows that Zaroff is this kind of person.
What is civilized in appearance but cruel in his actions?
Sailors fear Ship-Trap Island before Rainsford learns about Zaroff. From its name, readers can infer the island is this.
What is a place where ships and their crews are lured into danger?
Rainsford begins by saying the world is made up of “hunters and huntees,” but later becomes prey himself. His experience develops this theme.
What is experiencing another person’s fear can change your perspective?
Rainsford falls off this before reaching Ship-Trap Island.
What is a yacht?
Rainsford reaches Ship-Trap Island but is almost killed by...
What are rocks?
Rainsford’s ability to build traps while being pursued shows this trait.
What is resourcefulness? What is clever? What is good hunter?
Zaroff follows Rainsford’s trail to a tree, then turns away. Rainsford realizes Zaroff is probably doing this.
What is saving Rainsford for another day of hunting?
Zaroff’s elegant home and refined manners hide his violent behavior. This contrast develops a theme about the relationship between these two ideas.
What are civilization and savagery?
This is the name of the island’s owner.
Who is General Zaroff?
Zaroff considers himself to be what kind of man?
What is civilized?
Zaroff’s belief that his wealth and status allow him to hunt people reveals this attitude.
What is classism?
Zaroff says he has grown bored with hunting animals. Readers can infer that his desire for a more challenging hunt has led him to do this.
What is excusing murder?
Zaroff claims that being strong gives him the right to hunt people. The story challenges this belief about power.
What is having power does not make an action right?
Zaroff calls this servant to answer the door when Rainsford arrives.
Who is Ivan?
How long must Rainsford evade Zaroff?
What is three days?
Rainsford refuses to join Zaroff’s hunts. This decision shows that he...
What is considers it murder?
Rainsford jumps into the sea near the end of the hunt. What can readers infer about why he takes this risk?
What is he sees the sea as his best chance to escape Zaroff?
The island’s dangerous setting and Zaroff’s hunt force Rainsford to make quick decisions to stay alive. This develops the theme of this human instinct.
What is survival?
This is the animal Rainsford and Whitney discuss hunting at the beginning of the story.
What is a jaguar?
How does Rainsford make it back to the chateau?
What is swimming?
Early in the story, Rainsford dismisses Whitney’s concern about how hunted animals feel. This suggests Rainsford initially lacks this quality toward prey.
What is empathy?
The story ends with Rainsford saying he has never slept in a better bed. What does this suggest happened after he met Zaroff in the bedroom?
What is Rainsford defeated Zaroff and slept in his bed?
By ending just after Rainsford confronts Zaroff, the story leaves readers to consider whether Rainsford has changed in this troubling way.
What ishe still feels like a beast at bay?