Plot
What causes Rainsford to fall into the sea?
He loses balance while smoking his pipe and falls off the yacht.
Who is Rainsford’s hunting companion at the beginning of the story?
Whitney.
Define palpable
Easily perceived; obvious; able to be felt.
Which type of conflict best describes Rainsford vs. Zaroff?
Man vs. Man
What is the central theme of the story?
The thin line between civilization and savagery; survival of the fittest.
Where does Rainsford first sleep after escaping the ocean?
On the rocky shore of Ship-Trap Island.
Who is Ivan and what role does he play in Zaroff’s household?
Zaroff’s servant/bodyguard; a large, mute Cossack.
What does indolently mean?
Lazily; sluggishly.
What does the name “Ship-Trap Island” foreshadow?
That ships and sailors are lured to their doom on the island.
Why does Zaroff believe his hunting is acceptable?
He claims humans are the only creatures that can reason, making them worthy opponents.
How many days must Rainsford survive Zaroff’s hunt to win?
Three days.
What trait makes Rainsford the “ideal prey” in Zaroff’s eyes?
He is intelligent and experienced as a skilled hunter.
What does it mean to be naïve?
Innocent, inexperienced, or lacking worldly wisdom.
Give one example of irony in the story.
Zaroff considers himself civilized but hunts humans; Rainsford, the hunter, becomes the hunted.
What does the story suggest about civilization vs. savagery?
That beneath civilized appearances, humans can be cruel and barbaric.
Name one of the traps Rainsford sets for Zaroff.
The Malay man catcher, the Burmese tiger pit, or the knife trap that kills Ivan.
How does Zaroff describe himself as a hunter?
Sophisticated, cultured, and bored with hunting animals because they pose no challenge.
What is a cosmopolite?
A person comfortable in many countries and cultures.
How does Connell use suspense to keep readers engaged?
Through cliffhangers, close escapes, and constant danger as Rainsford sets traps and flees Zaroff.
How does the line between hunter and hunted blur in the story?
Rainsford begins as a confident hunter but experiences the terror of being hunted, shifting roles with his prey.
What happens in the final scene of the story?
Rainsford defeats Zaroff and sleeps in Zaroff’s bed, implying Zaroff is dead.
Compare Rainsford’s attitude toward hunting at the beginning and the end of the story.
At first, he is dismissive of the prey’s feelings and enjoys hunting without guilt; by the end, he experiences the fear of being hunted and understands the perspective of the prey.
Use tangible in a sentence related to the story.
“The terror Rainsford felt while being hunted was almost tangible.”
What does Rainsford’s statement, “The world is made up of two classes—the hunters and the huntees,” suggest about foreshadowing?
It foreshadows that Rainsford will experience life as both the hunter and the hunted
Do you think Connell intended the story as just entertainment, or as a critique of human nature? Defend your answer.
Likely both — it’s a thrilling adventure but also critiques arrogance, violence, and the morality of hunting for sport.