The Landlady
Why does the landlady act so kind when she first meets Billy?
She uses kindness to trick Billy to trust her so she warm behavior makes him feel safe, so he stays long enough for her to carry out her plan.
What is the name of the island where Rainsford washes ashore, and why do sailors fear it?
It's called Ship-Trap Island and sailors fear it because hidden rocks destroy ships, and people who land there often disappear.
What physical feature of the old man does the narrator say is the reason he wants to kill him?
The old man’s blue eye with a film over it.
What is one thing Martin thinks makes the elevator feel scary.
The dark ceiling light; the door that slams shut loudly; or the elevator that shakes when it leaves a floor.
What small detail in the house first hints that something is wrong?
There are no other guests’ things even though the landlady says she has many applicants.
Why does Rainsford disagree with Zaroff’s idea of hunting humans?
Rainsford thinks hunting is a sport for animals, not people. He says humans are different because we can reason, so hunting them is wrong.
Why does the narrator spend seven nights sneaking into the old man’s room without killing him?
He wouldn't kill the old man when his “evil" eye is closed because he only hates the eye.
Why does Martin stop taking the stairs and start using the elevator even he hates it?
His father looks at him like he’s a coward, so Martin feels ashamed to take the stairs.
What effect does this contrast of cozy imagery and hidden threats have on readers?
The cozy details make the house seem safe so when the threats are revealed，the shock is bigger. It also build a suspense of the unrealism.
How does the author use the island’s “dense jungle” and “darkness” to make Zaroff’s hunt more suspenseful?
The jungle is thick and easy to get lost in and can’t move easily for Rainsford. Darkness hides Zaroff and his dogs, so Rainsford has to fight both Zaroff and the island. This bring a mood of fear and tense。
Why does the author’s choice of an unreliable narrator to explain the story?
The narrator thinking of "fighting with self" make readers think about does he has mental problems. That build a suspense that makes the reader wonder about his next step.
Why does the author have the fat lady stand with her back to the door and maintain unbroken eye contact with Martin?
The author subverts elevator social norms to make the fat lady seem unusual with the eye contact and to face Martin which build a suspense.
Why does the author have Billy recognize but not fully remember about other people’s names, instead of making him forget them?
This recognition is a foreshadowing. It tells readers the names are linked to danger without giving away the twist. It also build a suspense about how dose the missing people connect with the landlady.
How does the author use the “hunter-huntee” reversal to change Rainsford’s character?
The hunt game makes him to have empathy from the emotion of scared and powerless. This change makes the climax more meaningful. He kill Zaroff because he now understands the cruelty of hunting humans. The reversal turns a “survival story” into a story about empathy.
Why does the sound of the old man’s heart grow louder as the police visit?What's its function?
The heartbeat is a symbol of the narrator’s emotion( guilt), so even after the old man dies, the narrator still hears it. This help to show the theme of the story( Unable to escape his own guilt).
How does Martin’s accident shows about the author’s point of view of fear?
Martin runs from the elevator (the fear) only to break his leg. The author uses this to show fear is inescapable.
What message does the author send through the landlady’s character?
The author warns and shows that danger often hides behind friendly faces.
What does the author show about power by having Zaroff hunt humans and Rainsford eventually kill him?
The author shows that power without morality is dangerous and it’s about knowing when to stop, even when you have the power to win.
What does the author suggest about the line between “sanity” and “madness” through the narrator’s story?
The author think and shows the line is blurry that we risk crossing into madness without realizing it.
Why does the author end the story with the open ending instead of resolving Martin’s fate?
The open ending leaves Martin’s future uncertain which makes suspense. By cutting off at the moment, the author forces readers to imagine that make the story’s scary and unescapable moods have more impact to the readers.