The Landlady
Billy finds a boarding house that seems warm and comfortable. Name one detail that creates this welcoming mood.
The bright fire, pleasant furniture or plump armchairs, friendly smile, etc.
Who is the experienced hunter who becomes the hunted?
Rainsford
Name 2 of the 3 wishes that the White family makes
The first wish is for £200; the second is to bring Herbert back to life; the third is used to undo the second wish, with the exact wording left unspecified.
Who is Vera?
The young girl who tells Framton the story about the open window
Who is Edward's son, and why does he become frustrated with his father's stories?
Will Bloom, because he wants to know the truth about his father rather than hear exaggerated tales
Passage: The sign seems like a large black eye watching Billy. What mood does this image create?
An eerie, uneasy or suspicious mood
Rainsford must decide how to survive while Zaroff hunts him. What type of conflict is this, and why?
External conflict because Rainsford is struggling against Zaroff, who threatens his life
The family sits inside on a stormy night while the wind and weather make the house feel isolated. How does the setting help create suspense?
The stormy, isolated setting creates a sense of danger and makes the family seem cut off from help
Vera explains that Mrs. Sappleton's husband and brothers disappeared while hunting and that the window is kept open for their return. What does this story make Framton believe?
That the men died or disappeared tragically and that Mrs. Sappleton is still waiting for them to return 3 years later
Edward tells stories in which he often appears heroic or extraordinary. How might this affect the way others perceive him?
They may see him as larger than life, charming and adventurous, but may also struggle to know the real person.
The landlady opens the door almost immediately and seems to have been waiting for Billy. Why might this detail make readers suspicious?
She seems to have expected him, suggesting something is unusual about her interest in him
Rainsford disagrees with Zaroff's belief that humans are simply prey for a superior hunter. What does this reveal about Rainsford's values?
He believes human life has more value than animals and that hunting people is morally wrong.
Morris warns the family about the paw and wants to get rid of it. How does his warning affect the reader?
Foreshadowing and dread, because it suggests the paw will bring danger or suffering
When the men return through the open window, Framton runs away in terror. Why does he react this way?
He believes Vera's invented story is true and thinks he is witnessing something supernatural or horrifying
Will's frustration grows because he cannot separate fact from exaggeration and his father won't tell him the truth. Which type(s) of conflict are occurring here?
External conflict between Will and Edward, with an internal conflict for Will as he struggles to understand his father
Billy learns that the previous guests have not seemed to leave. Why is this detail more disturbing than it first appears?
It suggests that something may have happened to them and foreshadows danger.
Rainsford previously believes that the world is divided into hunters and the hunted. After experiencing the hunt himself, what might he understand differently?
Being hunted creates fear and suffering, helping him understand the perspective of the animals he once dismissed
After the first wish comes true, the family discovers that the money is connected to Herbert's death. What literary device makes the outcome especially disturbing?
Situational irony, because a wish for money is fulfilled through a terrible and unexpected loss
Vera quickly invents another story to explain why Framton ran away. What does this reveal about her character and the power of storytelling?
Vera is imaginative, clever and skilled at deception, and a convincing story can shape how someone interprets reality
Edward's stories are often exaggerated, but they also communicate his hopes, values and relationships. How can a story be emotionally true even when some details are not literally true?
The events may be exaggerated, but the stories can still express real feelings, important experiences or meaningful truths about a person's life
Explain how Dahl uses the contrast between the comfortable house and the disturbing clues to build suspense.
There is a shift from a welcoming mood to an unsettling or threatening mood, which makes readers question whether Billy is safe
Provide 3 examples of conflict from the story:
1 example of person vs. nature
1 example of person vs. time
and 1 example of internal conflict
1.Rainsford battles the ocean at the beginning, has to survive outside for 3 days, etc.
2. Rainsford has 3 days to stay alive if he wants to leave this island
3. Rainsford must stay motivated and maintain belief in his abilities in order to persevere
How does the ending use the reader's imagination to create fear?
The reader never sees exactly what is outside the door, leaving the final danger uncertain.
Vera's stories sound believable because she includes specific details and acts confident. How does this demonstrate the difference between perception and reality?
Framton interprets events through the story he has been told, so he mistakes an ordinary event for something frightening
By the end of the film, Will begins to tell a story about his father's final moments. How does this show a change in Will's understanding of storytelling?
Will begins using storytelling himself to honor his father and communicate meaning, rather than seeing stories only as lies or avoidance of the truth