Plot
Where is Rainsford heading in the beginning, and why?
To Brazil/Rio/the Amazon to hunt jaguars
Who is Whitney?
Rainsford's hunting partner. He tells Rainsford about Ship-Trap Island.
Where is Ship-Trap Island located?
The Caribbean Sea
Describe General Zaroff's "game". How many times has he lost?
He lets men out with a knife and three hours head start. He follows them with a small pistol. If they get away for three days, they win, but he has never lost.
What, according to Rainsford, is the best sport in the world? Does Whitney agree? Explain.
What noise does Rainsford hear while sitting on deck? What can you infer from this?
He hears three shots. You can infer that someone is hunting on the island.
Who is Ivan? How does he die?
General Zaroff's servant and formerly a Cossack. He is killed by the knife Rainsford attaches to a sapling tree.
Describe the terrain of Ship-Trap Island.
Rocky shore, dense jungle, tangle of trees and underbrush
"Ragged jungle fringed the shore."
On the first night, Rainsford hides from General Zaroff by climbing a tree. Zaroff starts to look up the tree where he was hiding, but then smiles and walks away. Why?
He was "playing" with him; saving him for another day's sport.
What two classes does Rainsford think the world is made up of?
The hunters and the huntees.
Rainsford falls overboard. What noises does he hears while swimming? Does Rainsford recognize the sound?
Loud screaming, the sound of an animal in extreme terror.
No, Rainsford does not recognize the sound.
What trait of Zaroff's made Rainsford uncomfortable?
The general was always "studying him, appraising him narrowly".
How does General Zaroff lure men to the island?
Sets up lights to indicate a channel where there isn't one to trap ships against the rocks. (Hence the name of the island: Ship-Trap Island)
Describe the Malay Man Catcher. What does it do to Zaroff?
The Malay Man Catcher is a trap made from a tree; it was intended to crush Zaroff, but he jumped out of the way in time. Because of this, only his arm was hurt.
According to Zaroff, what is "the most dangerous game"? Why?
Humans, because they have the ability to reason.
What items does Ivan give Rainsford for the game?
Khaki hunting clothes, haversack of food, and a leather sheath with a long handled hunting knife
How does General Zaroff know who Rainsford is? What can you infer about Zaroff by this?
He knows who Rainsford is because he has read his book on hunting snow leopards. You can infer that he must be very interested in hunting.
Describe the chateau that Rainsford discovers on the island.
Enormous; "lofty structure with pointed towers plunging upward into the gloom"; set on a "high bluff"; stone steps; large door with gargoyle knocker
What happened once Rainsford built the Burnese tiger pit?
Zaroff's hunting dog, Lazarus, is killed by it. Rainsford mistakes the dog's cries for those of General Zaroff.
What sound made Rainsford "know he had new things to learn about fear"?
The sound was the "baying of a pack of hounds" on their way to hunt him.
Describe how the story ends.
Rainsford sneaks into Zaroff's room and kills him. He then sleeps in Zaroff's bed while Zaroff is presumably fed to his own dogs.
Describe Rainsford's first impression of General Zaroff.
He thought he was "singularly handsome"; there was an "original, almost bizarre quality" about his face.
What are the four settings/locations of the hunt?
In a tree
In the woods near a huge, dead tree
Death Swamp (the quicksand)
Cliff's ridge, right by the sea
How did Rainsford finally managed to escape Zaroff and the hounds?
He dove into the sea.
What "two slight annoyances" prevented Zaroff from "perfect enjoyment" after the hunt?
He thought it would be difficult to replace Ivan, and his quarry had escaped him.