The Most Dangerous Game By Richard Connell

Role-play

What do you know about Zaroff &Rainsford? Good at hunting but merciless. Good at hunting but merciful. ZaroffRainsford

What is the organization of the second part?

Four Rounds of Competition NO.Para.TimePlace Score R vs. Z Trick

Four Rounds of Competition NO.Para.TimePlace Score R vs. Z Trick nightbushZaroff “ Fox and cat ” skill nightwoodsHurt Zaroff Malay man-catcher night Death swamp kill a dog Burmese tiger pit nightridge kill Ivan A native Uganda trick

Today’s Focus (15-28)

Retell the “Fox and cat” skill Q: What is the story of fox and cat? execute a series of loops double on his trail recall skills climb up a tree stay on one broad limb

Discussion Section

What made The Most Dangerous Game frightening? Talk about how Connell inspires fear without obvious bloodshed/grotesqueness. What is setting?setting The importance of setting in this part (18-19 ) Where is the story set (geographically)?geographically What is your feeling when reading Para (15- 19)? What are the words, phrases or sentences contributing to your feeling?

An important way of selecting and shaping the material is through the setting-the physical and sometimes spiritual background against which the action takes place. Good artists work on setting in the same way jewelers on diamonds to set them off. Author creates a background for characters and plot. Setting can pertain to physical surroundings as well as state of mind (psychological setting).

Sentence appreciation 1)Rainsford had fought his way through the bush for two hours.”I must keep my nerve. I must keep my nerve,” he said through tight teeth. (←15) Rainsford realizes that his life is at stake, and unless he keeps calm and acts wisely, he would certainly be hunted down. [Repetition] get on sb.'s nerves 使某人心烦意乱 have the nerve for [to do]sth. 有勇气做某事 lose one's nerves 害怕起来, 变得慌张, 不知所措 regain one's nerve 恢复勇气和自信, 恢复镇静

2) He saw that straight flight was futile; inevitably it would bring him face to face with the sea. He was in a picture with a frame of water, and his operations, clearly, must take place within that frame. (←17) P: He knows that he cannot escape General Zaroff by simply running straight ahead because he is on a small island. [Metaphor]

3) The night crawled slowly like a wounded snake, and sleep did not visit Rainsford although the silence of a dead world was on the jungle. (--19) P: Time moves very slowly. Rainsford is so worried and scared that he cannot sleep although it is very quiet in the jungle. [Simile] [Personification]

What does this description remind you  night~sky~bird~person  Dead silence~cry of a startled bird ~footstep (slowly and carefully)~something moving by the same winding way~the sight of a man

Pause Drop to his knees Study the ground Shake his head Straight up Take out a cigarette Eyes traveling up the tree Stop Smile Deliberately blow a smoke ring Impulse to hurl himself down Hold his breath Freeze (Muscle) tenses to spring (Air) burst from his lungs Feel sick and numb Feel a shudder of cold horror

Sentence appreciation 1) Rainsford’s impulse was to hurl himself down like a panther, but he saw that the general’ right hand held something metallic---a small automatic pistol. (-20) P: Rainsford’s first reaction is to jump upon General Zaroff and take his chances, but then he is checked by the sight of the pistol in the general’s right hand. [Simile]

2) Very deliberately he blew a smoke ring into the air, and then turned and walked carelessly away. (--21) Deliberately: slowly and unhurriedly Q: Why does the general walk away carelessly?

3) …he must have uncanny powers; only by the merest chance had the Cossack failed to see his quarry. (---22) P: Rainsford’s first thought is terrible. He now realizes that the general has incredible or even supernatural powers, and he has had a very narrow escape only by the merest chance. [Inverted order]

4) “I will not lose my nerve. I will not.”(--25) P: It shows that Rainsford is already losing nerve. He is trying desperately not to let this happen. [Repitition]

Second Round (Para 26-28) Retell the second round of competition between Rainsford and Zaroff Q: What is man-catcher?

Out of class activities ：  If you were going to direct the movie The Most Dangerous Game, how would you do it? You are going to pitch your idea to a big-shot Hollywood producer who will decide if they will fund your movie. If they agree to make the movie, you will have an unlimited budget. Pay particular attention to setting. How would you make it as frightening as possible? Who would you cast in the roles? Where would you shoot it? How would you shoot it? Would you have it narrated or would you just have it acted out? Pitch your idea to me on audiotape and hand it in next class.

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