The Most Dangerous Game Literary Analysis and Response Writing

Literary Terms for the Story: Foreshadowing: a hint or series of hints about what is to come.   Foreshadowing can come as a title, a description, or through narration in the form of descriptions or dialogue that make greater sense once the story is told to the end.

Why Use Foreshadowing? Hinting at things to come helps an author build suspense and prepares the reader's mind for the conflict that is being developed. Foreshadowing also helps the reader believe things that are really unbelievable by giving clues ahead of time that they are possible.

Foreshadowing Examples: "The old charts call it `Ship-Trap Island,"' Whitney replied." A suggestive name, isn't it? Sailors have a curious dread of the place. I don't know why. Some superstition--"(6). On your own: look through the first three pages of the story. Find an example of foreshadowing and write it down. Remember to use quotation marks and put the page number in parentheses.

Irony Irony occurs when there is a double-meaning, or an unexpected occurrence, or some other happening or statement that just doesn't match up to expectations. It's what causes us to say, "THAT'S FUNNY, BUT NOT HAHA FUNNY." Situational Irony: Something happens that is the opposite of what is expected, but still often oddly fits in to the story. Verbal Irony: Something is said that does not fit with what the character really means or intends.

Why Use Irony? Irony forces us to stop and think. It makes the reader re-evaluate, often even re-read, the story to see why things happened differently than expected. Irony often also adds an element of surprise or humor to a story.

Irony Examples Situational Irony:  Rainsford is a hunter who is constantly searching for more and more challenging game. In the end, he himself becomes the game for another hunter who is bored and looking for a challenge.   Verbal Irony:  "'We'll have capital hunting, you and I,' said the general'"(14).   The general is talking about hunting Rainsford, not hunting WITH Rainsford.

On Your Own: Find an example of irony either verbal or situational, in the story The Most Dangerous Game. Write it in your notes, using correct citation (quotation marks and page number notation).

Imagery Imagery is the descriptive language used by an author to evoke all of the sensed. This can be done with a lot of descriptive words, but is most effective when the author uses just a couple of really well-chosen words to create the feeling.

Why Use Imagery? In the absense of being there, a reader wants to feel as much a part of the story as possible. This is why movies are so incredibly popular; they enhance the story-telling experience with sight and sound as well as language. An author wants to give the reader a sense of exactly what mood exists in his mind. Word choice (diction) is extrememly important to imagery.

On Your Own Find an example of imagery in the story. Write it, using quotation marks and citing the page number.