“The Most Dangerous Game” Notes and Pre-Reading

Warm Up Your Brain! September 17, 2012 Journal #10 Choose one of the following topics to respond to—or if you’re feeling really smart, respond to both. Do you believe that fear is a necessary emotion for survival? Explain. What do you believe is more reliable, instinct or logic? Explain. Choose one of the following topics to respond to—or if you’re feeling really smart, respond to both. Do you believe that fear is a necessary emotion for survival? Explain. What do you believe is more reliable, instinct or logic? Explain.

“The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell

Literary Analysis: Conflict Conflict Conflict is a struggle between opposing forces. Internal v. External In an internal conflict, a character grapples with his or her own opposing feelings, beliefs, needs, or desires. In an external conflict, a character clashes with an outside force—for example another character, society, or nature.

Conflict Conflict drives the plot of most stories. Its solution usually occurs near the end of the story, in the resolution. When a story’s conflict is left unresolved, the character may have an epiphany, or sudden flash of insight that changes his or her feelings about the conflict. Conflict drives the plot of most stories. Its solution usually occurs near the end of the story, in the resolution. When a story’s conflict is left unresolved, the character may have an epiphany, or sudden flash of insight that changes his or her feelings about the conflict.

Reading Skill: Make Inference Inferences are logical assumptions about information or ideas that are not directly stated in a piece of writing. When you make inferences, you use details as clues to develop ideas about unstated information and concepts in the text. Inferences are logical assumptions about information or ideas that are not directly stated in a piece of writing. When you make inferences, you use details as clues to develop ideas about unstated information and concepts in the text. To make inferences as you read a story, for example, ask questions such as these about characters’ feelings and behavior: 1.) What does this detail show about the reason for a character’s actions or words? 2.) What does this passage say about the character’s unstated feelings?

“The Most Dangerous Game” Story Vocabulary (pg. 212) Palpable Indolently Naïve Scruples Grotesque Futile Word study: The Latin suffix – esque which forms adjectives, means “in the style or manner of.” Palpable Indolently Naïve Scruples Grotesque Futile Word study: The Latin suffix – esque which forms adjectives, means “in the style or manner of.” Directions: Define each of the vocabulary words listed. Identify the part of speech (i.e, noun, verb, adjective, etc.) Copy the sentence provided in the book, AND create 1 sentence of your own.

Palpable Palpable – 1.readily or plainly seen, heard, perceived; obvious; evident. Synonym: plain, obvious Ex: a palpable lie 2. Capable of being touched or felt; tangible. Synonym: material

Indolent Indolent – having or showing a disposition to avoid exertion; disliking work or effort; lazy; idle. Synonyms: slow; inactive; sluggish; torpid

Naive Naïve - having or showing lack of experience; judgment or information. Synonyms: gullible; trusting; unsophisticated; unsuspecting; inexperienced; credulous.

Scruples Scruple - A moral or ethical consideration or standard that acts as a retraining force or inhibits certain actions. Synonym: restraint 2. Scruple - A unit of weight; a very small portion or amount.

Grotesque Grotesque – odd or unnatural in shape, appearance, or character; fantastically ugly or absurd; bizarre. Synonyms: distorted, deformed, monstrous

Futile Futile - Incapable of producing any results, not successful. Synonyms: ineffective; useless; pointless