1. What does this title suggest about what the story is about?
Ming’s Biggest Prey
Who do you think Ming is? Who do you think is Ming’s ‘prey’?

2. Look at the clues below. Can you work out a plot from them?
Main characters: Elaine, Teddy, Ming
Setting: Acapulco in Mexico
Plot elements: a boat cabin, a precious necklace, Elaine’s house, a death

3. Let’s read the first two pages of the story
What do we learn about Ming in this first part of the story?
Write down 5 words and phrases that describe Ming on white board.

4. Write a paragraph (Option 1)
Use your notes to write a paragraph about what we learn about Ming in the first two pages of the story. Use quotes to support your points.

5. Write a paragraph (Option 2)
The story is told mostly from Ming’s perspective in the third person. We call this third person limited perspective.
How different would it be if the story was told in the first person? Try rewriting the first paragraph of the story in the first person as though Ming was telling the story to a friend. Then compare your version with the original. Which do you prefer and why?
Write it in your exercise books.

6. Possible themes
What do you think the story will be about now you have read the opening?
Can you detect any possible themes (ideas) that Highsmith may explore in the story?

7. Lesson Objective: To understand how Ming works as a character we are interested in
Animals have personalities, too. Think of an animal you know and describe its behaviour to your classmate.

8. In some ways, Ming is a typical animal
Highlight some phrases which show his animal nature:
Ming’s actions - verbs such as purred, let his tongue slide out, ….
His sharp senses, e.g. smell – Teddie’s smell, …
His appearance - Four paws, …
The way people treat him - ….

9. In some ways, Ming is a typical animal
Highlight some phrases which show his animal nature: Ming’s actions - verbs such as purred, let his tongue slide out, he moved gracefully, leapt, lying in a relaxed curve His sharp senses, e.g smell – Teddie’s smell, Elaine’s perfume, sense of hearing is sharp – likes the sounds of Elaine’s washing dishes, hears what Teddy is doing – splash and plop, hears Teddy coming back, animal instinct His appearance - Four paws – references to animal’s body, his ears ‘twitched’, fur, The way people treat him – he is ‘picked up’ / people ‘stroke’ him roughly

10. In other ways, Ming is more human-like. We call this anthropomorphic
Here are some words and phrases which make Ming seem rather human-like. Can you say why they seem human and not cat-like?
‘Ming took it calmly. Dignity was to be preserved’
‘Ming sense that Teddie took it as a hostile gesture of some kind, which was why Ming did it deliberately’ –
(Ming didn’t like )‘people who separated him from Elaine
Elaine ‘cradled’ Ming in her arms.

11. In other ways, Ming is more human-like. We call this anthropomorphic
Here are some words and phrases which make Ming seem rather human-like. Can you say why they seem human and not cat-like?
‘Ming took it calmly. Dignity was to be preserved’
-sounds rather fussy and unusual for a cat to worry about his ‘dignity’
‘Ming sensed that Teddie took it as a hostile gesture of some kind, which was why Ming did it deliberately’ –
animals normally behave by instinct, but this shows thinking and planning (like a human)
(Ming didn’t like )‘people who separated him from Elaine’ – Ming experiences human feelings – jealousy
Elaine ‘cradled’ Ming in her arms. – Ming is treated like a human child by Elaine.

12. List the steps in their deteriorating relationship:
Read the rest of the story. Think about how Highsmith builds tension between Ming and Teddie
List the steps in their deteriorating relationship:
1 In the very first sentence of the story, Ming is roughly stuck out on the hot deck on the boat by Teddie.
Ming doesn’t like the way Teddie looks at him. 3 Vs

13. Why does the fight occur, in your opinion?
Why does Teddy want to hurt Ming?
Why does Ming decide to fight Teddy, rather than just escape?
Who do you root for – Teddy or Ming? Why?

14. Which adjectives would you use to describe Ming from your understanding of his character so far?
Aim for 10!

15. Teddy and Elaine’s relationship
What have we learned about the relationship between Elaine and Teddy?
How does it described at the start of the story?
What happens on the boat?
What happens back at the house?
How does Elaine respond to Teddy’s death?

16. Creative writing
What do you imagine Elaine was thinking when she stroked Ming’s head at the end of the story? Write her diary for that day. Is there any suggestion in the story that she is aware Ming caused Teddie’s death?

17. Effect on readers
When Ming kills Teddie he is pleased with himself, stands up tall and ‘inhaled the aroma of his victory with a lifted nose’. How do we, the readers, feel about Ming now? Is our reaction to him the same as earlier in the story or has it changed?

18. What kind of a story is this?
If you had to briefly describe what kind of a story this is, what would you say?
Do you think the plot is realistic? Could a cat attack a man in this way and cause his death? Why?/Why not?
What do you think the author is trying to show through her story?