The “Most Dangerous Game” was written in 1924 by Richard Connell. In the beginning, after Rainsford falls off his ship and winds up on an ominous island, he meets the affable General Zaroff. At first, Zaroff appears to a very affable person, although Rainsford soon finds out that Zaroff is actually sadistic. To clarify, Rainsford discovers that Zaroff takes joy out of hunting humans for sport. With this in mind, Zaroff spurs on an interesting game of cat and mouse with Rainsford. Symbols, foreshadows, and allusions create suspense for the reader while reading the story. These literary devices all help move the story forward as well as keep the reader on edge. Throughout the story Connell uses symbols to keep readers interested. For example, …show more content…
Connell’s use of the number three signifies to the reader that something big is to come later for Rainsford. Similarly, Connell’s use of shadows may hint to the reader that someone may be following Rainsford. Later, upon Rainsford’s discovery of the gruesome activities General Zaroff enjoys, Rainsford is left restless in his room. Therefore, Rainsford decides to look out his window where, “ . . . there, weaving in and out in the pattern of the shadow were black, noiseless forms; the hounds heard him at the window and looked expectantly with their green eyes,” (17). The author has Rainsford look out of a window to convey to the reader that Rainsford might not see the whole picture, or may not understand the significance of the situation. By hinting there may be another aspect to the whole situation, Connell gives the reader an uneasy and uncertain feeling. Furthermore, towards the end of the precarious hunt Rainsford makes a great escape, which goes unknown to Zaroff. Subsequently, Zaroff, …show more content…
To demonstrate, the story starts with Rainsford and his shipmates sailing past an ominous island, While sailing, Rainsford and his friends discuss their feelings on the island, “’The place has a reputation, a bad one,’”(6). Due to Connell making the characters’ feelings and opinions towards the island obvious, he tells us that something sinister is about the island from the first pages of the story. In addition, Zaroff gives us insight on his race with his first lines of dialogue, “’A simple fellow, ut I’m afraid like all of his race, a bit of a savage . . . He is Cossack . . . So am I,’” (10). If readers analyze this sentence before going on they might notice that Zaroff is blatantly telling Rainsford that he, himself, is a nefarious person. Prior to eating his dinner, Zaroff is left to think about the day’s events, “Of course the American hadn’t played the game –so thought the general . . . “(23). The General speculates that he did not play the game; he does not know this for a definitive fact. Here the author gives the reader a very blatant statement that has the reader wondering whether or not Rainsford is dead. People reading this might skim over this part and think nothing of it, but in reality Connell tells us a major part in the story which entices the reader to continue. Connell’s constant use of foreshadow encourages the reader to continue are similar to when he uses subtle references of famous