Analysis of Richard Connell's short story "The Most Dangerous Game".

1. The Most Dangerous
Game
Keynote by: Jordan Bordwine Edited By: Mr.Denison’s
6th Hour

2. Plot and Figurative
LanguagePlot and figurative language have a very important
meaning when added to the story.
The kind of story an author creates depends on how
they write the plot. Some stories can be calm and quiet;
others can be thrilling and exciting such as Richard
Connell’s “The Most Dangerous Game”. The author
uses personification to show that Rainsford is
surrounded by danger as evidenced by “giant rocks
with razor edges crouch like a sea monster with wide-
open jaws.” and “muck sucked viciously at his foot as if
it were a giant leech.” These uses of personification
show the gravity of Rainsford’s situation as well as the
hopelessness he experienced.

3. Theme and Mode
An author uses theme to create the mood
in a reader. They strive to make the reader
feel the character’s experience. The
characters expressed their self by stating
they are a certain mood. Theme is
important because if there was no theme,
there really wouldn’t be a story. The theme
of the story is that people should be treated
with respect, even if they are different, or
unlike you. The story would be lifeless
without mood or theme.

4. Tone and Syntax
Richard Connell, author of “The Most Dangerous
Game”, uses unique words in the story. The tone in
this passage changes from optimistic to Rainsford
first arrived to the island till when the story ends.
Tone is used frequently in this story because it gives
the passage characteristics and makes the reader
more interested in it. Syntax is used in every story,
in fact stories are completely made up of them. An
example of a compound sentence used as syntax is
“He saw no sign of a trail through the closely knit
web of weeds and trees; it was easier to go along
the shore, and Rainsford floundered along by the
water.”.

5. Conflict and
CharacterizationConflict is a series of different things or events,
Conflict makes the story interesting. The conflict in
this story is man vs. nature as evidenced by “Wash
from the speeding yacht slapped him in the face and
the salt water in his mouth made him gag and
struggle.” This early conflict builds sympathy for
Rainsford and his plight. Indirect characterization is
another good way to make a story more interesting.
On the first page of “The Most Dangerous Game”
there is an example of indirect characterization “The
world is made up of two classes the hunters and the
huntees.” We can infer that Rainsford is very
competitive, wise, and smart.

6. Diction and Point of
viewDiction and point of view play a major role in this story.
Diction refers to the writer or the speakers distinctive
vocabulary choices and style of expression in the
story. An example diction is “Had thrashed about it in
the underbrush” (Connell 3) Thrashed gives the
reader a big idea of what Rainsford’s situation is,
meaning that Rainsford is running around violently
with panic. Point of view is a narrators position in
relation to the story being told. The story “The Most
Dangerous Game” is written in third person
omniscient. Third person is omniscient is important in
this story because it allows the reader to experience
the characters’ thoughts without experienceing those
thoughts personally.