Character and Point of View in “The Most Dangerous Game,” Part 1 Answers

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Which excerpt from "The Most Dangerous Game" best portrays Zaroff as Rainsford’s foil?

Read the excerpt from "The Most Dangerous Game.""Life is for the strong, to be lived by the strong, and, if needs be, taken by the strong. The weak of the world were put here to give the strong pleasure. I am strong. Why should I not use my gift? If I wish to hunt, why should I not? I hunt the scum of the earth—sailors from tramp ships—lascars, blacks, Chinese, whites, mongrels—a thoroughbred horse or hound is worth more than a score of them."

Read the excerpt from "The Most Dangerous Game."The lights of the chateau were out now, and it was dark and silent, but there was a fragment of sallow moon, and by its wan light he could see, dimly, the courtyard. There, weaving in and out in the pattern of shadow, were black, noiseless forms; the hounds heard him at the window and looked up, expectantly, with their green eyes. Rainsford went back to the bed and lay down. By many methods he tried to put himself to sleep. He had achieved a doze when, just as morning began to come, he heard, far off in the jungle, the faint report of a pistol.

Read the excerpt from "The Most Dangerous Game.""Pure imagination," said Rainsford. "One superstitious sailor can taint the whole ship's company with his fear."

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Read the excerpt from "The Most Dangerous Game."The dining room to which Ivan conducted him was in many ways remarkable. There was a medieval magnificence about it; it suggested a baronial hall of feudal times with its oaken panels, its high ceiling, its vast refectory table where twoscore men could sit down to eat. About the hall were mounted heads of many animals—lions, tigers, elephants, moose, bears; larger or more perfect specimens Rainsford had never seen. At the great table the general was sitting, alone.

Read the excerpt from "The Most Dangerous Game.""I wanted the ideal animal to hunt," explained the general. "So I said: 'What are the attributes of an ideal quarry?' And the answer was, of course, 'It must have courage, cunning, and, above all, it must be able to reason.'""But no animal can reason," objected Rainsford."My dear fellow," said the general, "there is one that can.""But you can't mean—" gasped Rainsford."And why not?""I can't believe you are serious, General Zaroff. This is a grisly joke.""Why should I not be serious? I am speaking of hunting.""Hunting? General Zaroff, what you speak of is murder."

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