Discussion Topic
Rainsford's traps and Zaroff's reactions in "The Most Dangerous Game."
Summary:
In "The Most Dangerous Game," Rainsford sets several traps for Zaroff, including a Malay mancatcher, a Burmese tiger pit, and a Ugandan knife trap. Zaroff reacts with a mix of admiration and caution, evading the traps with his hunting expertise, though he is eventually injured by one of them. These traps illustrate Rainsford's resourcefulness and Zaroff's cunning.
What traps does Rainsford set for General Zaroff in "The Most Dangerous Game"?
The first trap that Rainsford sets is called a Malay mancatcher. To make the Malay mancatcher, Rainsford finds a heavy dead tree laying precariously on a smaller, living one and uses his knife to make a trigger, which sends the dead tree crashing down when stepped on. The Malay mancatcher is a partial success and strikes Zaroff with a glancing blow to the shoulder when he accidentally steps on the trigger.
The second trap that Rainsford makes is called a Burmese tiger pit. Rainsford digs a deep hole near the Death Swamp before fashioning sharp stakes from hard saplings to stick into the bottom of the pit. Once Rainsford places the stakes in the pit, he covers the hole with leaves, branches, and weeds from the surrounding area. The Burmese tiger pit is also a successful trap and claims the life of one of Zaroff's prized hunting dogs.
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. Rainsford digs a deep hole near the Death Swamp before fashioning sharp stakes from hard saplings to stick into the bottom of the pit. Once Rainsford places the stakes in the pit, he covers the hole with leaves, branches, and weeds from the surrounding area. The Burmese tiger pit is also a successful trap and claims the life of one of Zaroff's prized hunting dogs.
The third trap Rainsford creates is a native device he learned to make in Uganda. Rainsford proceeds to fasten his knife to a springy sapling, with its blade pointing down the trail. Using a bit of wild grapevine, Rainsford holds the springy sapling back with a trigger attached to the trap. This trap is also a success and claims the life of Ivan, who unexpectedly steps on the trigger, causing the sapling with the knife attached to recoil.
What traps does Rainsford set up in "The Most Dangerous Game"? What are Zaroff's reactions and promises?
In the short story "The Most Dangerous Game" by Richard Connell, the protagonist sets up many traps as he is being hunted on Ship Trap Island by General Zaroff. One of the traps that Rainsford has set up is a "Malay Mancatcher". This trap is mildly successful. "He was upon the thing Rainsford had made before he saw it. His foot touched the protruding bough that was the trigger. Even as he touched it, the general sensed his danger and leaped back with the agility of an ape. But he was not quite quick enough". The Malay Mancatcher injured Zaroff's shoulder as the dead tree came crashing down on him. Zaroff returns to treat the wound, but he promises Rainsford that he would be back. This promise is kept as Rainsford must continue to build traps and evade the pursuing General Zaroff.