Is "The Most Dangerous Game" a true story?

Richard Connell wrote "The Most Dangerous Game," a short story about General Zaroff, a wealthy Cossack who hunts humans instead of animals, in 1924. There is nothing to suggest that it was based on real events. Connell certainly never claimed that it was a true story. At the time of writing, big-game hunting was extremely prevalent among wealthy people, who would often travel to exotic places in order to indulge in the thrill of hunting a dangerous animal. Connell's story takes this to extremes, by imagining what would happen if the thrill of hunting big animals eventually became insufficient, and wealthy people felt that they needed to hunt people instead in order to enjoy the fun of the hunt. The story underlines the inherent absurdity of hunting animals by forcing the reader to imagine what it would be like to be hunted.

There have been some cases of serial killings which appear to have been inspired by or share similarities with the events of Richard Connell's short story. However, these cases have all taken place in the aftermath of the story, rather than before it, and there is no demonstrable connection. The characters in Connell's story—Rainsford, Zaroff and Ivan—are all inventions of Connell's, and there is nothing to suggest that anything in the story actually happened or existed in real life.

What is "The Most Dangerous Game" and why is it considered dangerous?

The most dangerous game was created by General Zaroff. He traps or lures humans to his island so rightly named "Ship Trap Island" by sailors. Once they have been captured they are given a knife and Zaroff explains the "rules" to his "game". The human is given three days to elude capture an death while Zaroff hunts them. If they escape capture and death at the close of three days they are set free, if not- well they die.

The Most Dangerous game also has another meaning and it is that humans are the most dangerous game to hunt. Zaroff was a connoisseur of hunting and had become bored with hunting animals feeling that their cunning could not match his own. In response to his own boredom he thought he would like to hunt humans because they can reason and think and are unpredictable, making them a dangerous game to hunt.

Why is the story titled "The Most Dangerous Game"?

Author Richard Connell (1893-1949) cleverly created the title for his short story, "The Most Dangerous Game" to deliberately express a double meaning. Not only is the contest played by Zaroff (and later Rainsford) the most dangerous possible--that of hunting and killing a human prey--but it also reflects the dangers involved with hunting a man. The contest is dangerous because of the unlawful and immoral nature of the sport; if caught by legal authorities, he could be tried for murder. The human prey is dangerous because man is the most intelligent of all living beings, and the skill and cunning (especially shown by Rainsford) can make him a more worthy opponent than any animal.

What is the most dangerous game?

With a first reading, the "most dangerous game" in Richard Connell's story appears to be the hunting of human beings.  But, with a return to the story, especially its ending, the reader realizes that the "most dangerous game" is the game which can end with the loss of humanity and civilization in one's soul.

After Rainsford is captured and he dines with General Zaroff, the jaded general explains that he has tired of hunting animals and now hunts a different prey.  Shocked, Rainsford says, "[My experiences in the war killing people] "Did not make me condone cold-blooded murder." He leaves General Zaroff, telling him," I'm really not feeling at all well."  The idea of Zaroff's game sickens him.

In this earlier part of the story, Rainsford is appalled at the game of the general.  However, later when he is hunted and he must kill or be killed, Rainsford sneaks into the bedroom of Zaroff.  Zaroff smiles and congratulates him; in a "low, hoarse voice, Rainsford tells the general, "I am still a beast at bay."

Reduced to the savage level, Rainsford kills Zaroff.  Unlike the earlier Rainsford with a civilized soul who was appalled at killing a man for sport, Rainsford's final line indicates his reduction to savagery:  "He had never slept in a better bed...."

Is "The Most Dangerous Game" an imaginary, real, scientific, or informative story?

As with all good stories, classifications are difficult to make. So, the best answer is to say that the story, "The Most Dangerous Game," fits all the following - imaginary, scientific and informative. 

If I had to choose only one category to place the book, I would say that it is imaginary. It is a good piece of fiction. No island like this exists, and the characters are made up, even if there are realistic elements. 

If we look at the story from another perspective, there are elements of "science," some may say pseudo-science. For example, Zaroff says that he created a new species of animal to hunt. Here the following words:

The general smiled the quiet smile of one who has faced an obstacle and surmounted it with success. "I had to invent a new animal to hunt," he said.

Of course, these words shocked Rainsford, and when Rainsford found out this new animal was man, he was horrified. 

Finally, the story is also informative. It was published in 1924. And this point gives us a window into the culture of the 1920s, when safaris were big among people of wealth in America.