Character - The Most Dangerous Game

PRESENTATION

Character

The Most Dangerous Game

Lesson Standards

9.1(A)

9.1(D)

9.4(F)

9.5(A)

9.5(E)

9.5(G)

9.6(B)

Language Objective

Language Objective

I will use descriptive language and literary terms to discuss and analyze the characters in "The Most Dangerous Game."

Learning Intention

Learning Intention

To understand how authors develop characters and the impact of these characters on the overall narrative.

Success Criteria

Success Criteria

• I can identify and describe the main characters in "The Most Dangerous Game."
• I can analyze the use of literary devices to develop the characters.
• I can make connections between the character traits and the theme of the story.

Do Now:

• Think about a story or movie where the characters face a significant challenge.

• What qualities or traits do you believe are important for a character to navigate and overcome challenges successfully?

• List at least three characteristics and briefly explain why you chose them.

Define

• A character is any person, animal, or figure that appears in a literary work. Many types of characters exist in literature, and their thoughts, feelings, actions, and reactions are what drive the events of the plot. Writers develop characters through a variety of literary devices: narration, dialogue, and interaction with the setting and with other characters.
• The main character—the one the story revolves around and who usually has a problem to solve—is called the protagonist. The character who opposes the protagonist is called the antagonist.
• Character development in a story is closely tied to the idea of complex characters. A complex character is one who goes through some sort of change or development as the plot unfolds. A protagonist is usually a complex character and may change, for example, from someone who is shy and doubtful into a person who is confident and even aggressive.

antagonistthe character whose goals work against the protagonist

character an individual in a literary work whose thoughts, feelings, actions, and reactions move the action of the plot forward

complex charactera character who has multiple or conflicting motivations

protagonist the main character—the one the story revolves around and who usually has a problem to solve

Directions

Review the Checklist for Character below. Then read the Skill Model to examine how one student used the checklist to analyze character in “The Most Dangerous Game.” As you read, identify the question from the checklist the student used for each annotation.

Checklist for Character:In order to gather information about characters in a story, note the following:

• literary devices the author uses to create character, including
• narration
• dialogue
• interaction with setting
• interaction with other characters
• the presence of any character foils in the narrative.
• A foil is a character that exhibits traits that are in direct contrast to the traits or qualities of another character, often the protagonist.
• The objective of having a foil is to highlight the traits of the other character.

Directions

To analyze how authors develop complex yet believable characters in works of fiction use the following questions as a guide:

• Is there a character foil in the story? How does this character contrast with the protagonist?
• How does the character foil enable the author to develop the protagonist as a complex character?
• How does the character foil enable the author to develop the text’s themes?

Skill Model Noticing details and reading closely can help you analyze how authors develop complex, yet believable characters, particularly through the use of character foils. Let’s look at how one reader analyzes the use of character foils in “The Most Dangerous Game”:

Zaroff laughs at Rainsford’s “romantic ideas about the value of human life.” Rainsford replies stiffly that he doesn’t support “cold-blooded murder.” By using Zaroff as a character foil, the author highlights Rainsford’s morality.

The reader pays close attention to places in which the author uses an interaction between the protagonist and a character who acts as a character foil to show an important contrast between these complex characters’ perspectives. He notes that the general is laughing and mocking Rainsford’s views about the value of human life. He also notes Rainsford’s stiff, serious tone and that he calls the general’s actions “cold-blooded murder.” The reader notes that the general, as a character foil, helps highlight Rainsford’s moral beliefs, something that will be important to note later in the story. He continues reading “The Most Dangerous Game” and analyzes how the author uses the character foil to provide readers insight into the complex characters.

Zaroff thinks he is civilized because he has electricity and treats his prey well before hunting them. Rainsford challenges this idea. Using Zaroff as an antagonist and character foil helps the author explore the theme of civilization.

In this passage, the reader once again highlights a place where an interaction between the complex characters highlights their differences. The reader notes that each character’s viewpoint about what it means to be civilized is clearly different. The reader also notes how using Zaroff as both the antagonist and character foil to Rainsford enables the author to explore the theme of civilization, including the terms of upon which it should be defined.

EXIT TICKET

END OF THE PRESENTATION

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