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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. When Rainsford says that he is not a murderer, the General calls him "droll" (35). What is Zaroff saying about Rainsford?

2. On page 51, Rainsford's night is said to be "apprehensive." What kind of a night is it?

3. What is the result of Rainsford's pit trap?

4. On page 55, a tree is leaning "precariously" on another tree. How is the tree leaning?

5. What spot on the island does Zaroff warn Rainsford to stay away from?

Short Essay Questions

1. During Rainsford's attempt to escape Zaroff, there are many references to animals. How are they used and what is their significance?

2. How does Zaroff obtain his victims?

3. What does the sentence "He was in a picture with a frame of water, and his operations, clearly, must take place within that frame" mean? (49)

4. Describe General Zaroff's actions when Rainsford is hiding in the tree.

5. Explain at least two ways in which the story's title can be understood.

6. What disagreement do Zaroff and Rainsford have about the difference between "hunting" and "murder"?

7. How does Rainsford finally escape Zaroff, and why is Zaroff foolish to assume that Rainsford is dead?

8. What does Zaroff ask Rainsford to promise him he will do if he wins the "game," and what is the result?

9. What are the terms of General Zaroff's "game"?

10. What does General Zaroff's definition of "civilized" seem to be?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay in which you analyze how Rainsford's attitude toward game animals changes over the course of the story. Be sure to offer textual support for your claims.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay about the story's ending in which you consider this question: Is Rainsford a hypocrite? Think about Rainsford's statements about hunting versus murder and animals versus humans. Are his beliefs consistent or do they seem to be designed to allow him to do something that he suspects might be wrong? How does this question relate to the ending of the story and his choice to seek out and kill Zaroff instead of finding and using Zaroff's boat? Be sure to use textual evidence to support your claims.

Essay Topic 3

Connell frequently uses references to specific foods and wines, books, music, and so on as a method of characterizing General Zaroff. What does this tell us about General Zaroff? And why does Connell do it so often--do the references tell the reader separate things about Zaroff, or do they serve another purpose? Write an essay that analyzes the use of these details. Be sure to use textual support for your claims.

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