Theme: A theme is the main idea or message in a story. It's what the author wants you to learn or think about.
To find a theme, ask yourself:
1. What do you think is the main message or lesson of the story?
I think the main message of the story is...
2. List three themes you've found in the story so far:
3. Choose one of the themes you listed above. What parts of the story show this theme?
This theme is shown when...
In this story, the idea of "the hunter vs. the hunted" is very important. It means the roles of who is chasing and who is being chased can switch.
Hunter: Someone who chases or looks for animals or people
Hunted: Someone who is being chased or looked for
1. How does Rainsford's view on hunting change during the story?
At first, Rainsford thought... but later he realized...
2. Find two quotes that show the idea of "the hunter vs. the hunted." Explain how each quote shows this idea.
| Quote | Explanation |
|---|---|
"..." |
This quote shows... because... |
"..." |
This quote shows... because... |
3. How does the author use Ship-Trap Island to make the "hunter vs. hunted" idea stronger?
The island helps show this idea because...
Another big idea in the story is the difference between being "civilized" and being "savage."
Civilization: When people follow rules and act in a polite, organized way
Savagery: When people act in a wild, violent, or uncivilized way
1. How does General Zaroff explain why his actions are okay? How does this relate to being civilized or savage?
General Zaroff thinks his actions are okay because... This shows...
2. How does Rainsford's behavior change as he tries to survive? What does this say about the line between being civilized and savage?
Rainsford starts to act more... This suggests that...
3. Fill in the table below with examples of civilized and savage behavior from the story:
| Civilized Behavior | Savage Behavior |
|---|---|
Example: Zaroff's polite dinner manners |
Example: Hunting humans for sport |
Character Analysis: Looking closely at how a character acts, thinks, and changes in a story
Thematic Development: How the main ideas (themes) of the story grow and change
1. List three traits (qualities) of General Zaroff and give an example from the story for each:
| Trait | Example from the story |
|---|---|
Trait: Cruel |
Example: He hunts humans for fun |
2. How does Zaroff's character help show the theme of civilization vs. savagery?
Zaroff shows this theme by...
3. How does Rainsford change from the beginning to the end of the story?
At the start, Rainsford was... By the end, he became...
4. How does Rainsford's change help show the themes we've talked about?
Rainsford's change shows the theme of... because...
Writing a theme analysis paragraph:
Write a paragraph about a theme in "The Most Dangerous Game." Use the structure below:
Check your work: After writing your paragraph, answer these questions: