The Most Dangerous Game

Question

by Richard Connell

“Off there to the right—somewhere—is a large island,” said Whitney. “It’s rather a mystery——”

“What island is it?” Rainsford asked.

“The old charts call it ‘Ship-Trap Island,’“ Whitney replied. “A suggestive name, isn’t it? Sailors have a curious dread of the place. I don’t know why. Some superstition——”

“Can’t see it,” remarked Rainsford, trying to peer through the dank tropical night that was palpable as it pressed its thick warm blackness in upon the yacht.

“You’ve good eyes,” said Whitney, with a laugh, “and I’ve seen you pick off a moose moving in the brown fall bush at four hundred yards, but even you can’t see four miles or so through a moonless Caribbean night.”

“Nor four yards,” admitted Rainsford. “Ugh! It’s like moist black velvet.”

“It will be light enough in Rio,” promised Whitney. “We should make it in a few days.
Use the passage to answer the question.

In 1–2 paragraphs, analyze how the author uses figurative language to reveal elements of the story’s cultural setting.

(4 points)

Answer 1

In "The Most Dangerous Game," Richard Connell employs figurative language to enrich the cultural setting and establish an ominous atmosphere. The description of the night as “thick warm blackness” that feels like “moist black velvet” evokes a sense of suffocation and foreboding, immediately immersing readers in the perilous and mysterious environment of the Caribbean. This figurative language not only highlights the physical characteristics of the setting but also suggests cultural elements associated with tropical locales, such as danger, superstition, and the unknown. The reference to sailors’ “curious dread” of Ship-Trap Island hints at local folklore and the historical fears surrounding uncharted territories, reflecting how deeply culturally ingrained beliefs can shape human perceptions of the natural world.

Additionally, the characters’ dialogue underscores the European and Western cultural perspectives of exploration and conquest. Whitney's musings about the island being a “mystery” taps into the Western fascination with exotic and dangerous lands, while Rainsford’s confidence in his abilities juxtaposes this intrigue with a sense of superiority often held by explorers of his time. The interplay between Rainsford's dismissive attitude toward superstition and Whitney's acknowledgment of sailors’ fears underscores the clash of rationality and instinct, which is emblematic of early 20th-century attitudes toward nature and adventure. Through this layered use of figurative language, Connell not only paints a vivid picture of the setting but also embeds deeper cultural significances related to exploration, danger, and the wild unknown.