The general chuckled. "They indicate a channel," he said, "where there's none: giant rocks with razor edges crouch like a sea monster with wide-open jaws. They can crush a ship as easily as I crush this nut." He dropped a walnut on the hardwood floor and brought his heel grinding down on it. "Oh, yes," he said, casually, as if in answer to a question. "I have electricity. We try to be civilized here."

Question

"Civilized? And you shoot down men?"

A trace of anger was in the general's black eyes, but it was there for but a second, and he said, in his most pleasant manner: "Dear me, what a righteous young man you are! I assure you I do not do the thing you suggest. That would be barbarous. I treat these visitors with every consideration. They get plenty of good food and exercise. They get into splendid physical condition. You shall see for yourself tomorrow."

"What do you mean?"

"We'll visit my training school," smiled the general. "It's in the cellar. I have about a dozen pupils down How does the author use satire to develop meaning in these paragraphs?

(1 point)
Responses

The author satirizes society’s notions of what makes a person civilized through Zaroff’s comparing his prison to a school.
The author satirizes society’s notions of what makes a person civilized through Zaroff’s comparing his prison to a school.

The author uses Rainsford’s questions to satirize ideas about what constitutes polite society.
The author uses Rainsford’s questions to satirize ideas about what constitutes polite society.

The author uses the narrator’s descriptions of both men during the conversation to satirize the idea that hunting is a game.
The author uses the narrator’s descriptions of both men during the conversation to satirize the idea that hunting is a game.

The author uses Zaroff’s description of the Spanish sailors to satirize overly simplistic stereotypes.

Answer 1

The most appropriate response that captures how the author uses satire to develop meaning in these paragraphs is:

The author satirizes society’s notions of what makes a person civilized through Zaroff’s comparing his prison to a school.

In this excerpt, the general (Zaroff) presents his barbaric hunting of humans as a form of civilization and education, which highlights the absurdity of his views on civility and morality. This satire underscores the contrast between genuine civilization and Zaroff's twisted sense of humanity, revealing the critique of societal norms regarding what defines civilized behavior.