Study guide for first test in English I. You may work with a partner or a small group. Show me your guide when you are finished for your credit. It is worth 50 points. J

The Most Dangerous Game

1. How does Rainsford feel about the animals he hunts?

2. How does Whitney explain the troubled mood of the sailors as they near Ship-Trap Island?

3. Why is the island called Ship Trap Island?

4. What is the abrupt sound that startles Rainsford as he reclines in a steamer chair?

5. How does Rainsford arrive at the mysterious island?

6. Describe the building that Rainsford approaches.

7. Describe General Zaroff's physical appearance.

8. Describe General Zaroff's personality.

9. How does the reader know Zaroff is an intelligent and sophisticated man?

10. Who is Ivan?

11. How does General Zaroff justify hunting and killing humans?

12. How does Zaroff stock his island with 'game'?

13. Explain the rules of the hunt.

14. According to General Zaroff, why is Rainsford the ideal prey?

15. Where does Rainsford spend the first night of his hunt?

16. Inspite of being hurt, Zaroff congratulates Rainsford on his cleverness?

17. What happened to Lazarus?

18. How can the reader tell who won the final encounter between Rainsford and Zaroff?

19. Do you think Rainsford's attitude towards hunting changes through the story?

20. How does the author create suspense and inspire fear in the reader?

The Lady or The Tiger

1. What does the author mean by "When he and himself agreed upon anything, the thing was done"? (top page 1) Why has he expressed the meaning in this way?

2. Did the mourners come to the arena because they wanted to?

3. Why did the king think the princess' lover would be 'disposed of' whichever door he opened?

4. How had the princess found out what was behind each door?

5. Why had the king thrown the princess' lover into prison?

6. Is there a suggestion that polygamy is legal in the kingdom?

7. This story has an open ending, what does that mean?

8. What is the main conflict in the story? Man vs. man, man vs. self, man vs. nature or man vs. society? Explain.

The Cask of Amontillado

1. What does the name "Fortunato" suggest? What do you think of a character who will not tolerate insult without seeking revenge?

2. Is the narrator addressing a specific character that remains silent? Who might "so well know the nature of [the narrator's] soul"?

3. The narrator offers some advice on seeking revenge. What is his advice?

4. How does the narrator behave around his "friend" Fortunato?

5. What does this paragraph tell you about the narrator, about his social class, his attitude toward himself and others, his understanding of others?


6. Why do you think Poe chose "dusk" and the carnival season as part of the setting for this story?

7. For what other reason might Fortunato greet the narrator with "excessive warmth"?

8. Fortunato is wearing a costume similar to that of a jester.

9. Apparently, the narrator also greets Fortunato with "excessive warmth," but why?

10. Do you think this will be a "lucky" meeting for Fortunato?

11. Amontillado is a fine sherry. Remember what the narrator identifies as Fortunato's weak point"?

12. Psychologically, what effect might the narrator's words have on Fortunato in this paragraph?

13. Why would the narrator repeat that he "has his doubts" about the Amontillado he purchased? Earlier, the narrator states that he, like Fortunato, is a wine expert.

Misc.

1. Explain the different kinds of conflicts in literature.

2. What is tone?

3. What is mood?