Personification in the Most Dangerous Game with page numbers

In "The Most Dangerous Game," Rainsford falls overboard on a dark night and swims to supposed safety on Ship-Trap Island. What he doesn't understand is that he will spend the next week fighting for his life against Zaroff and his giant butler Ivan. Zaroff, an avid hunter, explains that Rainsford is the prey in the hunt, and Zaroff explains that indeed it is man who is the most "dangerous game." In order to tell the story well, Richard Connell employs many examples of figurative language.

Imagery

Imagery is the tool writers use to paint a picture with their writing. Imagery refers to anything that is received through the senses: sight, hearing, touch, taste and smell. Connell creates imagery in many places. He describes the hot night when Rainsford falls off the boat by writing: "... the dank tropical night that was palpable as it pressed its thick warm blackness in upon the yacht." This helps the reader feel as if he is there. Another example of imagery is the following: "The sensuous drowsiness of the night was on him. 'It's so dark,' he thought, 'that I could sleep without closing my eyes ...' " Imagery brings the reader closer to the story.

A comparison of two unlike things is known as a metaphor. Connell uses metaphors to create a comparison that says so much in just a few words. In the dark of night, when Rainsford was talking about falling asleep, he says,

"... the night would be my eyelids." He was saying that the night was so dark, it was as if his eyes were closed. He also describes falling in the water and watching the boat continue by saying, "The lights of the yacht became faint and ever-vanishing fireflies." This comparison shows how the lights were twinkling as he was bobbing in the water.

Personification

When an author gives human qualities and characteristics to inanimate objects, this is personification. Connell writes that "... a sharp hunger was picking at him." Picking at someone is a human quality, and therefore this is personification. Another great example is: "... the sea licked greedy lips in the shadows." The sea cannot lick its lips, as this is a human quality.

Symbols

A symbol is an object that represents something both literally and figuratively. In other words, it has come to mean something beyond itself. In this story, the bed is the most important symbol. At the end of the story, there is a standoff between Zaroff and Rainsford in Zaroff's bedroom. They were to fight to the death, and the very last line says, "He had never slept in a better bed, Rainsford decided." The bed symbolizes Rainsford's victory in the game, and his defeat of Zaroff.

Best summary PDF, themes, and quotes. More books than SparkNotes.

The Most Dangerous Game

Kdnxnekaksnf

Asked by on 9/11/2017 9:53 PM

Last updated by Margaret H #731989 on 12/10/2017 11:10 PM
Answers 2
Add Yours

Answered by jill d #170087 on 9/11/2017 10:04 PM

Examples of Personification:

"'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."

"t..... he crew's nerves seemed a bit jumpy today."

"Ten minutes of determined effort brought another sound to his ears--the most welcome he had ever heard--the muttering and growling of the sea breaking on a rocky shore."

Source(s)

The Most Dangerous Game

Answered by Margaret H #731989 on 12/10/2017 11:08 PM

“The place has a reputation-a bad one.”

”An evil place can, so to speak, broadcast vibrations of evil.”

“Where there’s none; giant rocks with razor edges crouch like a sea monster with wide-open jaws.”

Source(s)

Most Dangerous Game


A prime example of personification in Richard Connell’s short story “The Most Dangerous Game” occurs early in the story when Rainsford, still aboard the yacht, is “trying to peer through the dank tropical night that was palpable as it pressed its thick warm blackness in upon the yacht.” Night is given the human ability to press itself against something. According to Dictionary.com, personification gives non-living things human abilities and qualities.

The sea is personified several times in the story. After falling off the yacht, Rainsford fought the sea to stay alive. “Ten minutes of determined effort brought another sound to his ears—the most welcome he had ever heard—the muttering and growling of the sea breaking on a rocky shore.” In this passage, the sea is given the human ability to mutter and growl.

When Rainsford first sees the house on the island, he notices that “it was set on a high bluff, and on three sides of it cliffs dived down to where the sea licked greedy lips in the shadows.” In this sentence, the sea is personified as having greedy lips that it licks. Another example of the author’s personification of the sea occurs when Rainsford is trying to escape from General Zaroff’s hounds and reaches the sea. “Twenty feet below him the sea rumbled and hissed.” In this line, the sea has the human-like ability to make a hissing sound.

MORE FROM REFERENCE.COM

What is an example of personification in The Most Dangerous Game?

In the story, Connell personifies the sea the most, using it to create an obstacle that is both grand and animalistic. For example, when Rainsford lands on the island, the text says, ''The sea licked greedy lips in the shadows. '' This personifies the sea as something which is malicious and out to get Rainsford.

What is an example of figurative language in The Most Dangerous Game?

Some examples of this are: 'The sea licked greedy lips in the shadows,' and, in combination with a simile, 'Giant rocks with razor edges crouch like a sea monster with wide-open jaws.

What are 3 literary devices in The Most Dangerous Game?

All Literary Devices..
Allusions..
Dramatic Irony..
Foreshadowing..
Genre..
Hyperbole..
Imagery..
Irony..

What are 2 similes in The Most Dangerous Game?

Simile Examples 'giant rocks with razor edges crouch like a sea monster with wide-open jaws.