This story is an excellent example of the use of figurative language in a story to add feeling and mood to the story. We see many uses of figurative language throughout the story. A greater understanding of what is happening and the events taking place is more easily imagined with this important element of literature. Figurative Language is used throughout "The most Dangerous Game" to illustrate setting and character.
Many words such as similes, metaphors, and words that demonstrate personification, are used throughout the story to describe the setting of "The most Dangerous Game". A good example of this is a line in the story describing how dark and foggy it was making the visibility terrible. It states, "But it was like trying to see through a blanket". The fog must have been very thick and heavy, for Rainsford had to strain his eyes to try to see through it. This is an example of the author portraying a scene in the story using figurative language. The mysterious, eerie mood helps the reader imagine what the character in the story is observing. In addition, the mood is complemented even further when the author writes as follows, "The muttering and growling of the sea breaking on the rocky shore". I think at this point in the story, Rainsford was unaware of what was ahead of him and was a little scared. He knew he was close to shore and he was going to make it. The scene is once again portrayed in the mind of the reader as Rainsford makes it ashore. .
As much as figurative language is used to describe the scenery and mood at hand, the use of figurative language as a means for description of the characters in the story is also an important aspect in literature. Furthermore, the author describes the general as mean and uncaring when he writes; "The general was a Devil". This characterization is learned later to be correct when the reader discovers the true personality of Zaroff.