INTRODUCTION TO RAY BRADBURY’S STORIES

 August 22, 1920-June 5, 2012  Fahrenheit 451, dystopian novel about censorship and conformity  Childhood: voracious reader; fan of magic, adventure, fantasy fiction  Young Adulthood: went to the local library instead of college  Married and became full-time writer early 1943  HBO Series, Ray Bradbury Theatre, produced film adaptations of short stories RAY BRADBURY

PURPOSE OF SCIENCE FICTION “That’s my function, and it should be the function of every science fiction writer around. To offer hope. To name the problem and then offer the solution.” ~Ray Bradbury

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS 1.What role does/should technology play in modern life? 2.At what point does technology become detrimental rather than beneficial? 3.Can technology/artificial objects replace nature? Can humans and their inventions withstand the power of nature?

 The setting is where and when the story takes place: Time Location Social Conditions Natural Conditions Mood & Atmosphere  It is important to know these details to help understand the characters and the plot SETTING REVIEW

POST-APOCALYPTIC SETTINGS  Stories where characters must survive in setting that is result of catastrophe that ended organized civilization  The Apocalypse: complete destruction of a world Disease War Alien invasion Environmental reasons  Setting can be preserved, destroyed, or on its way to restoration  Setting sets up problem characters face

 Bill Gates’ Smart House: Medina, WA Microchip pin acts as your ID Automation controls everything Customized lighting, sound, and temp controls, displays, phone No visible electric outlets THE SMART HOUSE

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY Gates’ Smart House Wall-e

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY Gates’ Smart House I, Robot

NUCLEAR WARWAR

THE AFRICAN VELDTVELDT

PROTAGONISTS Mulan Simba

ANTAGONISTS Ursula Hades

PROTAGONISTS & ANTAGONISTS  What traits or qualities does the typical protagonist have?  1.  2.  3.  4.  What traits or qualities does the typical antagonist have?  1.  2.  3.  4.

 What is personification?  Why do writers use it?  What is personified in your short story? PERSONIFICATION

1. EX. “The house shuddered, oak bone on bone, its bared skeleton cringing from the heat, its wire, its nerves revealed as if a surgeon had torn the skin off to let the red veins and capillaries quiver in the scalded air” (Bradbury 5). House is being personified because it is described as being built out of nerves, skin, and bones, instead of wood and plaster. This is important because it emphasizes the fact that mankind was extinguished by an atomic bomb that probably tore away the humans’ skin, revealed their nerves, and charred their bones.

 Why do you think Bradbury names the father and children in “The Veldt” after Peter Pan characters? What do they have in common? How do they view parents/ authority figures? PETERPETER PANPAN

 What is a foil?  What are some popular examples of foils?  How is Lydia George’s foil? CHARACTERCHARACTER FOILFOIL

CHARACTER FOIL 1.EX. “George Hadley was filled with the admiration for the mechanical genius who had conceived this room” (Bradbury 2). 2.EX. “’I’m afraid.’ She came to him and put her body against him and cried steadily. ‘Do you see? Do you feel? It’s too real’” (Bradbury 2). The way the parents view the nursery is different because George is fascination by its realness and sees it as a smart machine, whereas Lydia is terrified by it and thinks it could potentially hurt them by coming to life.

CHARACTERIZATION Whole Class Practice Small Group Practice

FILM ADAPTATIONS “There Will Come Soft Rains” (Version 1) “There Will Come Soft Rains” (Version 2)

FILM ADAPTATION “The Veldt”