The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street y by Rod Serling http://w3.uwyo.edu/~dwwilson/twilight.mid

Rod Serling 1924-1975 In the early 1950s, Rod Serling went from a boring job in Cincinnati, Ohio to becoming a television writer in New York City. Broadcast television shows had just begun, and Rod Serling first wrote for a live half-hour show called Lux Video Theatre. From there he went on to create and produce the biggest hit show of the decade in The Twilight Zone. His most famous episode, The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street, was written when people were being accused of being members of the communist party.

Vocabulary transfixed – v. very still, as if nailed to the spot intelligible – adj. understandable assent – n. agreement intimidated – v. frightened with threats defiant – adj. boldly resisting authority idiosyncrasy – n. peculiarity, odd behavior menace – n. danger, threat converging – v. closing in explicit – adj. definite, clearly stated variations – n. differences

Match the picture to a vocabulary word

Complete seven of the vocabulary activities: Describe a time you were transfixed by something on television. Write a phrase that is not intelligible. Write one sentence that includes the words assent and variations. Describe something tremendous that might intimidate a child. Draw a person or animal with a defiant pose. Describe an idiosyncrasy of someone you know. Describe something that is a menace to society. Draw a picture of an animal converging on their prey. Write explicit directions from school to your house.

"Paranoia strikes the residents of Maple Street when they believe human-looking aliens have invaded the neighborhood." "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." What does this mean? (Who said this? Hint: A President of the U.S.) How does fear affect the decisions you make? What fears might be called "universal"; shared by most almost all humans? Do you have any quirks that someone who doesn't know you might consider "weird"? What if you were judged only by your idiosyncrasies? Do you think life exists on other planets in our universe? What makes you think so? Might this life be friendly or hostile? If you wanted to take over a town--without killing anyone--how might you weaken the people enough to overcome their resistance? What is a scapegoat?

Teleplay Terms fade in – the picture gradually appears on the screen. fade to black – the picture gradually disappears until all that remains is a black screen.

a new scene is blended with a scene that is fading out. dissolve a new scene is blended with a scene that is fading out.

opening shot the first scene of the production

long shot a camera shot from far off

close-up a camera shot that is very close to its subject

outside shot a camera shot of an exterior

a sudden change from one scene or character to another. cut to a sudden change from one scene or character to another.

a swiveling movement of the camera, from one side to the other pan a swiveling movement of the camera, from one side to the other

The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street Maple Street, U.S.A., late summer. A tree-lined little road of front porch gliders, barbecues, the laughter of children, and the bell of an ice-cream vendor. At the sound of the roar and the flash of light, it will be precisely 6:43 p.m. on Maple Street. . . . This is Maple Street on a late Saturday afternoon, in the last calm and reflective moment — before the monsters came.

EMP Bombs EMP= Electro Magnetic Pulse Disables everything electrical Weapon of the future Did Rod Serling predict a future weapon?

Review Questions What do the people of Maple Street think that the UFO is at first? Who gets them to think that it might be something else? True or False? Always putting the same number of ice cubes in your drink is an example of an idiosyncrasy. Who is the scapegoat for all of the fears of the people of Maple Street?

Theme What is the theme of The Monsters are Due on Maple Street? What do you think Rod Serling's point is? Choose all that apply. To show that we should be scared of aliens. To show that we shouldn't be so suspicious of our neighbors. To show that we often judge people by insignificant things. To show that fear of the unknown makes us do things that we wouldn’t normally do. To show that scared people in a group do even worse things than they would do alone.

Poem #435 by Emily Dickinson Much Madness is divinest Sense– To a discerning Eye– Much Sense--the starkest Madness– 'Tis the Majority In this, as All, prevail– Assent--and you are sane– Demur--you're straightway dangerous– And handled with a Chain-- assent = say yes demur = say no discerning = showing good judgment starkest = most obvious divinest = most perfect