1. Something Wicked This Way Comes Ray Bradbury

2. Background
From 1955 to 1962 in Los Angeles Bradbury turned a ten page story into this novel
Protagonists · 
William Halloway, James Nightshade, and Charles Halloway
Time frame
· Between the 1920s and 1950s
Setting
 Green Town, Illinois
October (autumn)

3. The Book
Something Wicked This Way Comes is a modern horror story with elements of magical realism. It is focused on two thirteen-year-old boys who uncover menacing secrets at the carnival that has arrived in town.
It was published in 1962 by American writer Ray Bradbury. Ray Bradbury made a significant dent in the horror genre with Something Wicked, influencing later masters of the genre like Stephen King.
He also made a significant cultural impact; the number of TV shows and songs that reference his novel is surprisingly large (we've got episodes of South Park--"Something Wall-Mart This Way Comes“--, The Simpsons, and Doctor Who just to name a few). This popularity was no doubt escalated by Disney's 1983 movie adaptation of the novel.
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4. Somewhere not so far back, vast lightnings stomped the earth
Somewhere not so far back, vast lightnings stomped the earth. Somewhere, a storm like a great beast with terrible teeth could not be denied.
This is the last line of the opening paragraph of the novel. It is uses foreshadowing to indicate something terrible is coming to the town.
What mood does the author create with this line? What words make you feel that way?

5. The Title: Something Wicked This Way Comes
Comes from Shakespeare's Macbeth
Original line spoken by the witches in the play. The second witch says, “By the pricking of my thumb, something wicked this way comes.”
Translation: I can feel something wicked coming by the tingling in my fingers.
Again, the title is using foreshadowing. What mood does the title create for the reader?

6. Something Wicked This Way Comes
What does the word “wicked” mean to you?
What are the connotations of “wicked”? How is this different from the word “bad?”
Denotation of wicked: evil or morally bad in principle or practice; sinful, mischievous or playfully malicious.
Do you think the author’s choice in the word “wicked” might be important? Why?

7. Characters
In the Prologue, the author talks about the boys’ ages. They are both 13, almost 14.
“Both touched toward fourteen; it almost trembled in their hands” (2).
What does the author mean by this?
What literary device is the author using?
How does using this literary device affect the reader’s impression of the mood of the story?

8. William Halloway William means “protector.”
Halloway– “hallowed” = “regarded as holy; venerated; sacred”; this person will take and protect the “hallowed” or holy way
What could his name tell you about his personality?

9. Jim Nightshade James means supplanter (one who takes the place of).
Nightshade:  literally "shade of night," perhaps an allusion to poisonous berries (e.g. deadly nightshade, enchanter’s nightshade)
What could his name tell you about his personality?

10. And that was the October week when they grew up overnight, and were never so young anymore….
This is the closing line of the Prologue.
What is the author really saying in this line? What does “never so young anymore” really mean?
How does this line affect the reader?

11. “Man is in love, and loves what vanishes.” W.B. Yeats
“They sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall. For they eat the bread of wickedness, And drink the wine of violence.” Proverbs 4:16-17
“I know not all that may be coming, but be it what it will, I’ll go to it laughing.” Stubb in Moby Dick
These three quotes precede the novel. Look at each one. What is it saying about man? Life? Human nature?
Having not read the book, what do you think the author might be saying about the story with these quotations?

12. “Man is in love, and loves what vanishes.” W.B. Yeats
“They sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall. For they eat the bread of wickedness, And drink the wine of violence.” Proverbs 4:16-17
“I know not all that may be coming, but be it what it will, I’ll go to it laughing.” Stubb in Moby Dick
These three quotes precede the novel. Look at each one. What is it saying about man? Life? Human nature?
Having not read the book, what do you think the author might be saying about the story with these quotations?

13. Book Trailer

14. Sources Shmoop.com Teacherweb.com
Applied graphics: California State University
Lifefamilies.com
Snipview.com
Sparknotes.com