Silverstein
English 2R
Narrative
Final draft: 50 points
Name________________________________Per__
After reading Fahrenheit 451 and Ray Bradbury’s “The Pedestrian”, you will create a narrative of
a society of the future. Focus on the conflict that a character experiences in this society.
Consider:
 What improvements have been made in society?
 What problems still exist or have been made worse?
 What new issues have been created by the changes?
Include: All of these elements will contribute to overall mood (general impression, tone), theme
(message) and characterization (how the author reveals traits of a character.) Use this as a
checklist before you print your paper and upload to turnitin.com. Be prepared to identify and
mark each of these elements on your final draft.
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Setting description
Imagery
Figurative language
Dialogue
Conflict
Rising action
Climax
Resolution/denouement
Title
Your final draft should be typed, approximately two pages double-spaced. Writing a creative
piece does provide a looser structure, but keep in mind that you should follow the basic story
structure of the story arc and conform to rules of grammar, mechanics and usage. Make sure to
tag quotes clearly and with variety (without repetitive use of “he said”) and start a new paragraph
when a quote begins the sentence. Make sure to use Spell-check and Grammar-check!
Silverstein
English 2R
Narrative Notes: “The Pedestrian”
Name_________________________________Per__
As you read “The Pedestrian”, consider Bradbury’s use of the following techniques, which
you will apply to your own narrative writing. While reading, annotate the story’s margins
in at least three parts that utilize the technique upon which you will focus. Then answer
your topic’s corresponding questions to present to the class:
1) Exposition of setting and conflict—How does the narrator establish the setting of the
future? What details provide insight into this character and his society? How does the author
reveal conflict and build up the tension related to the conflict through “rising action”?
2) Dialogue to build up tension—How does each piece of the dialogue reveal the mood (the
emotion/attitude of the narrator)? How is the dialogue formatted in the piece? What rules of
dialogue are utilized? How does the author “tag” quotes with variety, instead of repeating “he
said”? Give examples of this variety of word choice.
3) Figurative language—metaphors and simile—Why does the author choose those particular
comparisons? Elaborate and comment on the purpose of each. Consider the types of metaphors
and similes the author chose and why they are appropriate for this particular story’s message
and mood.
4) Imagery to build setting, character and tension—What parts provide a detailed account of
the scene? Describe the use of visual (sight), auditory (hearing), olfactory (smell), gustatory
(taste) or tactile-kinesthetic (touch or body sensation/movement) detail. How does this give the
reader insight into character and setting, as well as intensify the tension for the audience?
5) Climactic moment, followed by resolution—What is the climax of the story? How is the
story resolved? What is the message of the story and how does it connect to the title? List clues
and details that support that interpretation.
Silverstein
English 2R
“The Pedestrian” as Narrative Model
Name___________________________________Per___
Label the “story arc” based on the events in “The Pedestrian.”
Exposition: introduces the characters, setting, and background situation of the story
Conflict: the main problem or issue that troubles the narrator (can be internal or external or
both)
Rising action/tension: introduces complications and obstacles that increase the tension of the
story’s conflict
Climax: the moment in the story when the conflict’s tension rises to its highest point
Resolution/Denouement: describes how the conflict is finally resolved and the story comes to an
end.
Silverstein
Narrative pre-writing
Name_______________________________________Per__
Recall the details for your memoir story and document them on the following diagram.
Describe the central conflict or problem that you (as the narrator) experience. Then select at least
three key events (or steps in a larger event) that build up to a climactic moment. Then describe how
the situation ended—the denouement of your story.
Central conflict:
Event 1:
Event 2:
Event 3:
Climax:
Resolution/denouement: