“The Veldt” Short Story Questions
Answer the following questions in full sentence/proper answer form. Where appropriate, quote
from the story to support you answers.
Learning Goals: I will learn to . . .
- define and identify theme, imagery, conflict,
character, and point of view
- make inferences about a story
- identify important quotes
Success Criteria: I can . . .
- write clear responses which show that I
understand theme, conflict, character, imagery
and p.o.v.
- evaluate a story
- develop a thematic statement
1. In point form, answer the following questions.
What technological advances were made between 1880 and 1950?
What technological advances were made between 1950 and 2014?
What technological advances do you see happening from now to 2050?
2. a) How dependent upon technology are you? What piece of technology would you find most
difficult to stop using? Why?
b) What do you think people in our society would most resent losing? Why?
3. Peter and Wendy are the names of two characters from the story, Peter Pan. Why is the use of
these names for the two children in the story significant? (Hint: Consider how this story relates to
Peter Pan)
4. Why did the screams heard from the nursery sound so familiar to George and Lydia? In the
end, what happened to Mr. and Mrs. Hadley? Support your reasoning with evidence from the
text.
5. Give two examples where you feel the children behave in an unacceptable manner. In each
case, how to the parents handle this misbehaviour? Would you have handled it differently?
Explain.
6. Identify on type of conflict within the story.
7. What point of view is used in “The Veldt”? Why is this point of view appropriate for the
story?
8. What sensory details are used to emphasize sight, sound, taste, smell, and touch? List at least
one detail from the story for each sense. What does the inclusion of these details add to the
story?
9. Ray Bradbury wrote “The Veldt” in 1950. Evaluate how accurate his vision of the future is to
our present time, more than fifty years later. In particular, focus on the influence of technology on
our lives and on the way children are raised.
10. Two topics are central in “The Veldt”: the role of technology in our lives and parenting. In
the short story, Bradbury makes comments on his own society and the impact of its actions on its
future. Develop a clear and concise theme for each of these topics. Write each in one sentence.