Ray Bradbury
“The Veldt”
• Ray Bradbury, recipient of the 2000
National Book Foundation Medal for
Distinguished Contribution to American
Letters, the 2004 National Medal of Arts,
and the 2007 Pulitzer Prize Special Citation
•
Died on June 5, 2012, at the age of 91 after
a long illness. He lived in Los Angeles.
• Throughout his life, Bradbury liked to
recount the story of meeting a carnival
magician, Mr. Electrico, in 1932. At the end
of his performance Electrico reached out
to the twelve-year-old Bradbury, touched
the boy with his sword, and commanded,
Live forever! Bradbury later said, “I
decided that was the greatest idea I had
ever heard. I started writing every day. I
never stopped.”
http://www.raybradbury.com/
SCIENCE
FICTION
RAY BRADBURY’S WORLD
“To boldly go where no man has gone before.” Captain Kirk on
Star Trek
SCIENCE
FICTION
DEFINITION
• Noun: Fiction based on
imagined future scientific
or technological
advances and major
social or environmental
changes, frequently
portraying space or time
travel and life on other
planets.
WHAT’S THE
DIFFERENCE?
SCIENCE FICTION
•
•
•
•
•
Futuristic
Science based
Technology focused
Life on other planets
Space and/or time
travel
FANTASY
• Magic and magical,
imaginary worlds
• Supernatural
phenomena
• Wizards, witches,
sorcery
• Steers clear of
scientific themes
PAUSE FOR A
CAUSE
In your journal, write your response
to the following questions on the
short story “The Veldt.” Be
prepared to share your answers
with your group.
“THE VELDT”
Pause For a Cause:
page …1
1.What is a veldt?
2. Why does George Hadley’s wife, Lydia,
ask him to come into the nursery?
3. What’s different about this nursery
compared to what you know a nursery
to be?
“THE VELDT”
Pause For a Cause:
Page …2
4. Why do George and Lydia have very
different reactions to what happens in
the nursery?
Page…4
5. Who controls the nursery?
“THE VELDT”
Pause For a Cause:
Page …5
6. What happens when the children are
asked about the state of the nursery?
Page…6
7. There are several references made
regarding screams coming from the
nursery. Make a prediction about who
you think is screaming.
“THE VELDT”
Pause For a Cause:
Page …6
8. What item is found in the nursery?
What literary element is displayed by the
revealing of this item?
Page…7
9. George states that he wants to turn
the house off. What literary element is
displayed here? Why does Peter react the
way he does to this news?
“THE VELDT”
Pause For a Cause:
Page …8
10. Who is parenting the children in the
story? Explain
Page…9
11. What new item is found in the nursery
and to whom does it belong ?
“THE VELDT”
Pause For a Cause:
Page …10
12. The Hadleys were given some
advice from David McClean. Did
they follow it? What happened as a
result?
“THE VELDT”
Group Discussion
 In your group, share your answers to the
Pause for a Cause questions
 Discuss the literary elements found in
the story
 What was the climax?
 Give 2 examples of personification
 Ask each other questions that you still
have
 Share your predictions
“THE VELDT”
Pause For a Cause Answers
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
An open grassland in southern Africa
She feels like something isn’t right about the scene,
but isn’t sure
Answers may vary, traditional nurseries are for
babies and are calm, quiet, and peaceful
George is merely entertained and stills believes the
lions to be fake crystal walls; however, Lydia is
afraid because it feels so real
The children control the nursery with their
thoughts.
They deny there being an African veldt
Answers will vary
“THE VELDT”
Pause For a Cause Answers
8. George’s wallet- foreshadowing
9. Personification- Peter is upset because the nursery has
become his parents
10. The nursery is parenting the children. It does
everything for them that their parents should do.
11. Lydia’s scarf
12. David McClean told them to turn off the nursery and
go on vacation. They allowed the children a few more
minutes in the nursery, and as a result they were eaten
by the lions.