The Veldt by Ray Bradbury

Group Members:
Directions: Please answer the following questions in COMPLETE sentences. Give as much
detail as you can in your answers. This document will be turned in by the end of class on
Wednesday
9/14!
PRE-READING QUESTIONS
1. Have your parents ever denied you something that you wanted more than anything in
the world? Explain the situation.
When I was in fourth grade I really wanted a phone, but my parents would not let me have
one until they thought I really needed one.
2. What might happen if rooms in your house could become sensitive to the thoughts and
feelings of people?
They would know what the people in the rooms are talking about and kind of know how
they are feeling.

3. What is your perspective of the viewpoint held by some parents that nothings too good
for our children?
The parents are spoiling their children.
COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

Begin reading The Veldt. Stop Reading after Lydia says, Why dont we shut the whole
house off for a few days and take a vacation? Answer the following questions:
4. Describe the setting of this story. Give text evidence from the story to support your
answer.
It takes place at their HappyLife home and everything is very futuristic. Its probably really
expensive. There seems to be lions coming at them. The story states, They walked down
the hall of their HappyLife home, which had cost them thirty thousand dollars with
everything included.
5. Why do you think Lydia wants to shut off the house? At this stage in the story, what do
you think will be the childrens (Peter and Wendy) reaction to this idea? Support your
opinion with text evidence from the story.
I think Lydia wanted to shut down the house because she is very scared and she wants to
make sure her kids are safe. I think the children will probably be very upset about this
because in the story it states, You know how Peter is difficult about that. When I punished
him a month ago by locking it for even a few hour-the way he lost his temper! And Wendy
too. They lived for the nursery.

The Veldt by Ray Bradbury

Continue reading. Stop reading after George says, Im starting to wonder.

6. What is the nursery? What do the walls of the nursery reflect?

The nursery is a place where the children go to play and the scenery of the room often
changes. The walls reflect how the kids are feeling and what they are thinking.
7. How does Bradbury describe the physical appearance of Peter and Wendy when they
return home in the evening? Use text evidence!
He describes them as two sweet children holding hands. In the text he states, Wendy and
Peter were coming happily in the front door, with bright blue eyes and a smell of fresh air
on their clothes from their trip in the helicopter.
8. How does their physical description contrast with what we know about their mental
activities (their thoughts)?
He described them as very sweet children, but their thoughts have to do with blood and
lions and things that are not so sweet and innocent.
Continue reading. At the conclusion of the story, answer the following questions.
9. Atmosphere in a story is the prevailing feeling or mood. It usually sets up expectations
in the reader about the outcome of an episode or plot. It is created by descriptive diction,
imagery, and dialogue. Describe the atmosphere of the story, using adjectives only (such
as creepy or cold). Use plenty of them to build a solid picture of the atmosphere.
Adjectives: odd, creepy, strange
10. Why was Peter screaming, Dont let father kill everything?
Peter really did not want his dad to shut down the nursery and he was very upset about
this so it was almost as if he was talking to the house and telling the house not to let his
father shut down the nursery.
11. What was George actually doing?
George wasnt actually killing anything, he was just shutting down the room for the
childrens safety.
12. What does this suggest about Peters relationship with technology?
Peter is not used to doing anything on his own because his house is full of technology and
it does everything for him. He is also used to getting everything he wants and he usually
never gets things taken away from him.
13. Do you think the children realize what they have done to their parents?
I dont think the children realize what they did to their parents because they are really
only concerned about losing their technology and they are really upset about it.

The Veldt by Ray Bradbury

Literary Devices: Please complete the chart with any literary devices you notice in the

reading that we have discussed so far in class already! Please include at least 5 examples.
Literary Device Name:

Text evidence of Lit Device

(write down page #)

Explanation of Lit Device as

used in the text

Imagery

Page #1-Soon an African veldt

appeared, in three dimensions,
on all sides, in color. It looked
real to the smallest stone and bit
of yellow summer grass. The
ceiling above them became a
deep sky with a hot yellow sun.

It describing how the nursery

looks and it helps us visualize it
when the author uses
descriptive words.

Tone

Page #2- Some animal. George

Hadley put his hand above his
eyes to block off the burning
light and looked carefully. A
zebra or a baby giraffe, maybe.
Are you sure? His wife
sounded strangely nervous.

His wifes tone of voice sounded

like she was very nervous
because she is scared and
worried.

Idiom

Page#2- And again George

Hadley was filled with respect
for the brilliant mind that had
come up with the idea for this
room.

You cant actually be filled with

respect therefor, its an idiom
since the meaning of this is
different than its literal
meaning.

Mood

Page#2- And here were the

lions now, fifteen feet away.
They looked so real, so powerful
and shockingly real, that you
could feel the hairs stand up on
the back of your neck.

The mood of this part of the

story is scary, intense, and
suspenseful. It makes you
wonder whats going to happen
next and it really captures the
readers interest.

Simili

Page#4-He could still feel it on

He is comparing the feeling on

The Veldt by Ray Bradbury

his neck, like a hot paw.

his neck to a hot paw using like.

RL.8.4: Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including
figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning
and tone, including analogies or allusions to other texts.
Not Yet Meeting

Approaching Standard

Meeting Standard

Exceeding Standard

Struggled to identify the

meanings of words or
phrases in the text,
including metaphors or
symbolism and
suggested meanings.
Struggled to identify
specific word choices
that impact meaning or
tone. Struggled to
identify analogies or
allusions to other texts.

Identified the metaphors

and symbolism within
the text but did not
explain the suggested
meanings. Identified
word choices that
impact the meaning and
tone, but struggled to
explain how or why.
Identified analogies or
allusions to other texts.

Explained the symbolic

and metaphorical
meanings of words and
phrases in the text AND
explained the feelings
and meanings the text
suggests. Identified and
explained how specific
word choices impact the
meaning and tone.

Evaluated and clearly

explained the most important
symbolic and metaphorical
meanings of words and
phrases in the text AND clearly
explained and evaluated the
most important connotations
and suggested meanings.
Identified and evaluated how
specific word choices impact
the meaning and tone,
including analogies and
allusions to other texts.

RL.8.1: Cite the textual evidence that most strongly supports an analysis of what the text says
explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
Not Yet Meeting
Struggled to explain
what the text directly
says as well as the
meaning behind the
text. Did not identify
evidence from the text.

Approaching Standard
Explained what the text
directly says as well as the
meaning behind the text.
Identified evidence, but not
necessarily the strongest
evidence.

Meeting Standard

Exceeding Standard

Explained what the text

directly says as well as the
meaning behind the text.
Identified the evidence
that most strongly
supports this analysis.

Explained what the text

directly says as well as the
meaning behind the text.
Identified the evidence
that most strongly
supports this analysis AND
proposed an argument for
why this is evidence is the
strongest.