The Veldt by Ray Bradbury

Group Members: Jessica and Calvin

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 younger, I really wanted a phone. I have one now, but I really wanted one in
elementary school. I made a presentation on why I should get a phone, but it didnt make
any difference. My parents ended up getting my a phone, but later than I wanted one.
2. What might happen if rooms in your house could become sensitive to the thoughts and
feelings of people?
It would be really fun if the rooms in my house were sensitive to my thoughts, because I
would think of something, and then it would appear.
3. What is your perspective of the viewpoint held by some parents that nothings too good
for our children?
I dont think thats a good thing, because children need rules. If a child were to ask a
parent for something, and every time the parent says yes, the child would learn nothing
about rules and discipline.
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.
The setting is in the futuristic house, and they want a break from it. The text states, And
lock the nursery for a few days until I can get over this This shows that they just want a
break from the house, because it can get very scary.
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 that Lydia wants to shut off the house because its very scary and realistic. I think
that Peter and Wendy will be very upset that they want to shut the nursery down, because
they created the room with their thoughts. They were learning about Africa, so they were
very interested in it. The author says, Youve got to tell Wendy and Peter not to read any
more on Africa.
Continue reading. Stop reading after George says, Im starting to wonder.

The Veldt by Ray Bradbury

6. What is the nursery? What do the walls of the nursery reflect?
The nursery is the room where George and Lydia had seen the lions. The walls in the
nursery reflect the thoughts of the people that go into the nursery.
7. How does Bradbury describe the physical appearance of Peter and Wendy when they
return home in the evening? Use text evidence!
When Peter and Wendy return home, they had a great time and ate a lot of food. The text
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)?
It contrasts because we thought that they were thinking about death, because of the lions
in the nursery. When they came home, they had a great time and seemed very happy. Its
not likely to be happy, and think about death at the same time.
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: spoiled, bratty, wealthy, and insane
10. Why was Peter screaming, Dont let father kill everything?
Peter was screaming that because he didnt want his father to turn off the house.
11. What was George actually doing?
George wanted his children to learn that you need to do somethings on your own, and you
cant have other people do them for you.
12. What does this suggest about Peters relationship with technology?
This suggests that Peter is obsessed with technology, and he would do anything (even kill
his parents) to keep it.
13. Do you think the children realize what they have done to their parents?
I think that the children realized what they did to their parents, because Peter even
wished his father was dead. They did this completely out of bad intentions.
14. Do you think the children realize what they have done to their parents? Explain your
answer.

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.

The Veldt by Ray Bradbury

Literary Device Name:

Text evidence of Lit Device

(write down page #)

Explanation of Lit Device as

used in the text

Illusion

Page 4- How many times had

he opened his door and found
Wonderland with Alice and the
Mock Turtle, or Aladdin and his
Magical Lamp, or Jack
Pumpkinhead of Oz, or doctor
Dr. Doolittle, or the cow
jumping over a very real looking
moon. All the most enjoyable
creations of an imaginary world.
How often had he seen Pegasus
the winged horse flying in the
sky ceiling, or seen explosions
of red fireworks, or heard
beautiful singing.

This shows illusion because

Wendy and Peter are from
Peterpan, and they didnt just go
right out and say that.

Imagery

The silent room was empty.

The walls were white and two
dimensional.

This is describing what the

room looks like.

Simile

The hot straw smell of lion

grass, the cool green smell of
dust like red pepper in the hot
hair.

This is describing two different

things using like or as.

Personification

Now theyre on their way to the

water hole.

The fake lions cant actually go

to a water hole.

Irony

Mr. and Mrs. Hadley

screamed.

You would think that the

children would have learned
their lesson, but instead they
killed their parents.

The Veldt by Ray Bradbury

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.