Introduction to Ray Bradbury

1
Introduction to Ray Bradbury

• August 20, 2007
• Mrs. Brooks

2
Historical Context

• Birth of television
• Decline of radio and theater
• 1950s conformity
• Role of women
• Senator Joe McCarthy
• House Un-American Activities Committee
• Censorship

3
Ray Bradbury

• Born in 1920
• Began writing at age 8
• Los Angeles (13) and Hollywood
• Library reading and writing
• Newsboy a student of life
• Began writing full-time in 1943

4
His Works

• Hundreds of short stories
• The Martian Chronicles (1950)
• The Illustrated Man (1951)
• Fahrenheit 451 (1953)
• Something Wicked This Way Comes (1963)

5
Fahrenheit 451

• Ray Bradbury an idea writer
• Entertainment vs. Education
• Responding vs. Thinking
• Censorship
• A correct interpretation of the future?

6
Activity/Homework

• In class activity Handout To Censor
• Recorder Note synonyms/meaning
• Reporter Share with class
• Checker Hear and verify
• Writer Record group findings
• Homework Read The Pedestrian (Lit Books pg.
  958), answer the guided reading questions