Somewhere not so far back, vast lightnings stomped the earth. Somewhere, a storm like a great beast with terrible teeth could not be denied. ~ Bradbury

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Somewhere not so far back, vast lightnings
stomped the earth.Somewhere, a storm like a
great beast with terrible teeth could not be
denied. Bradbury
2
Something Wicked This Way ComesThey
sleep not, except they have done mischief and
their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some
to fall. For they eat the bread of
wickedness,And drink the wine of violence. -
Proverbs 416 -17

• By Ray Bradbury

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Background

• From 1955 to 1962 in Los Angeles Bradbury turned
  a ten page story into this novel
• Protagonist  
• William Halloway, James Nightshade, and Charles
  Halloway
• Time frame
•  Between the 1920s and 50s
• Setting
•  Green Town, Illinois
• October, Fall

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Theme of Acceptance

• Who We Are
• We must work at this
• Not something inherent in people
• Too many outside influences telling us who we
  should be
• Can get confusing
• Ex. Charles Halloway
• - Protagonist
• Conflicted
• Old man who feels young at heart
• Doesnt know who he should be
• Can be taken advantage
• Acceptance of ones self is a type of magic-
  defensive magic
• Not afraid to be who we are, or afraid of what
  we are not.

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Acceptance

• Ex. 2 Jim Nightshade
• Feels very strongly about his own personal
  freedom
• Chases life without fear
• Chases what will destroy him
• Fear inhibits personal freedom
• Feels fear of harm will take away his personal
  freedom
• Difficult situation
• Must learn limitations
• Must learn there is more to life than freedom
• Inevitably end up alone

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Theme - A Common Cause or Purpose

• Common Beliefs are what bring people together
• Common cause is a cause among all people
• Ex. We All Will Die
• Fear of this can be manipulated
• Evil Preys on those who feel isolated
• Evil is often not dark and scary ally, but bright
  and beautiful carnival

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Theme - AGE

• Age is not a number
• More of a state of mind
• Easy for people to fall into the routine of age.
• If the body is 75, but the mind 25 the
  individual is 25.
• PHYSICAL AGE CANNOT BE TRUSTED
• The mind is what is important
• Many adults have the minds of children
• Follow archaic rules and wait to be told what to
  do next
• Blame the world for their pain

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William Halloway

• William means protector.
• Halloway hallowed regarded as holy
  venerated sacred this person will take and
  protect the hallowed or holy way

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Jim Nightshade

• James means supplanter (one who takes the place
  of).
• Nightshade  literally "shade of night," perhaps
  an allusion to poisonous berries (e.g. deadly
  nightshade, enchanters nightshade)

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Characterization

• Make a T-chart with Will on the left and Jim on
  the right.
• Beneath each name, explore what you think each
  boy fears. Be sure to support your opinion with
  evidence from the text! __________________________
  _______________
• Wills fears are easier to explore than Jims,
  and yet Will is the protector if we are to
  believe that Bradbury gave him that name for a
  reason.

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Wills fears Jims fears
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Wills fears Jims fears

• being left behind 1. boredom/ sameness
• unpredictability 2. getting hurt
• bad stuff happening emotionally
• the big world 3. missing something
• the unknown 4. Wills not being there
• people getting hurt to protect him
• losing Jim (periodically)
• chaos/lack of order 5. not knowing
• danger
• disappointing people

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More of Wills fears

1. being alone 21. losing innocence
2. taking risks 22. the unnatural
3. secrecy 23. being unable to
4. lightning/storm protect those he loves
5. doing something bad
6. the future
7. getting in trouble
8. the carnival
9. facing certain unpleasant realities
10. evil

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Last characterization question

• Who will be better equipped to battle the evil of
  the carnival, Will or Jim? WHY???

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Misc.

• Charles Halloway
• Charles means free man according to some
  texts. What is he free from? Is it ironic?
• Calliope Officially, this is a character from
  Greek mythology dedicated to music. She was said
  to be the muse of Homer in writing the epic
  poems The Iliad and The Odyssey. It is also the
  name of an organ that was used in carnivals,
  particularly on the carousel. We have come to
  associate it with the carousel and the even the
  carousels horses.

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Themes in Something Wicked This Way Comes

• Death of innocence
• Temptation
• Good vs. Evil
• Age vs. Youth
• Order vs. Chaos.
• The world is composed of opposing forces.
• Qualities of friendship loyalty to people,
  loyalty to principles
• Power of love Love triumphs (or does it?).
  Counter evil with __________________.

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And that was the October week when they grew up
overnight, and were never so young anymore

• Bradbury