Naming of Names by Ray Bradbury

1
Naming of Names by Ray Bradbury

• A study guide prepared by
• Ms. Patricia Lai Burrows

2
The Exposition

• Setting, Characters,
• Background information

3
Setting

• Future people are settling on Mars
• Martian Meadow appears cold, windy
• Conveys the mood of fear Bitterings dont want
  to be there
• Meadow also seems hollow empty
• Bitterings feel lonely out of place
• This reminds me of how people feel when they move
  to a new place.

4
Characters

• Bittering Family
• Mr. Bittering (Harry) protagonist clearly
  his thoughts dominate the story
• The fear and anxiety described is largely his
• he seems inflexible rigid stubborn
• Doesnt like change -p. 154
• Mrs. Bittering (Cora)
• tries to ease her husbands concerns seems more
  flexible
• Bittering children Dan, Laura, David
• David sets up the idea that maybe there are
  Martians even though they cant see them
• His ideas help convey the suspicious atmosphere

5
Background Information

• People are settling on Mars because of the chaos
  and wars on earth
• This should be an escape from misery

6
Inciting Incident an event that introduces the
conflict

• Laura announces that she heard the news on the
  radio - Atom Bombs hit New York
• No more rockets to Mars
• Stranded in this new planet fear ensues

7
Theme question emerges

• How should people deal with change?

8
Metaphor

• A comparison of two unlike things
• P. 155

9
Mr. Bitterings response

• P. 155 As long as the rockets had spun a silver
  web across pace, he had been able to accept
  Mars.
• What is the significance of the web?
• P. 155 work and forget
• What does this mean?

10
Mental Distraction

• Bittering thinks about the original names of
  Martian mountains, cities, seas, etc
• Why do you think the Earthmen gave new names?
• What does it mean when the author tells us, man
  lives by symbol and label.
• How does Bittering feel about the new names?

11
The environment begins to change

• Peach blossoms extra leaf
• Onions, carrots, radishes not quite the same
• Roses turning green
• Cow growing a third horn
• Grass turning purple

12
Reactions of the Bittering Family

• How does Mr. Bittering react to the changes?
• How does the rest of the family react?
• How do the other Earthmen/women react to the
  change?
• How does Mr. Bittering respond to their
  reactions?