1、Ray Bradburys Short StoriesCharacteristics of a Short StoryAs a general rule short stories are less complex than novels. Usually a short story focuses on only one incident, has a single plot, a single setting, a small number of characters and covers a short period of time. The length may vary from v

2、ery short to 20,000 words, but the story can be read in a single sitting. It deals with one situation and has no subplots (secondary storylines). As the story is concise, short story writers depend on the reader bringing personal experiences and prior knowledge to the story. There is often a conflic

3、t or struggle between two opposing forces. There is a distinct climax or crisis which develops directly from the conflict. It has one central character, the protagonist, and few others, with no unnecessary characterisation. Often the amount of time that passes and the location of the story are limit

4、ed. It has a definite e that is satisfactory to the reader. This does not have to be a happy ending.Four major components of a short story are: PLOT; this is the action (or actions) that takes place in the story. SETTING; this is the background against which the incidents of the story take place. CH

5、ARACTER(S); there must be living beings in the story. Theseliving beingsmust act or think in order to keep the story going. The characters must therefore appear like living and feeling individuals in order for the reader to be interested in them. THEME; this is the overall subject of the story. With

6、out a theme, the story lacks meaning or purpose.Why am I rambling on about genre and form?Isnt this Literature? What does this have to do with Language Arts?A work of literature embodies its own message and this is a deliberate attempt by the author to unpack certain central thematic issues that mos

7、t times, arent easily resolvable. In analysing the language features, the plot, the character motivations and other key components of the short story, we can unpack the ARGUMENT put forth by the author. Lets try to unpack Bradburys message in The Veldt. Is he advocating for the use of technology? Be

8、aring in mind that the central theme for Term 1 is control and responsibility, what message/s are conveyed about use of technology? Zoom In.They walked down the hall of their soundproofed Happylife Home, which had cost them thirty thousand dollars installed, this house which clothed and fed and rock

9、ed them to sleep and played and sang and was good to them. Their approach sensitized a switch somewhere and the nursery light flicked on when they came within ten feet of it. Similarly, behind them, in the halls, lights went on and off as they left them behind, with a soft automaticity. (Lines 11-16

10、)Zoom In.(Lines 97-297)I dont know - I dont know, she said, blowing her nose, sitting down in a chair that immediately began to rock and comfort her. Maybe I dont have enough to do. Maybe I have time to think too much. Why dont we shut the whole house off for a few days and take a vacation? You mean

11、 you want to fry my eggs for me?“ But I thought thats why we bought this house, so we wouldnt have to do anything? Thats just it. I feel like I dont belong here. The house is wife and mother now, and nursemaid. Can I compete with an African veldt? Can I give a bath and scrub the children as efficien

12、tly or quickly as the automatic scrub bath can? I cannot. And it isnt just me. Its you. Youve been awfully nervous lately. I suppose I have been smoking too much. You look as if you didnt know what to do with yourself in this house, either. You smoke a little more every morning and drink a little mo

13、re every afternoon and need a little more sedative every night. Youre beginning to feel unnecessary too. Am I? He paused and tried to feel into himself to see what was really there. Zoom In.(Lines 649-657)I wouldnt want the nursery locked up, said Peter coldly. Ever.Matter of fact, were thinking of

14、turning the whole house off for about a month. Live sort of a carefree one-for-all existence.That sounds dreadful! Would I have to tie my own shoes instead of letting the shoe tier do it? And brush my own teeth and comb my hair and give myself a bath?It would be fun for a change, dont you think?“No,

15、 it would be horrid. I didnt like it when you took out the picture painter last month.Thats because I wanted you to learn to paint all by yourself, son.I dont want to do anything but look and listen and smell; what else is there to do?Pause. Now that we have close read some of these moments in the s

16、hort story, identify the issue/s the writer is commenting on. Write in a simple sentence/statement the issue/s surfaced by Bradbury. Zoom Out.What is significant about the fact that the room is called the “nursery”?What is the conventional purpose of a nursery room and how is this subverted? Zoom Ou

17、t.What is Georges initial attitude towards virtual reality technology of the nursery? How and why does his attitude change throughout the story?Pause. What problems does Bradbury raise about the use of technology, particularly virtual technology?Views from 4DWhat problems does Bradbury raise about t

18、he use of technology, particularly virtual technology?The more immersed we are in such technology, the more we will be attached to it.How do we deal with the relationship between virtual reality and reality itself?If we get whatever we want, we may lose our ability to empathise with others and we wi

19、ll be stunted morally?Virtual reality may result in social isolation.Virtual reality may change our lifestyle.Views from 4D6. Virtual reality turns us into passive onlookers in life; in effect, we e bystanders in life.7. Excessive dependence on virtual reality can displace the role of human beings.8

20、. VR gives humans the power to destroy and fulfils such negative desires; it can be misused.9. The line between fiction and real life es more permeable when we start spending more time in VR.Revisiting the statementsTechnology is to blame for the breakdown of the family.The children were out of thei

21、r parents control.The parents were too lax in their discipline over their children.The parents enabled this behaviour. The children overstepped parental authority. The parents were helpless in seizing back control and power of the technology. Technology was but a tool that magnified the impacts. Tec

22、hnology is dangerous to our lives.Our lack of control over the use of technology is the cause of our downfall. Is it one factor or a combination of factors at play? The process of analysis and evaluation.What we have just done is to unpack an issue that was seemingly easy and obvious. How did we man

23、age to unpack this? We zoomed in to analyse the language features of the text paying attention to diction, tone, attitude, imagery etc and looked for clues. We then zoomed out to look at the big picture and considered thematic motifs and plot changes. Then we distilled the evidence and observations

24、into thesis statements.The last step would be to work on consolidating them to e a unified argument. Unified ArgumentWe cannot simply blame technology for the ills of the world as man too has a part to play in the matter. The parents failure to discipline the children enabled them to challenge paren

25、tal authority and technology was used as a tool to magnify the dangerous consequences that followed. Bradbury therefore cautions us about the use and abuse of technology as it has the potential to bring out great impacts both good and bad. Pause.Why did Bradbury choose to convey his message through

26、a fictional short story?Is this an effective choice of genre to get his message across compared to an opinion piece/non-fiction? Lets take this discussion even furtherAre Bradburys concerns legitimate given todays context?HomeworkWhat real world examples can we find to exemplify some of the issues rai