ray bradbury: warnings for the human race
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Ray BradburyWarnings For The Human Race
JAMES BUSH
Professor Owens
ENG-1102-XTIJ 14/T3
February 15, 2014
What is his Genre?
• Ray Bradbury wrote over 27 novels, and 600 short stories.
• He also wrote poems, essays, plays, and screenplays.
• His writings spanned many genres:• Science Fiction• Mystery• Fantasy• Horror• Young Adult
Warnings?
• A common theme throughout his work is warnings for the human race.
• In his writing, he seems to champion the human spirit and urges us to not fall victim to the tragedies in his stories.
• While he is most famous for his novel Fahrenheit 451, he is most celebrated for his short stories.
There will come soft rains
There will come soft rains
• A short horror fantasy story.
• In a city after an atomic explosion, all that remains is an automated house.
• The house continues its daily routines in a cold and robotic fashion.
• Due to our obsession with war, we have destroyed the world and ourselves.
• Nature reclaims the world, including this advanced and automated house.
the pedestrian
The Pedestrian
• A short fantasy story.
• Set in the not too distant future, our society has become obsessed with staying indoors and watching television.
• In one neighborhood there is a man that does not own a “viewing screen” and enjoys walking outside.
• An automated police car arrests him and takes him to a psychiatric ward because he prefers being outdoors.
• Our addiction to TV could change us into an indoor society that does not appreciate the beautiful world around us.
The Pedestrian
• Ray believes that when we stop reading books and solely watch TV our culture will slowly be destroyed.
The halloween tree
The Halloween tree
• A young adult horror story.
• On Halloween night a group of eight boys are taken on a journey through time by the personification of Death to learn the history of Halloween.
• In order to save their friend, they must each sacrifice one year of their own lives.
• We are warned to remember our past and where our traditions come from.
• We are also warned to be compassionate, and to be aware that death comes for us all.
A Sound of thunder
A Sound of thunder
• A short science fiction story.
• Set in the year 2055, a company for hire will take clients back in time to hunt dinosaurs.
• They warn clients to stay on the path, so that the future will not be changed.
• A client leaves the path and steps on a butterfly, thus drastically changing the future.
• Bradbury’s most important warning so far: any action, no matter how small it may seem, can have a tremendous effect on our future, good or bad.
Take warning
• Regardless of the genre, Bradbury beseeches his readers to avoid the mistakes made in his books:• Nature will always be stronger than technology.• Television and computers should not be a
replacement for books as it will dilute our culture.
• Remember our traditions, they are the backbone of our society.
• Be compassionate, and know that death is not avoidable.
• Our actions, big and small, can have a huge impact on our future.