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PowerPoint byNicholas Shewprasad

Early Life• Born on August 22, 1922• Had a very happy childhood• Had an obsession over

adventure books and the magicians/magic

• Avidly read Frank Baum, Edgar Rice Burroughs, and Jules Verne

• Made a decision to be a writer by the age of 12 or 13, but changed his mind numerous times

Growing Up

• Many scholars give credit to Bradbury’s loving family who is responsible for nurturing Bradbury’s interests.

• Bradbury loved to write stories about his family as expressed within his early stories.

Home = “Greentown”• Bradbury wrote a short story, “Greentown” in

which emulated Waukegan, IL where he grew up.• Within the story, Bradbury’s uncle can fly, a

traveling circus becomes a school for the supernatural, and his grandparents provide shelter for Charles Dickens.– Most of his early stories did not fall under the horror

genre.• Because his family would move between Illinois

and Arizona frequently, Bradbury wanted to create a perfect town, free of problems.

Teenage Years• In 1931, Bradbury moved to

Los Angeles.• He would go through

Hollywood trying to spot celebrities.

• Made friends with Ray Harryhausen (special effects master) and radio star George Burns).

• Tried to write like Poe when he was eighteen, but decided a unique style was needed

Teenage Years

• George Burns recognized Bradbury’s talent as a writer for the Burns and Allen Show.– Bradbury would write jokes, clearly not part of the

horror genre!

High School

• Bradbury attended Los Angeles high school where he participated in the drama club

• His future goal was to be an actor, but changed to writer when two of his teachers encouraged his writing abilities.

• Bradbury’s works were all influenced by these two women, Snow Longley Housh and Jeannet Johnson.

Post High School

• Bradbury graduated in 1938, but did not attend college.

• Instead he educated himself, by reading newspapers and going to the library to read.

• He would write short stories about the current issues in the news, embellished with his twist of events.

A Rising Career

• Bradbury’s first published story was “Hollerbochen's Dilemma” which was printed in a fan magazine called Imagination!– Story about Hollerbochen who knows he will die

the next day.

Continuing Career• In 1941, Bradbury was

paid to print the short story “Pendulum” within Super Science Stories, a magazine.

• To strengthen his skills, Bradbury received mentoring from Henry Kuttner, Leigh Brackett, Robert Heinlein and Henry Hasse.

Marriage• Bradbury wed Marguerite McClure in 1947– She was a clerk at a book shop where Bradbury visited

often.• At the wedding, Ray Harryhausen (famous visual

effects creator) served as best man.• Bradbury had four daughters– Susan, Ramona, Bettina, Alexandra

Rocketing into Science Fiction

• Bradbury entered science fiction where he became a leading pioneer of the genre .

• Reputation skyrocketed with a science fiction novel called The Martian Chronicles.– The story envelopes man struggle to survive on a

distance planet– This novel alludes to the 1950s conflicts such as

censorship, nuclear war, racism, and foreign politics.

Fahrenheit 451

• Bradbury’s most famous work, released 1953• Takes place in a Totalitarian regime• Chronicles the story of Montag, who relishes

burning books, a law implemented by the government.

• Montag begins to question his acts, steals books, and then is educated by a professor

• When discovered Montag runs away.

Awards

• O. Henry Memorial Award• Benjamin Franklin Award (1954)• Aviation-Space Writer's Association Award for

Best Space Article in an American Magazine (1967)

• World Fantasy Award for Lifetime Achievement

• Grand Master Award from the Science Fiction Writers of America

Film Adaptations

• Alfred Hitchcock asked Bradbury to help create some episodes for the TV series Alfred Hitchcock Presents– “Shopping for Death” – “Design for Loving”– “Special Delivery”– “The Life Work of Juan Diaz”– “The Jar” – 1 hour episode

Later Life• Bradbury wrote numerous stories incorporating

horror and science fiction.• Bradbury has received most of his recognition for

Fahrenheit 451 (science fiction)• In 1980, a film adaptation of The Martian

Chronicles was created, greatly disappointing Bradbury.

• He was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

• Ray Bradbury passed away at the age of 91 on June 6, 2012

Lasting Impressions

• Bradbury has an asteroid named after him 9766 Bradbury

• Was a key player in the 1964 World’s Fair in New York, creating the script for the US Pavilion.

• Contributed his knowledge of science to Disney’s Spaceship Earth at EPCOT (WDW) and Orbitron at Disneyland parks in Paris and Anaheim.

• Bradbury discusses his accomplishments:• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTXckvj7KL4

But what about horror?

• Bradbury’s works of horror include:– The Martian Chronicles– The October Country– “The Jar”– “The Fog Horn”– “Marionettes Inc.”– “The April Witch”– “The Scythe” – (today’s reading)

Science Fiction vs. Horror

• Although not as well know for his horror stories as his science fiction stories, Bradbury incorporates horror into most of his stories.

• The Martian Chronicles is classified as a horror/science fiction novel

• Bradbury craftily incorporates human feeling into his writings, evoking emotion.

“The Scythe”

ByRay Bradbury

Scythe

• What is a scythe?– “an implement used for

mowing (as grass) and composed of a long curving blade fastened at an angle to a long handle” (Merriam Webster Dictionary)

– First began use in the 12th century as an effective way of mowing grain/corn

Drew Erickson

• Main character• Established as a farmer in the second

paragraph by his “farmer hands”• His hands are mentioned again in paragraph 7

and again in paragraph 10.– Could this be foreshadowing something?

• Clearly Drew is a hard worker and clearly life does not like him

First Encounter (Page 2 bottom)

• Importance of the quote– What does it mean?– Notice how Bradbury foreshadows something to

happen later (last sentence of passage)

The Curious Crop (Page 3 center)

• What is happening here?

Scythe Takes Over (Page 4 bottom)

• Notice any repeated diction?• Notice Bradbury mentions Hell a few times.

What could this mean?– Foreshadowing Erickson’s fate as the Grim Reaper

Page 5 – Sudden Realization

• Erickson realizes he has killed people by cutting the grain

• Is there any significance of Molly reading the Bible to Drew?– I thought it was a way of purifying Drew and

getting rid of his sin as the Grim Reaper– Removing his “possession” by the Grim Reaper

Return of the Reaper (Page 8 top)

• Importance of the first passage?• Notice the quote emblazoned on the scythe

returns again, but is repeated twice, like a motto that Erickson must reap the souls to.

Scene of Fire (Page 10 center)

• Why is this scene important?– Alludes to Hell

• This will complete his fate as the Grim Reaper.

Erickson tries to defy fate

• What happens to Erickson’s family?• Who was to blame? Why?

Fate of the Grim Reaper

• What is the Grim Reaper causing? Name events.

End of Story

• Erickson becomes obsessed with the scythe and it eventually controls his life.

• What did you think about the ending?• Bradbury creates clues by using diction that is

repeated over and over.• Bradbury leaves an impression that the Grim

Reaper causes turmoil and who knows when your life will get cut?