Something Wicked This Way Comes

Stuff To Think About

What’s with the title?

Think of a reason that Bradbury might change traditional syntax in order to present the title as Something Wicked This Way Comes rather than Something Wicked Comes This Way.

While there could be many reasons, the primary one is literary allusion (Shakespeare’s Macbeth).

William Halloway

• William means “protector.” • Halloway– “hallowed” = “regarded as holy;

venerated; sacred”; this person will take and protect the “hallowed” or holy way

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, enchanter’s nightshade)

Lightning

• Mark Twain said:

– “The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and lightning bug.”

–“Thunder is good, thunder is impressive; but it is lightning that does the work.”

What is a “lightning rod”?

1. a rodlike conductor installed to divert lightning away from a structure by providing a direct path to the ground.

Think about what it would mean for a person to be a lightning rod.

lightning rod

Figurative Lightning Rod

2. a person or thing that attracts and absorbs powerful and esp. negative or hostile feelings, opinions, etc., thereby diverting such feelings from other targets: The unpopular supervisor served as a lightning rod for the criticism that should have been aimed at management.

Who is the figurative lightning rod?

Why?

Who attracts lightning naturally?

Why?

Something Wicked This Way Comes

Turn to page 15, in the middle of the page where Mr. Halloway asks Will if he wants a white-hat or a black-hat book. Read from there to the end of the chapter.

1. What does each hat represent?

White Black

2. When Jim asks Mr. Halloway which hat he’d chosen, what does he mean?

3. Mr. Halloway replies, “Since you need to ask,

Jim, you make me wonder.” What does that mean? Find another way to say it.

4. What impact will that decision– which ‘hat’ to wear– have on the conflict?

5. Is everyone just one thing, good or evil? Explain. Keep an open mind about the novel.

6. What is the difference between being a certain kind of person and putting on a certain kind of ‘hat’?

Tom Fury

1. Is he a force for good or a force for evil? Why?

2. Is his “hat” different from who he is at heart? Why or why not?

Warm up

• Open to page 22– read the part about the barber pole.

• Watch the video clip of the moving barber pole.

• Answer: WHY doesn’t Will want Mr. Crosetti to turn the pole off. What might it symbolize?

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkmdGcPnRXQ

What themes in Chap. 5?

Theme 1: ORDER vs. CHAOSList the chaos in Chapter 5:

The theme that EMERGES from chaos is…

TEMPTATION

Which themes do you see emerging?Where?

1. Death of innocence 2. Temptation 3. Good vs. Evil 4. Age vs. Youth5. Order vs. Chaos6. Opposing forces in the world7. Qualities of friendship and loyalty

Literary Elements To Look For• allusion• characterization• metaphor• symbolism• theme• motif• typecasting• personification• conflict

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! _________________________________________

• Will’s fears are easier to explore than Jim’s, and yet Will is “the protector” if we are to believe that Bradbury gave him that name for a reason.

Will’s fears Jim’s fears

Will’s fears Jim’s fears1. being left behind 1. boredom/ sameness2. unpredictability 2. getting hurt3. bad stuff happening emotionally4. the ‘big world’ 3. missing something5. the unknown 4. Will’s not being

there6. people getting hurt to protect him 7. losing Jim (periodically)8. chaos/lack of order 5. not knowing9. danger10.disappointing people

More of Will’s fears11. being alone 21. losing innocence12. taking risks 22. the unnatural13. secrecy 23. being unable to 14. lightning/storm protect those he loves15. doing something bad16. the future17. getting in trouble18. the carnival19. facing certain unpleasant realities20. evil

Last characterization question:

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

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 even the carousel’s horses.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFgqDSBba1g

Don’t forget:

• “The natural order of things”– when it’s reversed or interfered with, we must notice it!

• Supernatural = unnatural!

Find several examples in Chaps. 9-20:

• of the “natural order of things” being compromised or going awry in some way. Make sure you put “ “ around your text and cite the page number.

• of some part of the carnival resembling a ‘storm’

What do you make of…

• Mr. Dark’s reactions to Jim and Will, respectively?

• Jim’s reaction to things having to do with the carnival?

• Jim’s reaction to the nephew?

Please note:

• examples of Will’s characterization in terms of how he reacts to the carnival instinctively

AND• examples of Will simply knowing things about

the carnival.• Jim as ‘supplanter’• How do you account for those seemingly

contradictory things about Will?

Lit. Warm Up1. Which themes were most evident in Part I.

Arrivals (Chapters 1-24)? Support your opinion with textual evidence, including quotations and page #s.

2. Note: When something unexpected/unnatural happens, who makes the most of it, turning it to his advantage? Explain this phenomenon as it occurs in chapter 24.

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

3. Identify the speaker of some of my favorite quotations!

• “Now, look, since when did you think being good meant being happy?”

• “For being good is a fearful occupation; men strain at it and sometimes break in two.”

• “Anything I could say or do to make you happy, I would.”

• “Death makes everything else sad. But death itself only scares. If there wasn’t death, all the other things wouldn’t get tainted.”

1. What can we infer about Miss Foley? Where might the carnival have gleaned

information about her?

2. Describe Will’s scene with the Dust Witch. What surprised you? How does that scene help characterize Will?

3. The boys are often described as kites. Is that image linked more to the natural order of things or to something outside of the natural order of things? Prove it.

4. Compare and contrast the symbols ofMr. Crosetti’s barber’s pole and Cooger and Dark’s carousel.

5. Which type of conflict is (or seems) most prevalent in the story so far? Prove it– find 5 quotations to support your position.

Characterization:Who would you cast in these roles if you were to

make a movie of the novel and WHY?1.Will --2.Jim--3.Mr. Halloway--4.Miss Foley--5.Tom Fury--6.Mr. Dark--7.Mr. Cooger--8.Robert--9.Mr. Crosetti--

1. Is it possible for one person to make up for the deficiencies in another person? Why or why not?

2. Is that what Will has tried to do for Jim throughout the novel? How do you know?

Respond

Turn to a random page in the reading.1. Find as many examples as you can of the

bizarre images Bradbury creates using figurative language. List at least 3 examples of his bizarre imagery.

2. INCLUDE THE PAGE NUMBER!3. Identify the figures of speech used.4. Examine the images closely. Do they

contribute more to theme, characterization, or mood? HOW?

Myths about dragonflies3. Dragonflies can sew your mouth (or ears, or eyes) shut.Um, no, although it is kind of fun to tell little kids they can. People perpetuating this myth refer to dragonflies as "Devil's darning needles," and usually offer it as a caveat to children who are misbehaving.

Myths about dragonflies5. Dragonflies are evil.For centuries, people have eyed dragonflies with suspicion, and imbued them with evil intent. Swedish folk legends accused dragonflies of poking out people's eyes, and referred to them as "blind stingers" for this reason. From Germany to England, people associate dragonflies with the devil, giving them nicknames like "water witch," "hobgoblin fly," "devil's horse," and even "snake killer."

Look up and write each quotation under the correct theme (themes listed on earlier slide – create a chart), and explain how it connects to

that theme.1. “Oh gosh, thought Will, we thought it would all be

simple...Mr. Cooger, dying, so we bring doctors to save him, so he forgives us, maybe…but now this! It’s too late!” (111) Death of Innocence

2. “’I’d have sworn,’ said one interne. ‘When we got there…that old man was dead.’” (124) Order vs. Chaos

3. “’You still don’t see we can’t do business with those ulmers and goffs.’” (126) Death of Innocence

Write the quotes under the correct theme and explain the connection.

4. “’I’d never ditch you, Will—’‘Ditch me in a minute.” (127)

5. “‘Everything in its time…everything one by one, not two by two.’” (128)

6. “’Having permission would spoil everything, I suppose?’” (130)

7. “’You know what I hate most of all, Will? Not being able to run anymore, like you.’” (131)

Random Questions??1. Did the freaks turn back into humans?

The freaks were ‘set free’ from being enslaved to the carnival, but since they take off north, south, east, west, they clearly haven’t learned to stick together– haven’t learned about the importance of common cause.

2. Is the carnival still affected by joy that is not displayed?Doubtful, although they wouldn’t bother luring anyone who is quietly content.

Random Questions??3. Why did the skeleton, of all the freaks, carry away Mr. Dark?

No indication– I wondered that– It has been suggested that it may represent the Grim Reaper.4. Does Jim ever get younger?

No way to know5. Do the freaks have to ride the carousel also, or do they remain alive from Mr. Dark riding it?

No indication if freaks get older, or if they are squashed into their ‘freakiness’ permanently.

Random Questions??6. Mr. Halloway says “The fight’s just begun” what

does he mean by that?I think he means that the 3 of them have just enlisted, with full knowledge of what the battle entails, in a lifelong struggle, constantly deciding which hat to wear.

7. Does a laugh that has no emotion connected to it affect the carnival?Does a rhetorical question have an answer, and does it matter?

Random Questions??7. If Mr. Dark is the carnival, when he dies, does the

carousel lose all of its power?“Evil has only the power that we give it. (275)”

8. Is Mr. Dark supposed to be the devil?No– he doesn’t survive on souls but on their misery. He is the unnatural human who gives in to all of his worst inclinations and draws pleasure from others’ misery.