Literature Notes

1. Literature Notes • The Martian Chronicles • Written by Ray Bradbury in 1950. • Essentially a collection of short stories unified by theme. • The book is science fiction (fiction that deals with the influence of real or imagined science on society or individuals). • The stories are arranged chronologically from January 1999 to October 2026. This was many years into the future for Bradbury who lived in a society that had not even visited the moon yet.

2. Ray Bradbury • Born in Illinois in 1920 • Graduated high school in 1938, had no more formal schooling. • Favorite past-time was wandering around the library taking books off the shelves, reading them and writing stories. • He lived in a world of fantasy. Bradbury was fascinated by Hollywood and later took part in making science fiction movies. • His message is a warning about the consequences of misusing the new powers science and technology have created. He tries to prevent horrible futures, not predict them.

3. Bradbury’s Writing Style • Frequent use of figurative language such as simile, metaphor, and personification. • Uses detailed description and imagery. • Incorporates original science fiction ideas and inventions.

4. Simile: a comparison between two unlike things using “like” or “as” or another word of comparison. Example: The moon was like a flashlight in the sky lighting our way. Metaphor: a comparison between two unlike things that does not use a “like” or “as” Example: The sun is an orange, plump and juicy, bursting with the day ahead. Personification: giving human qualities to a nonhuman thing. Example: The trees stretched their arms above us cradling us safely from the storm. ©Created by Cathy Shope, EWMS 2007