“A Sound of Thunder”

1. “A Sound of Thunder” Ray Bradbury

2. Ray Bradbury

3. Butterfly Effect • Part of Chaos Theory • describes how tiny variations can affect large and complex systems, like weather • If a butterly flaps its wings in Asia, will there be a tornado in Texas? Basically, this theory says that it is impossible to predict anything because of all the tiny factors that have huge effects. Bradbury explores the Butterfly Effect in time travel.

4. The Fourth Dimension • HG Wells The Time Machine • 3 dimensions: length, width, and height • Theorizes a fourth dimension: time • A time machine would have to move along the 4th dimension

5. Tone TONE is simply the author’s toward the subject. You can recognize the tone/attitude by the word choice the author uses. His language will reveal his perspective/opinion (that is, whether it is positive/negative) about the subject. Tone must be inferred through the use of descriptive words.

6. How do we describe Tone? (only a few examples!) • Bitter • Serious • Witty • Playful • Tender • Sympathetic • Haunting • Mysterious • Suspenseful • Tasteful/distasteful • Nonchalant • Angry • Attached/Detached • Innocent • Poignant • Compassionate • Humorous • Gore-y

7. Tone Practice The girls were playing in the pond, splashing each other and trying to catch fish with their hands. They were having fun, but kept looking over their shoulders at the looming forest. The long grass of the field kept moving and they sort of felt like they were being watched… About a half hour passed and still the girls kept checking the field for movements. It seemed like a pair of dark eyes was on them. They even considered going back inside, but that would mean homework time. So they continued splashing, but with caution now. Their eyes hardly left the field. The tone of this passage is ominous, suggesting a little bit of fear or foreboding. Words like "caution, dark, and looming“ lead readers to the tone.

8. What is the tone? Circle descriptive words that create tone! Donovan and Larry were early for baseball practice. They decided to run up and down the bleachers to exercise before the rest of the team arrived. Larry was first to the top. He whispered to Donovan, “Look over there.” He pointed to a man sleeping on the highest, narrow bench of the bleachers. His pants and shirt were faded, worn, and too large for his thin frame. One big toe stuck out of a huge hole in his sock. His scraped-up shoes sat a few feet away. Donovan whispered, “We should help him out. Let’s hide something good in his shoes. Then, when he wakes up, he will have a nice surprise.”

9. What is the tone? How would you describe the tone of this passage? • Angry • Detached • Sympathetic Which words created this tone?

10. Mood • MOOD is the overall atmosphere of feelings that are created IN THE READER.

11. Mood Words (some examples) • Cheerful • Relieved • Gloomy • Bleak • Uncertain • Bittersweet • Relaxed • Lazy • Hopeless • Tense • Furious • Disappointed • Dreamy, foggy • Content • Satisfied • Angry • Motivated • Inspired • Confident • Eerie

12. What is the mood? Circle words or phrases that create the mood: Donovan and Larry were early for baseball practice. They decided to run up and down the bleachers to exercise before the rest of the team arrived. Larry was first to the top. He whispered to Donovan, “Look over there.” He pointed to a man sleeping on the highest, narrow bench of the bleachers. His pants and shirt were faded, worn, and too large for his thin frame. One big toe stuck out of a huge hole in his sock. His scraped-up shoes sat a few feet away. Donovan whispered, “We should help him out. Let’s hide something good in his shoes. Then, when he wakes up, he will have a nice surprise.”

13. What is the mood? How would you describe the mood of this passage? • Angry • Detached • Sympathetic Which words created this mood?

14. “A Sound of Thunder” While Reading: -Complete your Chart on Mood. -Consider your opinion on the Butterfly Effect.