Ray Bradbury's "A Sound of Thunder"
Click here to access the text of the story.
As you read the story, keep track of the sequence of events by creating a chart like the one below:
Before the Safari: During the Safari: After the Safari:
Eckels prepares to
travel back in time to
hunt dinosaurs.
Then, answer the following questions in your binder (HW section):
1. Recall: What does Eckels do in the past that has far reaching consequences?
2. Summarize: When Eckels returns from the world of dinosaurs, what is different about the present?
3. Clarify: What is the "sound of thunder" at the end of the story?
4. Make Inferences: How would you characterize the business practices of Time Safari, Inc.? What evidence from the text supports your inference?
5. Draw Conclusions: Why does Travis kill Eckels? Explain your answer.
6. Understand Sequence: Look again at the chart you filled out as you read. Determine two points in the story where a character could have taken an action that might have prevented changing the future.
7. Interpret foreshadowing: Note three or four examples of foreshadowing in the story and the outcome of each example. Make a small chart to record your results.
8. Evaluate Author: "A Sound of Thunder" is a work of science fiction, yet there are realistic aspects of the story. In your opinion, has Bradbury created a believable story? Cite specific examples to support your opinion.
9. Critical Interpretations: In a review of a collection of Bradbury stories, critic Andrew Andrews remarked that Bradbury "gets to you - in simple ways he show you how to marvel over these awesome, startling creatures." Reread Bradbury's description of the Tyrannosaurus rex. What words or phrases convey its terrifying force?
As you read the story, keep track of the sequence of events by creating a chart like the one below:
Before the Safari: During the Safari: After the Safari:
Eckels prepares to
travel back in time to
hunt dinosaurs.
Then, answer the following questions in your binder (HW section):
1. Recall: What does Eckels do in the past that has far reaching consequences?
2. Summarize: When Eckels returns from the world of dinosaurs, what is different about the present?
3. Clarify: What is the "sound of thunder" at the end of the story?
4. Make Inferences: How would you characterize the business practices of Time Safari, Inc.? What evidence from the text supports your inference?
5. Draw Conclusions: Why does Travis kill Eckels? Explain your answer.
6. Understand Sequence: Look again at the chart you filled out as you read. Determine two points in the story where a character could have taken an action that might have prevented changing the future.
7. Interpret foreshadowing: Note three or four examples of foreshadowing in the story and the outcome of each example. Make a small chart to record your results.
8. Evaluate Author: "A Sound of Thunder" is a work of science fiction, yet there are realistic aspects of the story. In your opinion, has Bradbury created a believable story? Cite specific examples to support your opinion.
9. Critical Interpretations: In a review of a collection of Bradbury stories, critic Andrew Andrews remarked that Bradbury "gets to you - in simple ways he show you how to marvel over these awesome, startling creatures." Reread Bradbury's description of the Tyrannosaurus rex. What words or phrases convey its terrifying force?
