The Veldt by Ray Bradbury

1. What aspects of contemporary family life do the “Happy Life Home” and the nursery satirize?

 Television, reliance on technology, parents not being parents

2. What problems are beginning to trouble Mr. and Mrs. Hadley since they purchased the Happy Life Home?

 Lydia feels replaced as a mom and wife  They can’t do things for themselves; they feel useless…  Children are being too consumed with it

3. What is the nursery? How is it supposed to work?

 In essence, it is a babysitter/nanny  You send out your thoughts and they should appear…  “odorphonics” “crystalline distance” “sonics” “dimensional superactionary, supersensitive color film, mental tape film behind glass screens”

4. What was the original purpose of the nursery?  “Study patterns left on the walls by the child’s mind; study at our leisure and help the child”

5. Why did George believe it would be a good thing for his children?  “there’s nothing too good for our children”  “fun”

6. What is ironic about its effect on the children?  It is damaging them, spoiling them, destructive  Nursery has more control over kids than their parents do "You've let this room and this house replace you and your wife in your children's affections. This room is their mother and father, far more important in their lives than their real parents."

7. Explain why George and Lydia’s fate is ironic.  They are killed by the technology they thought would make their lives easier  Their children need the nursery more than their parents / it has replaced them and will ultimately kill them

8. What clues does Bradbury provide to prepare the reader for the Hadley’s fate and their children’s cruelty? What is the name of the device which wars the reader of future plot developments?

 Scarf belonging to mom  Wallet belonging to dad with blood smears..  Voices/screams are familiar  Lions look real “could become real?”  Wendy says “I wish you were dead.”  McClean’s comments  Smell of cats was in the air This is called foreshadowing.

9. State the theme of the story.

(answers will vary) ie. too much of a reliance on technology will come back to haunt you... Parents should give their children love and affection rather than the quick remedy of technology or the consequences could be disastrous.

10. Map out the elements of this short story on the back of this page.