"The Veldt" by Ray Bradbury
Interpretive Questions: Be sure to answer all questions in complete sentences using quotes.
1.) Why do Peter and Wendy choose the nursery over their parents?
Wendy and Peter chose the nursery over their parents because "They're spoiled"(p. 98) and the nursery means everything to them.
2.) Why have the children moved to “the long, hot African veldt” from “all the delightful contraptions of a make-believe world”? (p. 94, 95)
The children have moved to “the long, hot African veldt” from “all the delightful contraptions of a make-believe world"(p. 94, 95) because they want to kill their parents.
3.) Why does Peter say, “I don’t want to do anything but look and listen and smell; what else is there to do”? (p. 100)
Peter says, “I don’t want to do anything but look and listen and smell; what else is there to do”(p. 100) because he is lazy and lives for the nursery.
4.) At the end of the story, do the children know what they are doing to their parents, or is it just another fantasy for them?
Yes, because the parents "heard the screams"(p. 99), find a bloody wallet, and find a bloody scarf.
5.) Why does the story end with peter and Wendy having a picnic and behaving politely toward David McLean?
They don't like David and are acting innocent because they just killed their parents."He stared at the two children seated in the center of the open eating a little picnic lunch"(p. 106)
6.) According to the story, are George and Lydia to blame for what happens to them?
Yes, because they spoiled the kids and have "never lifted a hand"(p. 98) so when they took what they had given away the kids threw tantrums.
7.) Why does the story say that George is too busy to pay attention to the lions, even though he has heard them roaring and smelled their strong odors?
He thinks it is fake, not worth his time, too childish, and "being busy, he had paid it no attention"(p. 95).
8.) After returning from the carnival, why do Peter and Wendy deny that Africa is in the nursery?
They say "'There's no Africa in the nursery"(p. 96) because they want to seem innocent.
9.) Why does George tell Lydia that they children are “spoiled and we’re spoiled”? (p. 98)
George tells Lydia that the children are “spoiled and we’re spoiled”(p. 98) he means that the kids have the nursery and the parents don't do anything.
10.) Why do George and Lydia agree to “just another moment of nursery” after they have turned it off? (p. 104)
George and Lydia agree to "just another moment of nursery"(p. 104) because the kids throw a tantrums and the parents always give them what they want.
1.) Why do Peter and Wendy choose the nursery over their parents?
Wendy and Peter chose the nursery over their parents because "They're spoiled"(p. 98) and the nursery means everything to them.
2.) Why have the children moved to “the long, hot African veldt” from “all the delightful contraptions of a make-believe world”? (p. 94, 95)
The children have moved to “the long, hot African veldt” from “all the delightful contraptions of a make-believe world"(p. 94, 95) because they want to kill their parents.
3.) Why does Peter say, “I don’t want to do anything but look and listen and smell; what else is there to do”? (p. 100)
Peter says, “I don’t want to do anything but look and listen and smell; what else is there to do”(p. 100) because he is lazy and lives for the nursery.
4.) At the end of the story, do the children know what they are doing to their parents, or is it just another fantasy for them?
Yes, because the parents "heard the screams"(p. 99), find a bloody wallet, and find a bloody scarf.
5.) Why does the story end with peter and Wendy having a picnic and behaving politely toward David McLean?
They don't like David and are acting innocent because they just killed their parents."He stared at the two children seated in the center of the open eating a little picnic lunch"(p. 106)
6.) According to the story, are George and Lydia to blame for what happens to them?
Yes, because they spoiled the kids and have "never lifted a hand"(p. 98) so when they took what they had given away the kids threw tantrums.
7.) Why does the story say that George is too busy to pay attention to the lions, even though he has heard them roaring and smelled their strong odors?
He thinks it is fake, not worth his time, too childish, and "being busy, he had paid it no attention"(p. 95).
8.) After returning from the carnival, why do Peter and Wendy deny that Africa is in the nursery?
They say "'There's no Africa in the nursery"(p. 96) because they want to seem innocent.
9.) Why does George tell Lydia that they children are “spoiled and we’re spoiled”? (p. 98)
George tells Lydia that the children are “spoiled and we’re spoiled”(p. 98) he means that the kids have the nursery and the parents don't do anything.
10.) Why do George and Lydia agree to “just another moment of nursery” after they have turned it off? (p. 104)
George and Lydia agree to "just another moment of nursery"(p. 104) because the kids throw a tantrums and the parents always give them what they want.
Vocabulary in Context:
1.) Reluctantly (p. 92)
Quote: "Reluctantly he locked the huge door"(p. 92)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): do not want to do it
Synonym: hesitantly
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): She reluctantly answered the phone.
2.) Preoccupied (p. 94)
Quote: "Preoccupied, he let the lights glow softly on ahead of him"(p. 94)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): busy
Synonym: distracted
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): They were preoccupied because when we said hi they did nothing.
3.) Abstractedly (p. 95)
Quote: "eating her dinner abstractedly"(p. 95)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): lost in thought
Synonym: unknowingly
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): He drew on his face abstractedly.
4.) Insufferable (p. 98)
Quote: "They're insufferable -- let's admit it"(p. 98)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): unbearable
Synonym: intolerable
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): She sometimes acts very insufferable.
5.) Engrossed (p. 105)
Quote: "before those kids get engrossed with those damned beasts again"(p. 105)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): involved, attached
Synonym: enthralled, captivated
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): He is engrossed in his book right now.
1.) Reluctantly (p. 92)
Quote: "Reluctantly he locked the huge door"(p. 92)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): do not want to do it
Synonym: hesitantly
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): She reluctantly answered the phone.
2.) Preoccupied (p. 94)
Quote: "Preoccupied, he let the lights glow softly on ahead of him"(p. 94)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): busy
Synonym: distracted
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): They were preoccupied because when we said hi they did nothing.
3.) Abstractedly (p. 95)
Quote: "eating her dinner abstractedly"(p. 95)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): lost in thought
Synonym: unknowingly
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): He drew on his face abstractedly.
4.) Insufferable (p. 98)
Quote: "They're insufferable -- let's admit it"(p. 98)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): unbearable
Synonym: intolerable
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): She sometimes acts very insufferable.
5.) Engrossed (p. 105)
Quote: "before those kids get engrossed with those damned beasts again"(p. 105)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): involved, attached
Synonym: enthralled, captivated
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): He is engrossed in his book right now.
Thinking Map:
Use textual evidence to show examples of when George or Lydia are being G/Good parents or B/bad parents. Include 5 examples and support with page numbers and opinion for each column.
Use textual evidence to show examples of when George or Lydia are being G/Good parents or B/bad parents. Include 5 examples and support with page numbers and opinion for each column.
George and Lydia are G/Good parents
|
George and Lydia are B/Bad parents
|