Before Reading

Focus and Motivate

The Hitchhiker

Video link at
thinkcentral.com

Radio Play by Lucille Fletcher

Is seeing

RL 3 Analyze how particular lines of dialogue or

incidents in a story propel the action, reveal aspects
of a character, or provoke a decision. RL 5 Compare
and contrast the structure of two or more texts.
W 1 Write arguments to support claims with clear
reasons and relevant evidence. L 1 Demonstrate
command of standard English grammar when
writing.

summary
Ronald Adams leaves his home in New York
City to drive to California. While crossing the
Brooklyn Bridge, he swerves to avoid hitting a
hitchhiker. As he continues westward, he
encounters this same man with increasing
regularity. His sense of panic increases when
he realizes that no one else can see the man.
By the time Adams arrives in Gallup, New
Mexico, he is beside himself with fear and
uncertainty. He calls home. The woman who
answers tells him that his mother is in the hospital, prostrate with grief over the death of her
son Ronald in a car accident six days before.

BELIEVING?
RL 3 Analyze how particular
lines of dialogue or incidents in
a story propel the action, reveal
aspects of a character, or provoke
a decision.

Occasionally, something happens so quickly or unexpectedly, you cant

be sure what youve seen. Was that a rabbit racing through the field, or
was it just wind in the grass? Did you see a man hiding in the alley, or
did you see only a shadow? To be convinced that something is real, you
need proof, or solid evidence. In The Hitchhiker, a man is desperate for
proof that what hes seeing can be explained.
DISCUSS Think of something youve seen that you cant explain.
Maybe it was oddly shaped footprints in an empty lot, or a bright shape
flying through the sky. Share your experience with a small group,
and together brainstorm possible explanations. Then tell what proof
youd need to determine which explanation is the right one.

Is seeing BELIEVING?
Poll students with this question: Does everything have a logical explanation, or do some
things happen that cannot be explained or
supported by proof? Then have groups
complete the DISCUSS activity.

Selection Resources

90

Video link at
thinkcentral.com

See resources on the Teacher One Stop DVD-ROM and on thinkcentral.com.

RESOURCE MANAGER UNIT 1

BEST PRACTICES TOOLKIT

Plan and Teach, pp. 95102

Summary, pp. 103104*
Text Analysis and Reading
Skill, pp. 105108*
Vocabulary, p. 109*
Grammar in Context, p. 112

Sequence Chain, pp. B21, B45

Cause-and-Effect Diagram,
pp. B16, B38

TECHNOLOGY
Teacher One Stop DVD-ROM
Student One Stop DVD-ROM
Audio Anthology CD
GrammarNotes DVD-ROM
ExamView Test Generator
on the Teacher One Stop

DIAGNOSTIC AND SELECTION

TESTS
Selection Tests, pp. 3942
* Resources for Differentiation

090-091_NA_L08TE-u01s5-brhitc.indd 90

Also in Spanish

In Haitian Creole and Vietnamese

1/31/11 7:19:25 AM

Meet the Author

Teach

text analysis: foreshadowing

When a writer provides hints that suggest future events in a
story, the writer is foreshadowing. For example, if a character
says, Whatever you do, dont open that door, you might
suspect that the door will eventually be opened to create a
dramatic effect. Anticipating that event can add to the storys
suspense, making you more excited to find out what happens
next.
As you read The Hitchhiker, make a chart to note events or
dialogue that might foreshadow what happens later. Youll
complete the chart at the end of the selection.
Foreshadowing

Events That Were Foreshadowed

Lucille Fletcher
19122000
Suspenseful Stories
As a young adult, Lucille Fletcher wanted
to become a novelist. After she took her
first job as a script typist and began reading
scripts by other writers, she decided she
wanted to write plays as well. She was
successful at both. Fletcher penned more
than 20 radio plays, including the wellknown Sorry, Wrong Number and The
Hitchhiker. In addition, she wrote several
novels. Her works were suspenseful, full of
mystery, and often terrifying.

background to the play

reading strategy: reading a radio play

A radio play is a play written for radio broadcast, which means
that it is primarily meant to be heard, not seen. Since listeners
cant see the actors, radio playwrights give information about the
characters through
Dialogue, or the words spoken by the actors
Stage directions, which include instructions to the actors
about how dialogue should be spoken and instructions to the
crew about sounds effects
As you read The Hitchhiker, notice what these elements suggest
about the personality and state of mind of the protagonist,
or main character. Also notice what these elements suggest
about the appearance and actions of the antagonist, or the force
working against the main character.

vocabulary in context

Radio Plays
Though the television was invented in the
1920s, most American households did not
have television sets until the late 1950s.
Before then, families gathered around
the radio to listen to their favorite radio
plays. These plays took the form of dramas,
mysteries, or comedies. Actors at the radio
station read their lines into the microphone
with dramatic flair. Background music
helped set the mood.
Hearing Is Believing
Sound effects were an important part of a
radio play. They were often produced in the
radio studio. Sheet metal, shaken up and
down, replicated rolling thunder. A wooden
match, broken close to the microphone,
sounded like a baseball bat striking a ball.
Coconut halves clapped against wood
imitated the sound of horses hooves.

The words in Column A help Lucille Fletcher tell about one mans
encounter with a mysterious hitchhiker. Match each word with
the word or phrase in Column B that is closest in meaning.
Column A
1. lark

a. guarantee
b. carefree adventure

3. sinister

c. evil

4. assurance

d. sameness

5. monotony

e. place of joining

RL 3

Model the Skill:

foreshadowing
To model analyzing foreshadowing, write
this example on the board:
At last he had what he needed to prove
his theory. Overjoyed, he set the valuable document on his desk. He did not
notice the slight breeze from the open
balcony door behind him.
Say: This passage might foreshadow the
papers being blown out the door.
GUIDED PRACTICE Elicit other examples of
foreshadowing from stories or movies.
RESOURCE MANAGERCopy Master

Foreshadowing p. 105

R E A D I N G STR ATEG Y
RL 3

Model the Skill: reading a

radio play
Write this example on the board:
Driver. Where are you going, buddy?
Hitchhiker. Id love a lift to Amarillo.

Column B

2. junction

T E X T A N A LY S I S

Author
Online

Driver. Im going that way, too. Get in.

Explain that playwrights try to make
dialogue sound like natural speech.

Go to thinkcentral.com.
KEYWORD: HML8-91

GUIDED PRACTICE Have students explain

what stage directions for the actors might
work with the dialogue.

Complete the activities in your Reader/Writer Notebook.

91

VOCABULARY SKILL
L4

vocabulary in context
DIAGNOSE WORD KNOWLEDGE Have all
students complete Vocabulary in Context.
Check students answers. (1. b; 2. e; 3. c; 4. a;
5. d) Preview selection vocabulary definitions:

monotony (mE-nJtQn-C) n. tedious sameness

sinister (sGnQG-stEr) adj. suggesting or
threatening evil

PRETEACH VOCABULARY Use the following

copy master to help students understand word
meanings.
RESOURCE MANAGERCopy Master

assurance (E-shMrQEns) n. a guarantee or pledge

junction (jOngkQ shEn) n. a place where two

Vocabulary Study p. 109

roads meet
lark (lrk) n. a carefree or spirited adventure

the hitchhiker

090-091_NA_L08TE-u01s5-brhitc.indd 91

91

1/31/11 7:19:43 AM

Practice and Apply

read with a purpose
Help students set a purpose for reading. Tell
them to read The Hitchhiker to find out why
a mysterious hitchhiker disturbs a man driving
across the country.
T E X T A N A LY S I S

Model the Skill:

Lucille Fletcher

RL 3

foreshadowing
Help students understand foreshadowing
by discussing the effect of Orson Welles
introduction. Say: In the introduction,
Welles helps heighten listeners anticipation
by promising them a spine-tingling presentation. He calls the play a thriller and a
shocker. By saying that the company presents the play proudly and without apologies (line 19), he makes listeners expect
something shocking.

CAST OF CHARACTERS

Extend the Discussion What kind of voice

would you expect Welles to use for this
introduction?

Girl

Ronald Adams
Adamss Mother

Operator
Long-Distance Operator

Voice of Hitchhiker
Mechanic
Henry, a sleepy man
Womans Voice, Henrys wife

Albuquerque Operator
New York Operator
Mrs. Whitney

Welles. Good evening, this is Orson Welles . . .

VOCABULARY
L4

own the word

assurance: What effect does Welles
assurance have on the listener?

Orson Welles

10

(music in) Personally Ive never met anybody

who didnt like a good ghost story, but I know a
lot of people who think there are a lot of people
who dont like a good ghost story. For the benefit
of these, at least, I go on record at the outset
of this evenings entertainment with the sober
assurance that although blood may be curdled
on this program none will be spilt. Theres no
shooting, knifing, throttling, axing or poisoning
here. No clanking chains, no cobwebs, no bony
and/or hairy hands appearing from secret panels
or, better yet, bedroom curtains. If its any part

20

of that dear old phosphorescent1 foolishness that

people who dont like ghost stories dont like,
then again I promise you we havent got it. What
we do have is a thriller. If its half as good as
we think it is you can call it a shocker, and we
present it proudly and without apologies. After
all a story doesnt have to appeal to the heart
it can also appeal to the spine. Sometimes you
want your heart to be warmedsometimes you
want your spine to tingle. The tingling, its to be
hoped, will be quite audible as you listen tonight
to The HitchhikerThats the name of our story,
The Hitchhiker

1. phosphorescent (fJsQfE-rDsPEnt): glowing with a cold light.

92

unit 1: plot and conflict

differentiated instruction
for english language learners

for struggling readers

Comprehension Support Read the Summary

from the Resource Manager to students and
explain what hitchhiking is and how dangerous it has become. Make sure students
understand that most of the story takes place
in a flashback, as Ronald Adams, the main
character, narrates what has happened to
him.

In combination with the Audio Anthology CD,

use one or more Targeted Passages (pp. 94, 95,
99, 101) to ensure that students focus on key
selection events, concepts, and skills.

RESOURCE MANAGERCopy Masters

Summary pp. 103104

92

unit 1 : plot and conflict

092-101_NA_L08TE_u01s5-hitch.indd 92

1/31/11 7:28:19 AM

background
Route 66 In lines 3031, Ronald Adams
describes his location as an auto camp on
Route Sixty-six. In the 1940s, Route 66 was
the primary highway connecting the Midwest
with the West Coast. Its approximately 2500
miles ran from Chicago, Illinois, to Los Angeles
and later Santa Monica, California. It opened
in 1926 and was finally rendered obsolete in
1985 when new interstates bypassed the last
section in use. Featured in songs, ads, novels,
and other elements of popular culture, Route
66 is now considered an important part of the
countrys history.

photo of 1940 ford v8

or close-up shot of cars tires as
they lead off into the distance

Auto Camps Along with Route 66 and other

major highways came a phenomenon known
as auto camps. Ronald Adams is stopped in
one in Gallup, New Mexico. These were originally sections of land alongside highways that
were roped off for the use of travelers. People
carried their own tents and gear in their cars.
Later, toilets and showers, and eventually cabins, were added to these locations.

Analyze Visuals
Activity What mood, or feeling, is established
by this photograph? Possible answer: The illustration looks foggy and indistinct, creating a
ghostly mood.
About the Art This print, by photographer
Gene Laughter, was prepared using a process
called bromoil. This involves several steps that
result in the inks adhering to some parts of
the print and not to others.

for english language learners

for advanced learners/pre ap

Strategy Support: Reading a Radio Play Have students listen to the Audio Anthology CD and follow
along in the text. Tell them to notice the italicized words in parentheses are not read out loud; they give
direction to the actors.

Orson Welles was an actor, writer, director,

and producer with a distinguished career.
He worked in film, television, radio, and
on stage. Encourage students to find out
about his accomplishments.

beginning

intermediate

advanced

advanced high

In pairs, choose a section to read aloud as a

play. (4 lines)

In pairs, choose a section

to read aloud as a play.
(8 lines)

In pairs, choose a section In pairs, choose a section

to read aloud as a play.
to read aloud as a play.
(20 lines)
(30 lines)

the hitchhiker

092-101_NA_L08TE_u01s5-hitch.indd 93

93

1/31/11 7:28:24 AM

Lines 4760

30

R E A D I N G ST R AT E G Y:

Model the Skill: reading a

RL 3

radio play
Remind students that playwrights use
dialogue to give information about the
characters. Read aloud lines 4760 and
point out that these lines show that
Adams and his mother have a good relationship. His mother cares about him and
he is concerned about her.

40

Lines 6168
T E X T A N A LY S I S

foreshadowing

RL 3
50

What potential dangers does Adamss

mother warn him about? (Remind students to record their ideas in the chart
from page 91.) Possible answer:
Foreshadowing
Adamss mother warns him against falling
asleep, speeding, and hitchhikers (lines
61 68).
60

VOCABULARY

(sound: automobile wheels humming over concrete

road )
(music: something weird and shuddery)
Adams. I am in an auto camp on Route Sixtysix just west of Gallup, New Mexico. If I tell it
perhaps it will help me. It will keep me from
going mad. But I must tell this quickly. I am not
mad now. I feel perfectly well, except that I am
running a slight temperature. My name is Ronald
Adams. I am thirty-six years of age, unmarried,
tall, dark, with a black mustache. I drive a 1940
Ford V-8, license number 6V-7989. I was born
in Brooklyn. All this I know. I know that I am at
this moment perfectly sane. That it is not I, who
has gone madbut something elsesomething
utterly beyond my control. But I must speak
quickly. At any moment the link with life may
break. This may be the last thing I ever tell on
earth . . . the last night I ever see the stars. . . .
(music in)
Adams. Six days ago I left Brooklyn, to drive to
California . . .
Mother. Goodbye, son. Good luck to you, my
boy . . .
Adams. Goodbye, mother. Heregive me a kiss,
and then Ill go . . .
Mother. Ill come out with you to the car.
Adams. No. Its raining. Stay here at the door.
Heywhat is this? Tears? I thought you promised
me you wouldnt cry.
Mother. I know dear. Im sorry. But Ido hate to
see you go.
Adams. Ill be back. Ill only be on the coast three
months.
Mother. Ohit isnt that. Its justthe trip.
RonaldI wish you werent driving.
Adams. Ohmother. There you go again. People
do it every day.

70

80

Mother. I know. But youll be careful, wont you.

Promise me youll be extra careful. Dont fall
asleepor drive fastor pick up any strangers on
the road . . .
Adams. Of course not! Youd think I was still
seventeen to hear you talk
Mother. And wire me as soon as you get to
Hollywood, wont you, son?
Adams. Of course I will. Now dont you worry.
There isnt anything going to happen. Its just
eight days of perfectly simple driving on smooth,
decent, civilized roads, with a hotdog or a
hamburger stand every ten miles . . . (fade)
(sound: auto hum)
(music in)
Adams. I was in excellent spirits. The drive ahead
of me, even the loneliness, seemed like a lark. But
I reckoned without him.
(Music changes to something weird and empty.)

L4

own the word

1 Targeted Passage

lark: Ask students what they might like

to do for a lark.
94

unit 1: plot and conflict

differentiated instruction
for english language learners
Language: Punctuation and Print Cues Read
aloud lines 4446 to illustrate the effect of an
ellipsis in a sentence. Students should hear
the trailing off of the speakers voice. Explain
that an ellipsis indicates that the speaker does
not complete his or her thought or that there
is a longer pause than would be the case with
a period. Have small groups practice reading
lines 4753 and 6577 paying attention to this
punctuation cue.

94

unit 1 : plot and conflict

092-101_NA_L08TE_u01s5-hitch.indd 94

for struggling readers

1 Targeted Passage [Lines 4783]

This passage presents the transition into the
flashback and hints at the conflict to come.
What is Adamss destination? Where and
when did he begin his journey? (lines 4748)
Why is Adamss mother crying? (lines 6162)
In what kind of mood does Adams begin his
trip? What happens to change how he feels?
(lines 8082)

Comprehension Support Explain that much

of the plays action takes place in the recent
past and is told through flashbacks, or episodes
that occurred before Adams reached the auto
camp in New Mexico. Point out the transition
to the first flashback in line 49. The ellipsis and
Adamss previous comment cue readers that
the action has moved to the past. Music may
also indicate a change in the time frame. Have
students read to find out where in this play the
action moves back to the present. Ask what
clues help them figure this out.

1/31/11 7:28:27 AM

2 Targeted Passage

90

100

110

120

Adams. Crossing Brooklyn Bridge that morning

in the rain, I saw a man leaning against the
cables. He seemed to be waiting for a lift. There
were spots of fresh rain on his shoulders. He was
carrying a cheap overnight bag in one hand. He
was thin, nondescript, with a cap pulled down
over his eyes. He stepped off the walk, and if I
hadnt swerved, Id have hit him.
(sound: terrific skidding)
(music in)
Adams. I would have forgotten him completely,
except that just an hour later, while crossing the
Pulaski Skyway over the Jersey flats, I saw him
again. At least, he looked like the same person.
He was standing now, with one thumb pointing
west. I couldnt figure out how hed got there, but
I thought probably one of those fast trucks had
picked him up, beaten me to the Skyway, and let
him off. I didnt stop for him. Thenlate that
night, I saw him again.
(music changing)
Adams. It was on the new Pennsylvania Turnpike between Harrisburg and Pittsburgh. Its 265
miles long, with a very high speed limit. I was just
slowing down for one of the tunnelswhen I saw
himstanding under an arc light by the side of
the road. I could see him quite distinctly. The bag,
the cap, even the spots of fresh rain spattered over
his shoulders. He hailed me this time . . .
Voice (very spooky and faint). Hall-ooo . . . (echo as
through tunnel ) Hall-ooo . . . !
Adams. I stepped on the gas like a shot. Thats
lonely country through the Alleghenies,2 and
I had no intention of stopping. Besides, the
coincidence, or whatever it was, gave me the
willies.3 I stopped at the next gas station.
(sound: auto tires screeching to stop . . . horn honk)
Mechanic. Yes, sir.
Adams. Fill her up.

Mechanic. Certainly, sir. Check your oil, sir?

130

140

150

160

Adams. No, thanks.

(sound: gas being put into car . . . bell tinkle, et
cetera)
Mechanic. Nice night, isnt it?
Adams. Yes. Ithasnt been raining here recently,
has it?
Mechanic. Not a drop of rain all week.
Adams. Hm. I suppose that hasnt done your
business any harm.
Mechanic. Ohpeople drive through here all
kinds of weather. Mostly business, you know.
There arent many pleasure cars out on the
turnpike this season of the year.
Adams. I suppose not. (casually) What about
hitchhikers?
Mechanic (half laughing). Hitchhikers here?
Adams. Whats the matter? Dont you ever see any?
Mechanic. Not much. If we did, itd be a sight for
sore eyes.
Adams. Why?
Mechanic. A guyd be a fool who started out to
hitch rides on this road. Look at it. Its 265 miles
long, theres practically no speed limit, and its a
straightaway. Now what car is going to stop to
pick up a guy under those conditions? Would
you stop?
Adams. No. (slowly, with puzzled emphasis) Then
youve never seen anybody?
Mechanic. Nope. Mebbe they get the lift before the
turnpike startsI mean, you knowjust before
the toll housebut then itd be a mighty long ride.
Most cars wouldnt want to pick up a guy for that
long a ride. And you knowthis is pretty lonesome
country heremountains, and woods . . . You aint
seen anybody like that, have you?
Adams. No. (quickly) Oh no, not at all. It was
just atechnical question.

Lines 8492
T E X T A N A LY S I S
RL 3

foreshadowing
What happens on the Brooklyn Bridge?
(Have students record this event in their
charts.) Possible answer: A hitchhiker steps
off the path, and Adams has to swerve to
avoid him. His car skids as a result.
Extend the Discussion What might this
event foreshadow?

Lines 105114
T E X T A N A LY S I S
RL 3

foreshadowing
In what ways is Adamss encounter with
the hitchhiker both similar to and different
from his previous ones? What does seeing
him a third time mean? Possible answer:
The hitchhiker looks exactly the same. On
the turnpike, however, he hails Adams. This
behavior is different from what he has done
before. Seeing him a third time suggests
that the hitchhiker will reappear frequently
throughout Adamss journey.

Lines 137142
READING SKILL
RL 3

reading a radio play

2. Alleghenies (BlQG-gAPnCz): The Allegheny Mountains, a range extending from northern Pennsylvania to
western Virginia.
3. gave me the willies: made me nervous.

the hitchhiker

95

for struggling readers

2 Targeted Passage [Lines 84119]

This passage presents the major conflict:
Adams is becoming unnerved by the reappearance of the same hitchhiker.
What happens the first time Adams sees the
hitchhiker? (lines 8491)
What is Adamss theory about how the hitchhiker beat him to the Skyway? (lines 99102)
Why does Adams start to get nervous when
he sees the hitchhiker a third time?
(lines 115119)

092-101_NA_L08TE_u01s5-hitch.indd 95

Concept Support [paired option] Display a

chart similar to the one on page 91. Discuss
the examples of foreshadowing that students
have identified already. Then have them reread
lines 127160, Adamss conversation with the
mechanic. Point out the kinds of questions
that Adams asks, and talk about his reasons
for wanting to know this information. Have
students work in pairs to add to their charts
examples of foreshadowing from this passage.

Why does Adams ask his question casually? Possible answer: He doesnt want the
mechanic to guess that anything might
be wrong.

Foreshadowing

Events That Were

Foreshadowed

The mechanic says

that they have not
had a drop of rain all
week (line 130).
The mechanic says
that a hitchhiker
would be a sight
for sore eyes (lines
141142).

the hitchhiker

95

1/31/11 7:28:31 AM

Mechanic. I see. Wellthatll be just a dollar

Lines 171176
T E X T A N A LY S I S
RL 3

foreshadowing
What might the presence of the hitchhiker
at a detour indicate for Ronald Adams?
Possible answer: The hitchhiker might be
indicating that Adamss life is about to take
an unexpected direction.

170

Lines 191202
R E A D I N G STR ATEG Y
RL 3

reading a radio play

What do the stage directions in this part
of the play help readers visualize? Possible
answer: The stage directions give readers a
mental image of Adamss panicky movements as he starts the car and jams the
gears, finally speeding off with a spinning of
his wheels.

180

190

tiered discussion prompts

In lines 216261, use these prompts to explore
Adamss emotions as his journey progresses:
Connect How would you be feeling after
seeing the hitchhiker five times? Students
may say that they would start to feel confused or nervous.
Analyze Adams says he stops to get a cup of
coffee. What is the real reason that he stops
at the roadside stand? Possible answer:
He thinks he sees the hitchhiker there. He is
desperate to talk to someone and get reassurance that he is not just seeing things.

96

Evaluate How has Adams changed since

leaving Brooklyn? Possible answer: He is
now nervous and uncertain. Traveling this
long distance alone no longer seems like the
fun adventure he expected it to be.

96

220

230

240

unit 1: plot and conflict

for struggling readers

L4

sinister: Have students raise their hands

if they would like to be described as sinister. Possible answer: Most students will
.
not raise their hands because they do not
want to be described as sinister.

210

(sound: car starts with squeal of wheels on dirt . . .

into auto hum)
(music in)
Adams. After I got the car back onto the road
again, I felt like a fool. Yet the thought of picking
him up, of having him sit beside me was somehow
unbearable. Yet, at the same time, I felt, more
than ever, unspeakably alone.
(sound: auto hum up)
Adams. Hour after hour went by. The fields, the
towns ticked off, one by one. The lights changed.
I knew now that I was going to see him again.
And though I dreaded the sight, I caught myself
searching the side of the road, waiting for him to
appear.
(sound: auto hum up . . . car screeches to a halt . . .
impatient honk two or three times . . . door being
unbolted)
Sleepy Mans Voice. Yep? What is it? What do you
want?
Adams (breathless). You sell sandwiches and pop
here, dont you?
Voice (cranky). Yep. We do. In the daytime. But
were closed up now for the night.
Adams. I know. ButI was wondering if you
could possibly let me have a cup of coffeeblack
coffee.
Voice. Not at this time of night, mister. My wifes
the cook and shes in bed. Mebbe further down
the roadat the Honeysuckle Rest . . .
(sound: door squeaking on hinges as though being
closed )
Adams. Nono. Dont shut the door. (shakily)
Listenjust a minute ago, there was a man
standing hereright beside this standa
suspicious looking man . . .
Womans Voice (from distance). Hen-ry? Who is it,
Hen-ry?
Henry. Its nobuddy, mother. Just a feller thinks he
wants a cup of coffee. Go back into bed.

differentiated instruction

VOCABULARY

own the word

200

forty-ninewith the tax . . . (fade)

(sound: auto hum up)
(music changing)
Adams. The thing gradually passed from my
mind, as sheer coincidence. I had a good nights
sleep in Pittsburgh. I did not think about the
man all next dayuntil just outside of Zanesville,
Ohio, I saw him again.
(music: dark, ominous note)
Adams. It was a bright sunshiny afternoon. The
peaceful Ohio fields, brown with the autumn
stubble, lay dreaming in the golden light. I was
driving slowly, drinking it in, when the road
suddenly ended in a detour. In front of the barrier,
he was standing.
(music in)
Adams. Let me explain about his appearance before
I go on. I repeat. There was nothing sinister about
him. He was as drab as a mud fence. Nor was his
attitude menacing. He merely stood there, waiting,
almost drooping a little, the cheap overnight bag
in his hand. He looked as though he had been
waiting there for hours. Then he looked up. He
hailed me. He started to walk forward.
Voice (far off ). Hall-ooo . . . Hall-ooo . . .
Adams. I had stopped the car, of course, for the
detour. And for a few moments, I couldnt seem
to find the new road. I knew he must be thinking
that I had stopped for him.
Voice (closer). Hall-ooo . . . Hallll . . . ooo . . .
(sound: gears jamming . . . sound of motor turning
over hard . . . nervous accelerator)
Voice (closer). Halll . . . oooo . . .
Adams (panicky). No. Not just now. Sorry . . .
Voice (closer). Going to California?
(sound: starter starting . . . gears jamming)
Adams (as though sweating blood ). No. Not today.
The other way. Going to New York. Sorry . . .
sorry . . .

Develop Reading Fluency With the assistance of a fluent reader, model reading the
dialogue in lines 178208. Have the rest of
the class follow along as you read. Point out
the ellipses and explain that a reader should
take a slight pause when he or she comes
to them.

RESOURCE MANAGERCopy Masters

Reading Fluency p.113

Paired Activity Have students work in

mixed-ability groups to continue reading the
dialogue on pp. 9697.

unit 1 : plot and conflict

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1/31/11 7:28:35 AM

Analyze Visuals
Activity What is disturbing or unusual about
this image? Possible answer: There are cars
visible in the rear-view mirror, but only a sleepy
little town appears ahead. The perspective of
the photograph is unclear.

250

260

Adams. I dont mean to disturb you. But you see,

I was driving alongwhen I just happened to
lookand there he was . . .
Henry. What was he doing?
Adams. Nothing. He ran offwhen I stopped
the car.
Henry. Then what of it? Thats nothing to wake
a man in the middle of his sleep about. (sternly)
Young man, Ive got a good mind to turn you over
to the sheriff.
Adams. ButI
Henry. Youve been taking a nip, thats what youve
been doing. And you havent got anything better
to do than to wake decent folk out of their hardearned sleep. Get going. Go on.
Adams. Buthe looked as though he were going
to rob you.
Henry. I aint got nothin in this stand to lose.
Nowon your way before I call out Sheriff
Oakes. (fades)
(sound: auto hum up)
Adams. I got into the car again and drove on
slowly. I was beginning to hate the car. If I could
have found a place to stop . . . to rest a little. But
I was in the Ozark Mountains of Missouri now.
The few resort places there were closed. Only an

270

280

290

occasional log cabin, seemingly deserted, broke

the monotony of the wild wooded landscape.
I had seen him at that roadside stand; I knew I
would see him againperhaps at the next turn
of the road. I knew that when I saw him next, I
would run him down . . .
(sound: auto hum up)
Adams. But I did not see him again until late next
afternoon . . .
(sound: of railroad warning signal at crossroads)
Adams. I had stopped the car at a sleepy little
junction just across the border into Oklahoma
to let a train pass bywhen he appeared, across
the tracks, leaning against a telephone pole.
(sound: distant sound of train chugging . . . bell
ringing steadily)
Adams (very tense). It was a perfectly airless, dry
day. The red clay of Oklahoma was baking under
the south-western sun. Yet there were spots of
fresh rain on his shoulders. I couldnt stand that.
Without thinking, blindly, I started the car across
the tracks.
(sound: train chugging closer)
Adams. He didnt even look up at me. He was
staring at the ground. I stepped on the gas hard,
veering the wheel sharply toward him. I could

the hitchhiker

About the Art French photographer Raymond

Depardon (born 1942) has traveled around the
world as a photojournalist, often encountering danger while recording events in troubled
spots such as Vietnam. He also makes documentary films.

revisit the big question

Is seeing BELIEVING?
Discuss In lines 283288, the hitchhiker has
spots of rain on his shoulders even though it
is a baking hot day in Oklahoma. What might
this be proof of? Possible answers:
The hitchhiker is not real; he is a supernatural
creature.
The hitchhiker is a figment of Adamss imagination and stays as Adams first saw him.

VOCABULARY
L4

own the word

monotony: Explain that the word monotony has a negative connotation. The
word uniformity has nearly the same
literal meaning, but its connotations are
neutral.
junction: Have a student draw an example of a junction of two roads on the
board.

97

for english language learners

for struggling readers

Language: Conversational English Patterns

[mixed-readiness pairs] Direct students attention to lines 219260. Explain that the different
speech patterns reflect Adamss location in another part of the country. Have students work
in pairs to restate these words and phrases in
standard English: Yep (line 223), mebbe (line
229), nobuddy (line 239), feller (line 239), aint
got nothin (line 258).

Comprehension Support [small-group option]

1. Help students track the passage of time by
having them complete a Sequence Chain for
the first three days of Adamss trip.
2. Fill in the first box together. (Day 1: leaves
New York, sees the hitchhiker three times,
stops in Pittsburgh for the night)

4. Discuss their charts and have them add

details to Day 3 as they read further.
5. Tell students that after this point, Adamss
days and nights merge as he becomes increasingly disoriented.
BEST PRACTICES TOOLKITTransparency

Sequence Chain pp. B21, B45

3. Then have groups organize the events of

Day 2 and the start of Day 3 through
line 280.

the hitchhiker

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1/31/11 7:28:39 AM

Lines 287308
T E X T A N A LY S I S

foreshadowing

RL 3

What does this scene suggest about the

chances of Adamss arriving in California?
Possible answer: He will most likely die
before reaching California. The hitchhiker
seems to be trying to kill him, and Adams is
becoming tired and desperate.

300

tiered discussion prompts

310

In lines 340386, use these prompts to help

students understand the changes in Adams:
Connect Would you want to be a passenger
in Adamss car? Why or why not? Students
might say that they would be nervous, especially after he swerves off the road.
Compare What is the girls first impression
of Adams? How does it change? Possible
answer: At first, she thinks she is quite lucky
to have been picked up by a good-looking
guy who has a nice car. Then he sees a
phantom and tries to run him down (lines
359374). She no longer feels safe with him.

320

Evaluate Is Adamss reason for wanting to

run over the hitchhiker rational? Explain.
Possible answers:
No. He wants to run him over to prove he
exists. However, if the hitchhiker is real,
Adams could kill him.
Yes. If the car goes right through the
hitchhiker, then he is a phantom. If the
hitchhiker is run down and injured, then
he is a real person. It is a desperate test,
but it would give Adams the information
he wants.

330

hear the train in the distance now, but I didnt

care. Then something went wrong with the car. It
stalled right on the tracks.
(sound: Train chugging closer. Above this sound of car
stalling.)
Adams. The train was coming closer. I could hear
its bell ringing, and the cry of its whistle. Still
he stood there. And nowI knew that he was
beckoningbeckoning me to my death.
(sound: Train chugging close. Whistle blows wildly.
Then train rushes up and by with pistons going, et
cetera.)
Adams. WellI frustrated him that time. The
starter had worked at last. I managed to back up.
But when the train passed, he was gone. I was all
alone in the hot dry afternoon.
(sound: Train retreating. Crickets begin to sing.)
(music in)
Adams. After that, I knew I had to do something.
I didnt know who this man was or what he
wanted of me. I only knew that from now on, I
must not let myself be alone on the road for one
moment.
(sound: Auto hum up. Slow down. Stop. Door
opening.)
Adams. Hello, there. Like a ride?
Girl. What do you think? How far you going?
Adams. Amarillo . . . Ill take you to Amarillo.
Girl. Amarillo, Texas.
Adams. Ill drive you there.
Girl. Gee!
(sound: Door closescar starts.)
(music in)
Girl. Mind if I take off my shoes? My dogs4 are
killing me.
Adams. Go right ahead.
Girl. Gee, what a break this is. A swell car, a decent
guy, and driving all the way to Amarillo. All I
been getting so far is trucks.

Adams. Hitchhike much?

Girl. Sure. Only its tough sometimes, in these

great open spaces, to get the breaks.

Adams. I should think it would be. Though Ill

340

350

360

370

bet if you get a good pick-up in a fast car, you can

get to places faster thansay, another person, in
another car?
Girl. I dont get you.
Adams. Well, take me, for instance. Suppose Im
driving across the country, say, at a nice steady
clip of about 45 miles an hour. Couldnt a girl
like you, just standing beside the road, waiting for
lifts, beat me to town after townprovided she
got picked up every time in a car doing from 65
to 70 miles an hour?
Girl. I dunno. Maybe she could and maybe she
couldnt. What difference does it make?
Adams. Ohno difference. Its just acrazy idea
I had sitting here in the car.
Girl (laughing). Imagine spending your time in a
swell car thinking of things like that!
Adams. What would you do instead?
Girl (admiringly). What would I do? If I was a goodlooking fellow like yourself? WhyId just enjoy
myselfevery minute of the time. Id sit back, and
relax, and if I saw a good-looking girl along the side
of the road . . . (sharply) Hey! Look out!
Adams (breathlessly). Did you see him too?
Girl. See who?
Adams. That man. Standing beside the barbed
wire fence.
Girl. I didnt seeanybody. There wasnt nothing,
but a bunch of steersand the barbed wire fence.
What did you think you was doing? Trying to run
into the barbed wire fence?
Adams. There was a man there, I tell you . . . a
thin gray man, with an overnight bag in his hand.
And I was trying torun him down.
Girl. Run him down? You meankill him?

4. dogs: a slang term for feet.

98

unit 1: plot and conflict

differentiated instruction
for english language learners
Vocabulary: Idioms and Sayings [mixedreadiness pairs] Have students work in pairs
to define these phrases from the play:
what a break this is (line 329), this is a sudden piece of luck
get you (line 339), understand you
keep your eyes peeled (line 378), stay alert
and watch for something

Strategy Support: Reading a Radio Play

Explain to students that it is important to
read fluentlythat is, accurately and at an
appropriate rate. Fluency improves with
practice. One way to be a more fluent reader
is to re-read something several times. Have
students practice reading and re-reading one
of the longer parts.

seeing pink elephants (line 397), imagining

things that dont really exist

98

unit 1 : plot and conflict

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380

390

400

Adams. Hes a sort ofphantom. Im trying to

get rid of himor else prove that hes real. But
(desperately) you say you didnt see him back there?
Youre sure?
Girl. I didnt see a soul. And as far as thats
concerned, mister . . .
Adams. Watch for him the next time, then. Keep
watching. Keep your eyes peeled on the road.
Hell turn up againmaybe any minute now.
(excitedly) There. Look there
(sound: Auto sharply veering and skidding. Girl
screams.)
(sound: Crash of car going into barbed wire fence.
Frightened lowing5 of steer.)
Girl. How does this door work? IIm gettin
outta here.
Adams. Did you see him that time?
Girl (sharply). No. I didnt see him that time. And
personally, mister, I dont expect never to see him.
All I want to do is to go on livingand I dont see
how I will very long driving with you
Adams. Im sorry. II dont know what came over
me. (frightened) Pleasedont go . . .
Girl. So if youll excuse me, mister
Adams. You cant go. Listen, how would you like
to go to California? Ill drive you to California.
Girl. Seeing pink elephants all the way? No thanks.
Adams (desperately). I could get you a job there.
You wouldnt have to be a waitress. I have friends
theremy name is Ronald AdamsYou can
check up.
(sound: door opening)
Girl. Uhn-hunh. Thanks just the same.
Adams. Listen. Please. For just one minute. Maybe
you think I am half cracked. But this man. You
see, Ive been seeing this man all the way across
the country. Hes been following me. And if you
could only help mestay with meuntil I reach
the coast

410

420

430

440

Girl. You know what I think you need, big boy?

Not a girl friend. Just a good dose of sleep. . . .

There, I got it now.
(sound: door opens . . . slams)
Adams. No. You cant go.
Girl (screams). Leave your hands offa me, do you
hear! Leave your
Adams. Come back here, please, come back.
(sound: struggle . . . slap . . . footsteps running away
on gravel . . . lowing of steer)
Adams. She ran from me, as though I were a
monster. A few minutes later, I saw a passing truck
pick her up. I knew then that I was utterly alone.
(sound: lowing of steer up)
Adams. I was in the heart of the great Texas
prairies. There wasnt a car on the road after the
truck went by. I tried to figure out what to do,
how to get hold of myself. If I could find a place
to rest. Or even, if I could sleep right here in the
car for a few hours, along the side of the road . . .
I was getting my winter overcoat out of the back
seat to use as a blanket, (Hall-ooo) when I saw
him coming toward me, (Hall-ooo), emerging
from the herd of moving steer . . .
Voice. Hall-ooo . . . Hall-oooo . . .
(sound: auto starting violently . . . up to steady hum)
(music in)
Adams. I didnt wait for him to come any closer.
Perhaps I should have spoken to him then,
fought it out then and there. For now he began
to be everywhere. Whenever I stopped, even for
a momentfor gas, for oil, for a drink of pop, a
cup of coffee, a sandwichhe was there.
(music faster)
Adams. I saw him standing outside the auto camp
in Amarillo that night, when I dared to slow
down. He was sitting near the drinking fountain
in a little camping spot just inside the border of
New Mexico.

3 Targeted Passage

5. lowing: mooing.

revisit the big question

Is seeing BELIEVING?
Discuss In lines 383391, why is Adams so
anxious for the girl to see the hitchhiker?
What kind of proof would that offer him? Possible answer: If she can see the hitchhiker, then
he will know that he is not crazy. Because she
cant, he is frightened that he is losing his mind.

tiered discussion prompts

In lines 410433, use these prompts to help
students understand the literal and metaphorical significance of the sleep references:
Recall When is the last time that Adams
had a good nights sleep? Answer: In lines
166167, he mentions having had a good
nights sleep in Pittsburgh, but he does not
appear to have slept since then.
Analyze What might sleep symbolize?
What does this mean for Adams? Possible
answer: Sleep can refer to death. Adamss
death might be foreshadowed by the mention of sleep in this passage and throughout
the play.
Evaluate Do you agree with the girls parting advice to Adams (lines 410411)? Why or
why not? Possible answers:
Yes. Sleep deprivation can produce very
strange symptoms.
No. He wasnt sleep deprived when he
first started seeing the hitchhiker.

Lines 435437
the hitchhiker

99

R E A D I N G STR ATEG Y
RL 3

reading a radio play

for struggling readers
3 Targeted Passage [Lines 371422]
This passage presents the rising action: Adamss behavior becomes increasingly odd.
Why does Adams crash the car into the
fence? (lines 371372)
What is the girls reaction? (lines 388391)
Where does Adams offer to drive her? Why?
(lines 395409)
What does he do when she gets out of
the car? (lines 414419)

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for advanced learners/preap

How does Adams react when he sees the

hitchhiker emerging from the herd of
steer? Answer: He speeds off.

Analyze Have students track Adamss change

in attitude and increasing panic using a
Cause-and-Effect Diagram. Fill in the first
box together. (Cause: Adams leaves for his trip
to California. Effect: He is in excellent spirits
[line 80].) Have students complete the diagram in groups. Ask students: How might Adamss behavior continue to change once the
man begins to be everywhere (line 440)?
BEST PRACTICES TOOLKITTransparency

Cause-and-Effect Diagram pp. B16, B38

the hitchhiker

99

1/31/11 7:28:48 AM

Analyze Visuals
Activity What elements of this photograph
convey desolation or loneliness? Possible
answer: The thick clouds, flat landscape, and
functional buildings create a desolate air.
About the Art American photographer
Andreas Feininger (19061999) began his
career as an architect before devoting himself
entirely to photography. He was a staff photographer for the magazine Life and preferred
taking pictures of scenes, such as the one here,
rather than people.

Lines 460468
T E X T A N A LY S I S

450

RL 3

foreshadowing
What do the images in this passage suggest about Adamss future? (Remind
students to record their ideas in the chart
from page 91.) Possible answer: All of the
images in this passage are cold, empty, and
lifeless, suggesting a future without hope or
even life.

Line 469
R E A D I N G STR ATEG Y
RL 3

reading a radio play

460

(music faster)
Adams. He was waiting for me outside the Navajo
Reservation, where I stopped to check my tires.
I saw him in Albuquerque6 where I bought 12
gallons of gas . . . I was afraid now, afraid to stop.
I began to drive faster and faster. I was in lunar
landscape nowthe great arid mesa country
of New Mexico. I drove through it with the
indifference of a fly crawling over the face of the
moon.
(music faster)
Adams. But now he didnt even wait for me to
stop. Unless I drove at 85 miles an hour over
those endless roadshe waited for me at every
other mile. I would see his figure, shadowless,
flitting before me, still in its same attitude,
over the cold and lifeless ground, flitting over
dried-up rivers, over broken stones cast up by
old glacial upheavals, flitting in the pure and
cloudless air . . .

What idea does the music communicate?

Possible answer: The music seems to indicate that Adams has reached the end of his
journey.

470

480

(music strikes sinister note of finality.)

Adams. I was beside myself when I finally reached
Gallup, New Mexico, this morning. There is an
auto camp herecold, almost deserted at this
time of year. I went inside, and asked if there was
a telephone. I had the feeling that if only I could
speak to someone familiar, someone that I loved,
I could pull myself together.
(sound: nickel put in slot)
Operator. Number, please?
Adams. Long distance.
Operator. Thank you.
(sound: return of nickel; buzz)
Long-Distance Opr. This is long distance.
Adams. Id like to put in a call to my home in
Brooklyn, New York. Im Ronald Adams. The
number is Beechwood 2-0828.
Long-Distance Opr. Thank you. What is your
number?

6. Albuquerque (BlPbE-krQkC): a city in central New Mexico.

100

unit 1: plot and conflict

differentiated instruction
for english language learners
Vocabulary: Suffixes [mixed-readiness pairs]
Explain that the suffix -less means without
or lacking. When added to the end of a
word, it can change the meaning entirely.
Point out the words endless, shadowless,
lifeless, and cloudless in lines 460468. Have
pairs define each word based on their knowledge of the suffix. Compare definitions.

100

Culture: Clarify Point out how complicated

making a long distance phone call was at
the time this play is set. As students can see
in lines 482 and 486, a long distance operator was involved. Then a connection had to
be made to the Albuquerque exchange (line
489) and then to the New York switchboard
(line 491) before he finally reached his home
number. That is why it was easier to send
a telegram. Remind students that in line 71
Adamss mother asks him to send a wire, or
telegram, when he arrives in Hollywood.

unit 1 : plot and conflict

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Adams. 312.
490

500

510

520

Mrs. Whitney. Yes.

Albuquerque Opr. Albuquerque.

Adams. Wheres my mother? Wheres Mrs.

Long-Distance Opr. New York for Gallup. (pause)

Adams?

New York Opr. New York.

Mrs. Whitney. Mrs. Adams is not at home. She is

still in the hospital.
Adams. The hospital!
Mrs. Whitney. Yes. Who is this calling, please? Is it
a member of the family?
Adams. Whats she in the hospital for?
Mrs. Whitney. Shes been prostrated7 for five days.
Nervous breakdown. But who is this calling?
Adams. Nervous breakdown? Butmy mother
was never nervous . . .
Mrs. Whitney. Its all taken place since the death of
her oldest son, Ronald.
Adams. Death of her oldest son, Ronald . . . ?
Heywhat is this? What number is this?
Mrs. Whitney. This is Beechwood 2-0828. Its all
been very sudden. He was killed just six days ago in
an automobile accident on the Brooklyn Bridge.
Long-Distance Opr. (breaking in). Your three
minutes are up, sir. (silence) Your three minutes
are up, sir. (pause) Your three minutes are up, sir.
(fade) Sir, your three minutes are up. Your three
minutes are up, sir.
Adams (in a strange voice). And so, I am sitting
here in this deserted auto camp in Gallup, New
Mexico. I am trying to think. I am trying to get
hold of myself. Otherwise, I shall go mad . . .
Outside it is nightthe vast, soulless night of
New Mexico. A million stars are in the sky. Ahead
of me stretch a thousand miles of empty mesa,
mountains, prairiesdesert. Somewhere among
them, he is waiting for me. Somewhere I shall
know who he is, and who . . . I . . . am . . .
(music up)

Long-Distance Opr. Gallup, New Mexico calling

Beechwood 2-0828. (fade)
Adams. I had read somewhere that love could
banish demons. It was the middle of the morning.
I knew Mother would be home. I pictured her,
tall, white-haired, in her crisp house-dress, going
about her tasks. It would be enough, I thought,
merely to hear the even calmness of her voice . . .
Long-Distance Opr. Will you please deposit three
dollars and 85 cents for the first three minutes?
When you have deposited a dollar and a half, will
you wait until I have collected the money?
(sound: clunk of six coins)
Long-Distance Opr. All right, deposit another
dollar and a half.
(sound: clunk of six coins)
Long-Distance Opr. Will you please deposit the
remaining 85 cents.
(sound: clunk of four coins)
Long-Distance Opr. Ready with Brooklyngo
ahead please.
Adams. Hello.
Mrs. Whitney. Mrs. Adams residence.
Adams. Hello. HelloMother?
Mrs. Whitney (very flat and rather proper . . . dumb,
too, in a frizzy sort of way). This is Mrs. Adams
residence. Who is it you wished to speak to, please?
Adams. Whywhos this?
Mrs. Whitney. This is Mrs. Whitney.
Adams. Mrs. Whitney? I dont know any Mrs.
Whitney. Is this Beechwood 2-0828?

530

540

550

Lines 532542
T E X T A N A LY S I S
RL 3

foreshadowing
What does Adams learn when he calls
home? Was this outcome foreshadowed?
(Remind students to record this latest
event in the second column of their charts.)
Possible answer:
Foreshadowing
Adams swerves to
avoid a hitchhiker
on the Brooklyn
Bridge, and there
is a terrible sound
of skidding (lines
90 92).

Events That Were

Foreshadowed
Adams learns that
he died in a car
accident on the
Brooklyn Bridge
(lines 540 542).

revisit the big question

Is seeing BELIEVING?
Discuss In lines 548557, what proof does
Adamss phone call to his home give him?
Possible answer: His call home proves that he is
no longer living a normal life. He seems to be
suspended in a state between life and death.

4 Targeted Passage

selection wrapup

7. prostrated: in a state of mental collapse.

the hitchhiker

for struggling readers

4 Targeted Passage [Lines 520557]
This passage presents the plays climax:
Adams finds out he died six days ago.
Why does Mrs. Whitney answer the phone
instead of Adamss mother? (lines 521527)
How does Adams react to the news that he
has died? (lines 548557)

101

for advanced learners/preap

Analyze What might Adamss journey represent? Ask students to consider what happens
to Adams along the way and the possible significance of the hitchhiker and the conclusion
of the play. Have students create a diagram
that explores the metaphorical or symbolic
significance of his travels and the events that
occur. Ask students to share their insights.

READ WITH A PURPOSE Now that students

have read the selection, ask them to explain
how and why the hitchhiker so upset Adams. Possible answer: The hitchhiker upset
Adams by appearing over and over, making
Adams question his own sanity.
CRITIQUE Are you satisfied with the ending of this play, or should the conflict have
been resolved? Explain.
INDEPENDENT READING
Students may also enjoy reading In the
Middle of the Night by Robert Cormier, a
novel of suspense about a fathers past and a
sons present.

What do you think will happen now?

the hitchhiker

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After Reading

Practice and Apply

Comprehension
For preliminary support of post-reading
questions, use these copy masters:
RESOURCE MANAGERCopy Masters

1. Recall What is Ronald Adamss original destination?

2. Clarify Why does the repeated sight of the hitchhiker give Adams
the willies?
3. Clarify What does Adams learn about his mother at the end of the play?

Reading Check p. 110

Reading a Radio Play p. 107
Question Support p. 111

Text Analysis

For additional questions, see page 99.

4. Make Inferences What kind of relationship did Ronald Adams have with
his mother? Cite evidence to support your answer.

answers
Comprehension

5. Examine Foreshadowing Now that youve read the play, is there anything
youd like to change or add to the first column of your foreshadowing chart?
Make the adjustments and complete the second column. Which use of
foreshadowing most increased your sense of suspense?

1. His destination is California.

2. He cannot understand how the man is able
to travel faster than he is.
3. She has been hospitalized with a nervous
breakdown after the death of her son in a
car accident on the Brooklyn Bridge.

Text Analysis

RL 3, RL 5

Possible answers:
4. Make Inferences Adams and his mother
seem close. His mother worries about his
driving to California and is crying as he says
goodbye. He responds kindly to her concern
and wants to hear her voice when he is in
New Mexico.
5.

common core focus Examine Foreshadowing The comment that Adamss

mother made about not picking up hitchhikers should be in the first column. The
event that is foreshadowed is the presence
of the hitchhiker, possibly Death, throughout Adamss journey. Students might add
the terrible skidding noise in line 92 to the
first column of their chart, which foreshadowed the car accident that supposedly killed
Adams. Students might say the inability of
the mechanic and girl to see the hitchhiker
as well as the fresh rain splattered on the
hitchhiker foreshadow the idea that he is
Death or a figment of Adamss imagination.
common core focus Analyze the

6.

RL 3 Analyze how particular lines

of dialogue or incidents in a story
propel the action, reveal aspects of
a character, or provoke a decision.
RL 5 Compare and contrast the
structure of two or more texts.

Radio Play The stage directions and

dialogue describe the hitchhiker as drab
as a mud fence, (line 180) and drooping a
little (line 182). He hails Adams for a ride.
Adams gets panicky (line 195) and starts
to sweat.

6. Analyze the Radio Play Reread lines 171208. What do the stage directions
and dialogue tell you about the hitchhikers appearance and actions? What
do these elements tell you about Adams feelings and actions? Cite specific
details in your answer.
7. Draw Conclusions Who do you think the hitchhiker is? Give proof from
the play to support your conclusion.
8. Compare Across Texts What are some similarities and
differences between the characters, settings, and structures
of The Tell-Tale Heart and The Hitchhiker? Present your
answers in a Venn diagram.

The Tell-Tale Heart The Hitchhiker

Extension and Challenge

9. Creative Project: Drama With a small group, choose a scene
from The Hitchhiker that you think is especially suspenseful.
Practice performing the scene, remembering to include sound effects and to
follow stage directions. Then perform for the class. Afterward, explain why
your group chose the scene you did.

Is seeing BELIEVING?
If you were Adam, would you have believed your eyes, or trusted that the
hitchhiker you kept seeing was real? Explain.

102

unit 1: plot and conflict

8. Similarities: The main characters believe

they are sane, but their actions appear insane to others. Both stories have suspenseful plots. Differences: The Hitchhiker is set
in several locations in the 1940s. Adams is
a victim, and it is not certain what his fate
will be. The Tell-Tale Heart is set in the
narrators home. The narrator commits a
horrible crime, and his fate is clear.

Extension and Challenge

9. Performances should follow the text.

Is seeing BELIEVING?
Answers will vary, but opinions should be
supported with reasons.

7. No one else can see him, and Adamss first

sighting of him is where he supposedly met
his death on the bridge. Therefore, the
hitchhiker may be Death.

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unit 1 : plot and conflict

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Language
grammar in context: Maintain Pronoun Antecedent Agreement
An antecedent is the noun or pronoun to which a pronoun refers. For example,
in the following sentence, the pronoun their refers to the antecedent they:
They took their seats at the caf. Be sure to use singular pronouns with singular
antecedents and plural pronouns with plural antecedents. Pair antecedents
ending in one, thing, or body with singular pronouns, such as he, her, she, or his.
In the revised sentence, notice how the pronouns (in yellow) and the antecedent
(in green) agree in number.

L 1 Demonstrate command of
standard English grammar when
writing. W 1 Write arguments to
support claims with clear reasons
and relevant evidence.

Language
L 1, W 1

grammar in context
Before students begin the exercise,
have them pick out the antecedent with which
each pronoun must agree.
Possible answers:

Original:

Adams would ask just about anyone whether they had seen
the hitchhiker.

1. Adams first saw someone holding his bag

on the bridge.

Revised:

Adams would ask just about anyone whether he or she had

seen the hitchhiker.

2. Everyone thought Adams was crazy because

he or she could never see the hitchhiker.
3. Adamss scary story would make anybody
fear for his or her life.

PRACTICE Correct the pronoun antecedent error in each sentence.

1. Adams first saw someone holding their bag on the bridge.

4. Nobody could have suspected that he or she

got a ride from a dead man!

2. Everyone thought Adams was crazy because they could never see the
hitchhiker.
3. Adamss scary story would make anybody fear for their life.

RESOURCE MANAGERCopy Master

4. Nobody could have suspected that they got a ride from a dead man!

Maintain Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement

p. 112

For more help with pronoun-antecedent agreement, see page R52 in the
Grammar Handbook.

reading-writing connection
reading-writing connection


YOUR

Have students create a pros and cons list and

skim the story to find details that illustrate
Adamss sanity and others that seem to prove
he is insane.

Show your understanding of The Hitchhiker by responding to this

prompt. Then use the revising tip to improve your writing.

TURN

writing prompt

revising tip

Short Constructed Response: Evaluation

Review your paragraph.

Does each pronoun
agree with its
antecedent? If not,
revise your writing.

The play opens with Adams telling the listeners, I am

not mad. On the basis of what you learn in the rest
of the play, do you agree with his assessment? Write a
one-paragraph evaluation of Adamss sanity.

Interactive Vocabulary

Interactive
Revision

Keywords direct students to a WordSharp

tutorial on thinkcentral.com or to other types
of vocabulary practice and review.

Go to thinkcentral.com.
KEYWORD: HML8-103

Assess and Reteach

the hitchhiker

103

Assess
DIAGNOSTIC AND SELECTION TESTS

differentiated instruction

Selection Tests A, B/C pp. 3940, 4142

Interactive Selection Test on thinkcentral.com

for struggling writers

1. As a class, fill in the pros and cons list.
Discuss whether the evidence points to
Adamss sanity or insanity.
2. Help students form a topic sentence. For
example: Although Adams claims that
he is sane, his reactions to events prove
otherwise.

Reteach
Level Up Online Tutorials on thinkcentral.com
Reteaching Worksheets on thinkcentral.com
Literature Lessons 8, 25, Grammar
Lesson 10

3. Have students finish their paragraphs

independently, using details from the
relevant list.

the hitchhiker

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