Name__________________________________________ Date________________________

“The Veldt”

by Ray Bradbury

-Study Questions-

 Before reading the story, answer the following questions:

What might happen if the rooms in a house could project peoples’ thoughts and
feelings?

Is technology a threat to humanity? Why or why not?

 While reading the story, complete the following:

Describe the setting. Give evidence from the story to support your answer.

What is a veldt?

Why do you think the parents react the way they do? Support your opinion with
evidence from the story.

Why do you think the children react the way they do? Support your opinion with
evidence from the story.

In what ways can the “nursery” serve the needs of both the parents and the
children?
 After reading the story, complete the following:

The mood of a story provides a general feeling or atmosphere. It can also give
expectations of the plot or even the outcome. Mood is created with descriptive
imagery and dialogue.
Describe the mood of the story. Be descriptive!

Describe the characterizations in the story. What makes the characters notable?

How does the setting affect the story’s plot?

What do you infer happened to the parents? Explain.

What do you predict will happen to the children? Explain.

What is the theme of the story, or its underlying meaning? Provide evidence from
the story to support your answer.
Ray Bradbury wrote “The Veldt” in the 1950s during the initial rise in popularity of
the television. The impact of such a new piece of technology was yet unknown.
Many people held concerns and even fears that it would adversely affect society,
even break down the family structure.
What current technologies are cause for concern?
Why are those concerns legitimate?
Why are they not?

Is technology a threat to humanity? Why or why not?

If you had such a room in your house, what would you choose to be the setting?
Why? What might happen?