The Pedestrian A Closer Look Slide 2 What is a pedestrian?
(noun) 1.a person who goes or travels on foot; walker. (adjectives)
2. going or performed on foot; walking. 3. of or pertaining to
walking. 4. lacking in vitality, imagination, distinction, etc.;
commonplace; prosaic or dull: a pedestrian commencement speech.
Slide 3 How does the author incorporate the definitions in story? a
person who goes or travels on foot; walker. The protagonist,
Leonard Mead, is a traveler on foot or walker. enjoys walking
neighborhood at night. going or performed on foot; walking. of or
pertaining to walking. The protagonist, Leonard Mead, enjoys
walking neighborhood at night. lacking in vitality, imagination,
distinction, etc.; commonplace; prosaic or dull The suburban life:
Bradbury compares life to a tomb, says they communities are empty.
Slide 4 One theme: CONFORMITY 1.action in accord with prevailing
social standards, attitudes, practices, etc. 2.correspondence in
form, nature, or character; agreement, congruity, or accordance.
3.compliance or acquiescence; obedience. 4.a type of social
influence involving a change in belief or behavior in order to fit
in with a group. This change is in response to real (involving the
physical presence of others) or imagined (involving the pressure of
social norms / expectations) group pressure. Slide 5 One theme:
CONFORMITY 1.Is there a place for conformity in society? 2.Why?
3.How do you feel when you are expected to conform? 4.Do you
encourage conformity or rebel against it? Slide 6 Next:preform a
close reading on story The next few slides will assist you in
perform a close reading. Slide 7 How to do a close reading?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adXdTXEzmzE (YouTube
clip)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adXdTXEzmzE Consider these four
elements Language Narrative Syntax Context Slide 8 Language
(diction used to fit the audience, style and purpose of the text)
What did the author repeat? What was emphasized? What kind of
language is used? Formal/informal Slang Figurative language/mood
words What words are important to understanding the theme/thesis?
Slide 9 Narrative (the story) Who is telling the story? From what
perspective (point of view) is the story told? How is the story
told? What motivates the narrator to tell the story in this manner?
Slide 10 Syntax (the order authors arrange their words to provide
meaning/get a point across) (grammar/sentence structure) Does the
author use Standard American English? Why would the author use
nonstandard syntax? Who is the audience? How does this writing
style affect the audience? Slide 11 Context (happenings surrounding
storys authorship) What is the setting of the story? What is the
background of the author? In what environment was the story
written? (what was happening at the time the story was written?)
Slide 12 Language Used informal language(conversational) Slang
(reveals the mindset of the protagonist) Slide 13 Language What did
the author repeat/emphasize? The idea of suburban lifestyle as a
tomb/place for the dead/emptiness(cars like scarab beetles; homes
tombs; emptiness of police Meads walk was really just to take a
stroll about the community The idea that Mead had no TV (accusative
silence) Slide 14 Language Imagery Helps describe the setting
Crystal frost of the air Sound of leaves crushing under his
sneakers Skeleton pattern of fallen leaf, rusty smell Cloverleaf
intersection Describe the police/police car Metallic voice Sent,
feel, and size of the backseat of car Slide 15 Narrative Who is
telling the story/ what point of view? Unknown omniscient narrator
How is the story told? Author uses narration at beginning to set
the scene/ next allows the reader to experience the story through
dialogue Allows the reader to connect and identify with the
protagonist What motivates the narrator to tell the story in this
manner? Explain the dangers of overusing technology Explain how
pedestrian (see fourth definition) life will become if technology
becomes our main focal point. Persuade readers to unplug sometimes
and enjoy life Slide 16 Syntax (grammar/sentence structure) Syntax
should match both audience and subject matter. Author uses simple
and complex sentences. Simple sentences used to ensure all readers
could both enjoy and understand the narrative Complex sentences
used to match the complex subject matter of the dangers of
conformity. Slide 17 Context Setting: 1950s Cali suburb 50s Cold
War Space race WWII recovery Communism v/s capitalism Korean
Conflict Slide 18 Context Ray Bradburys life Lived with a large
extended family Wrote science fiction Activist against humanitys
total dependence on science Friends with Gene Rodenberry (Star
Trek) Married w/ children Didnt drive nor owned a car Enjoyed daily
strolls Slide 19 Context Setting: 1950s Cali suburb Storys setting
1950 California Suburbia American Dream Safety Conformity Taking a
western stroll West symbolizes of moving away from wisdom Death
from nature to technology Slide 20 Context Setting: 1950s Cali
suburb Storys setting (cont.) Meets at a Clover Leaf intersection
Clovers symbolize luck Intersections symbolize choices Taking a
western stroll West symbolizes of moving away from wisdom Death
from nature to technology Slide 21 How do these aspects help
readers understand the text? Language/syntax Simple and some
complex to better understand the tone Purpose of story To entertain
To persuade against a life controlled by technology Slide 22 How do
these aspects help readers understand the text? Narrative Heavy
dialogue to help the reader connect with the text Allows the reader
to evaluate/juxtapose his/her life to the experiences of the
characters Slide 23 How do these aspects help readers understand
the text? Context Leaves reader with an awareness of society Allows
readers to make a choice about science and technology (friend of
foe), how both have affected history and humankind, and if
conformity is a danger of society or the protector of society?
Slide 24 Works Cited Beers, Kylene, Carol Jago, Deborah Appleman,
Leila Christenbury, Sara Kajder. Elements of Literature, Fourth
Course. Austin: Holt Rinehart Winston, 2008. (Print).
