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?
Peter and Wendy choose the nursery over their parents because they give them entertainment.
"I don't want to do anything but look and listen and smell..." PG.100
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 moved to “the long, hot African veldt” from “all the delightful contraptions of a make-believe world”(PG.94, 95) because they had made a plan 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” (PG.100) because he really like the nursery to play with and he doesn't want to do any thing else.
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?
At the end of the story it is not a fantasy because they have dropping hint that the parents are going to die.
"An old wallet of mine," he said." PG.98 "...there was blood smears in both sides." PG.98
5.) Why does the story end with peter and Wendy having a picnic and behaving politely toward David McLean?
The kids behaved when David McLean because David wanted to take over the house and the kids might kill him too because he is going to take the kids to "special treatment".
"Well, here I am,' said David McClean in the nursery doorway. 'Oh, hello.' He stared at the two children seated in the center of the open glade eating a little picnic lunch." PG.106
6.) According to the story, are George and Lydia to blame for what happens to them?
Yes, George and Lydia are the ones to blame for their deaths because they where the ones who spoiled the kids and didn't give them rules to get them in trouble.
"But nothing's too good for our children,' George said." PG.90
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?
George says he is too busy to pay attention to the lions, even though he has heard them roaring and smelled their strong odors because he thinks that it's for little kids and it too ridiculous.
"This is a little too real. But I don't see anything wrong." PG.90
8.) After returning from the carnival, why do Peter and Wendy deny that Africa is in the nursery?
The kids deny that Africa is in the nursery because they didn't want the parents to know their plan. The kids want to act they are just playing.
"There's no Africa in the nursery,' said Peter simply." PG.96
9.) Why does George tell Lydia that they children are “spoiled and we’re spoiled”? (p. 98)
George tells Lydia that their children are “spoiled and we’re spoiled” (PG.98) because George just figured that when they where getting the kids all the stuff the kids want that they weren't pitting the laws out.
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” (PG.104) after they have turned it off because the kids were crying and throwing a fuss.
Vocabulary in Context:
1.) Reluctantly (p. 92)
Quote: "All right.' Reluctantly he locked the hugged door." PG.92
Definition (based on context/in your own words): to know better, don't want to do it
Synonym: smart
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): Ella was reluctantly when she knew not to ask Ms. Scheppers for the about the author.
2.) Preoccupied (p. 94)
Quote: "He didn't answer Lydia. Preoccupied, he let the light glow..." PG.94
Definition (based on context/in your own words): busy
Synonym: occupier
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): My mom was preoccupied at work so she came home at 10.
3.) Abstractedly (p. 95)
Quote: ".... far down the dark hall, like a framed picture, eating dinner abstractedly." PG.95
Definition (based on context/in your own words): out of place
Synonym: mix and match
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): At the art museum I saw a abstractedly painting.
4.) Insufferable (p. 98)
Quote: "They're insufferable—let's admit it." PG.98
Definition (based on context/in your own words): unbearable
Synonym: a little bit to much
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I Jordan ate insufferable at dinner.
5.) Engrossed (p. 105)
Quote: "I think we'd better get downstairs before those kids get engrossed with those damned beasts again." PG.105
Definition (based on context/in your own words): attached
Synonym: addicted
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I am engrossed on my iPod.
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.
George and Lydia are G/Good parents V. George and Lydia are B/Bad parents
1.) Why do Peter and Wendy choose the nursery over their parents?
Peter and Wendy choose the nursery over their parents because they give them entertainment.
"I don't want to do anything but look and listen and smell..." PG.100
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 moved to “the long, hot African veldt” from “all the delightful contraptions of a make-believe world”(PG.94, 95) because they had made a plan 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” (PG.100) because he really like the nursery to play with and he doesn't want to do any thing else.
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?
At the end of the story it is not a fantasy because they have dropping hint that the parents are going to die.
"An old wallet of mine," he said." PG.98 "...there was blood smears in both sides." PG.98
5.) Why does the story end with peter and Wendy having a picnic and behaving politely toward David McLean?
The kids behaved when David McLean because David wanted to take over the house and the kids might kill him too because he is going to take the kids to "special treatment".
"Well, here I am,' said David McClean in the nursery doorway. 'Oh, hello.' He stared at the two children seated in the center of the open glade eating a little picnic lunch." PG.106
6.) According to the story, are George and Lydia to blame for what happens to them?
Yes, George and Lydia are the ones to blame for their deaths because they where the ones who spoiled the kids and didn't give them rules to get them in trouble.
"But nothing's too good for our children,' George said." PG.90
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?
George says he is too busy to pay attention to the lions, even though he has heard them roaring and smelled their strong odors because he thinks that it's for little kids and it too ridiculous.
"This is a little too real. But I don't see anything wrong." PG.90
8.) After returning from the carnival, why do Peter and Wendy deny that Africa is in the nursery?
The kids deny that Africa is in the nursery because they didn't want the parents to know their plan. The kids want to act they are just playing.
"There's no Africa in the nursery,' said Peter simply." PG.96
9.) Why does George tell Lydia that they children are “spoiled and we’re spoiled”? (p. 98)
George tells Lydia that their children are “spoiled and we’re spoiled” (PG.98) because George just figured that when they where getting the kids all the stuff the kids want that they weren't pitting the laws out.
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” (PG.104) after they have turned it off because the kids were crying and throwing a fuss.
Vocabulary in Context:
1.) Reluctantly (p. 92)
Quote: "All right.' Reluctantly he locked the hugged door." PG.92
Definition (based on context/in your own words): to know better, don't want to do it
Synonym: smart
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): Ella was reluctantly when she knew not to ask Ms. Scheppers for the about the author.
2.) Preoccupied (p. 94)
Quote: "He didn't answer Lydia. Preoccupied, he let the light glow..." PG.94
Definition (based on context/in your own words): busy
Synonym: occupier
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): My mom was preoccupied at work so she came home at 10.
3.) Abstractedly (p. 95)
Quote: ".... far down the dark hall, like a framed picture, eating dinner abstractedly." PG.95
Definition (based on context/in your own words): out of place
Synonym: mix and match
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): At the art museum I saw a abstractedly painting.
4.) Insufferable (p. 98)
Quote: "They're insufferable—let's admit it." PG.98
Definition (based on context/in your own words): unbearable
Synonym: a little bit to much
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I Jordan ate insufferable at dinner.
5.) Engrossed (p. 105)
Quote: "I think we'd better get downstairs before those kids get engrossed with those damned beasts again." PG.105
Definition (based on context/in your own words): attached
Synonym: addicted
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I am engrossed on my iPod.
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.
George and Lydia are G/Good parents V. George and Lydia are B/Bad parents