By Kristin Menke-The Integrated Teacher
Dystopic fiction is all the rage nowadays. From The Hunger Games to a reincarnated version of Blade Runner, everyone seems obsessed with the future. People always seem to worry about what it holds for mankind. And this fascination is not a new phenomenon. Ray Bradbury’s body of work embodies themes associated with dystopias. One of these epic yet understated stories is “The Pedestrian.” It tells the tale of a world consumed by technology, something I think we can all find relevant today. If you need short stories for teaching theme, put “The Pedestrian” on your list!
At the beginning of the story, we find ourselves involved in the life of Leonard Mead. He is an unassuming man who simply walks every day. Instead of spending his free hours watching television, he ambles outside. Unlike his neighbors, he enjoys the outdoors away from the confines of his house. Ultimately, because he does not conform, he suffers the consequences. “The Pedestrian” personifies a world we live in now, although we are not quite to the point of being sent off to an asylum.
The Pedestrian Themes
Writing about theme is quite difficult. There are several steps that make the process much easier. Here are 3 EASY STEPS for creating a THEME:
- First, read the text and identify major ideas. Major ideas include topics like love, hate, jealousy, etc. When it comes to dystopic fiction, however, topics usually include time, war, technology, government, science, the future, oppression, and innocence.
- Then, find evidence linked to a specific topic. Focus on the characters, the plot, the conflict, literary elements, and the setting. By analyzing these elements, you should be able to see a thread, a message from the author.
- Lastly, determine what the author is trying to say through the text. Every theme is a message created in a complete sentence. You may need to model what a theme looks like for students.
CREATING A THEME BASED ON THE PEDESTRIAN (The Pedestrian Theme)
- MAJOR IDEA: Technology
- TOPIC: Being consumed by technology
- THEME: Consuming too much technology can lead to a superficial life.
OTHER SHORT STORIES FOR TEACHING THEME
- The Tell-Tale Heart > Obsession leads to inhuman acts.
- To Build a Fire > One mistake can lead to someone’s downfall.
- After Twenty Years > Friendship cannot override consequences.
- The Necklace > Personal pride can lead to unintended outcomes.
By taking the time to teach students this 3 STEP process, your students’ literary analysis skills will skyrocket! Using short stories for teaching theme can make it much easier for students as you work to develop their skills in other more difficult text formats like poetry, plays, and novels. Creating themes will over time become, dare I say it, more “pedestrian!”
