“The Naming of Names” or

“Brown, They Were and Golden-Eyed”

By Ray Bradbury

TitleUsually relates to one or more of the basic elements of a story (Plot, Character, Setting, Theme)

1. Which title do you prefer for this story and why?

2. Consider the message of the story “man lives by symbol and label.” How does having two “names” for this story relate to the message?

The Basics: PLOT

Exposition/Basic Situation

Climax

Resolution

Ris

ing

Actio

n:

com

plic

atio

n an

d

conf

lict

Falling Action

The Basics: PLOT Exposition/Basic Situation

The introduction of The Bitterings to the Martian landscape and the apprehension that danger is afoot. (Consider how Bradbury creates this eerie landscape.)

The Basics: PLOT COMPLICATION“All the rockets blown up. No more rockets to

Mars, ever!” (Why does this complicate the story?)

The Basics: PLOT Conflict:

-Man v. Himself: Harry struggles with isolation, loneliness, change, fear of the unknown-Man v. Society: Harry struggles to convince other earthlings of the importance of a rocket

-Man v. Environment: Harry struggles with the difference in landscape (heat, plant life, dryness, barren lands)

What are other possible conflicts?

The Basics: PLOT CLIMAX

Harry takes a swim and begins to accept the change.

The Basics: PLOT Falling Action-Harry call his father “Utha,” a martian word

for father - Harry’s son Dan changes his name to Linnl.- Harry agrees to go to the Pillan mountains.- The Bitterings pack a few items and move

into the ancient Martian homes, never returning to their earthly settlements.

The Basics: PLOT RESOLUTION

The atomic war has ended on earth and earthlings come to Mars in search of those who fled over five years ago, but they find only Martians. They too go about establishing yet another earthly settlement.

The Basics: SETTINGtime, place, and atmosphere of a story

FOCUS: *Imagery- language that appeals to a readers

senses.Bradbury uses imagery to establish the

setting of the story. What specific examples of imagery can you find that create the setting? What is the atmosphere created through this imagery?

The Basics: POINT OF VIEW The vantage point from which a story is told

-1st person-3rd person limited-3rd person omniscient

In what point of view is this story told? Where does the shift in point of view occur and why do you think Bradbury wanted this shift? How would the story be different had the point of view been different?

AUTHOR’S STYLE

Examine Bradbury’s diction, or word choice. Why did he use such words as:

- “sown” instead of “grown”

- “unbidden” instead of “uninvited”

- ‘bewildered” instead of “puzzled”

- “dismay” instead of “sad”

- “dwindled” instead of “shrank”