The Illustrated Man

Dysfunctional relationships between parents and children are common in The Illustrated Man. What sort of person do you think Bradbury would consider to be the ideal parent? What would their qualities be? Use examples from the text.

Manned space exploration was just beginning to be explored in the early 1950s, when Bradbury wrote The Illustrated Man. What role do rocket ships play in the collection? Consider cultural, technological, and military angles.

Bradbury is deeply interested in death and the meaning of life. What does he suggest makes life worth living?

In “The Other Foot,” Bradbury tackles race relations head on. Is his suggested solution still relevant today, or is it outdated? Is it perhaps some mix of the two? Modify Bradbury’s approach and explain your improvements.

Many of Bradbury’s stories feature books (and book-burning). Explore his stance on the power of literature versus the threat of censorship.

“Listen,” Fiorello Bodoni tells his children on their imaginary space flight. “Keep your ears clean. Smell the smells of the rocket. Feel. Remember.” What role does sensory experience play in The Illustrated Man?

In Bradbury’s fiction, technology has the power to affect both incredible good and incredible evil. Do you think he has a more positive or negative view of the future? Why? Have his predictions held up?

Often, Bradbury ends his stories on an ambiguous note. Many of his narratives focus on faith or imagination over cold, hard facts. How does Bradbury suggest we deal with the discomfort of ambiguity?