Analysis Of Ray Bradbury's 'A Sound Of Thunder'

1455 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The effect of technology on human beings and society

Consequences Most of us love the idea of going back in time to fix something we did wrong in the past. Even better is the idea of having a time machine which would travel in the future. Technology nowadays is developing extremely fast so maybe in the near future people can develop a time machine where we can travel in time. If that happens some would just go back for entertainment and some for fixing mistakes. Nevertheless, going back in time maybe would cause problems in the history, because not everyone would know how to use it properly as it is required. The story “A sound of thunder” by Ray Bradbury, predicts how the future would be if there was a time machine and how people who would be able to go back in time would make actions that …show more content…

The story begins with a hunter and a wealthy man called Eckel. First, he entered in this company and saw a sign saying “Time Safari, INC. Safaris to any year in the past. You name the animal. We take you there. You shoot it” (Bradbury, pg.1). Thus, the company made it possible for hunters to travel but it guaranteed nothing. “We guarantee nothing, except the dinosaurs” (Bradbury, pg.1). However, Eckel decided to pay the check of ten thousand dollars even after these words that he heard. The official explained to him that he will have to follow the instructions to whatever his instructor, Travis, asks to do and if Eckel does not do this he has to pay another ten thousand dollars. “If he says no shooting, no shooting. If you disobey instructions, there's a stiff penalty of another ten thousand dollars, plus possible government action, on your return” (Bradbury, pg.1). Nonetheless, after these advices he decided to do this and thought about how unbelievable this is. Before a day that he went in this company, everyone’s favorite president, Keith, won the elections against Deutcher the most hated president. Eckel now was happy and casually was discussing this with the men behind the desk, sharing the happiness together. “Thank God Keith won. He will make a fine President of the United States. Yes, we’re lucky- said the man behind the desk” (Bradbury, pg.1). Thus, after a small talk with this man he joined Travis and they got into the time machine ready to travel back six million years together with other three men, Travis’s assistant Lesperance, and two other hunters. Moreover, after nights and days passed traveling finally they arrived to such an ancient time. Travis repeated one more time to be careful, not fall of the path, and to not shoot any animal that Travis does

Show More
Related

  • Sound Of Thunder Vs Being Prey Essay

    654 Words  | 2 Pages

    What happens when predators become prey? Does the prey fight and survive or surrender to their fate of being hunted? In “The Sound of Thunder” by Ray Bradbury and “Being Prey” by Val Plumwood you read about the deadly consequences of becoming prey. The conflicts of each story are alike, as well as the setting and protagonists of the stories. The two texts resemble one another through their literary elements.

    Read More

  • Use of Foreshadowing, Allusion, and Irony in Ray Bradbury´s The Veldt

    800 Words  | 2 Pages

    “The Veldt” is a short and twisting story written in 1950 by Ray Bradbury about the Hadley family who lives in a futuristic world that ends up “ruining human relationships and destroying the minds of children” (Hart). The house they live in is no ordinary home, Bradbury was very creative and optimistic when predicting future technology in homes. This house does everything for the residence including tying shoes, making food, and even rocking them to sleep. The favourite room of the children, Peter and Wendy, is the forty by forty foot nursery. This room’s setting reacts to the children’s thoughts. Everything from the temperature to the ground’s texture responds to the environment Wendy and Peter imagine, and in this case, an African veldt. All the advanced technology is intended for positive uses, but instead, becomes negative, consumerism catches up, and does harm by coming to life, and killing Lynda and Bob Hadley. Ray Bradbury develops his theme that consumerism is a negative concept, in his short story, “The Veldt” through the use of foreshadowing, allusion, and irony.

    Read More

  • Foreshadowing In Ray Bradbury's 'Sound Of Thunder'

    1673 Words  | 4 Pages

    According to the poet Stephen Dobyns, “Actions have consequences. Ignorance about the nature of those actions does not free a person from responsibility for the consequences.” The fact that someone is unaware about what could happen to them, does not excuse them from what they have done. People should think before they act, especially actions that could harm themselves and other people or things. In most cases, people are aware that what they are doing is wrong, and should know there will be consequences for their actions. In “Sound of Thunder,” by Ray Bradbury, Eckels does

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Sound Of Thunder And All In A Summer Day By Ray Bradbury

    589 Words  | 2 Pages

    Have you ever read short stories by ray bradbury? In this essay i will be taking you through the similarities and differences i found while i was reading the three stories. I will also be discussing the characters and how they helped to give a better picture of the settings. Shall we begin.

    Read More

  • A Sound Of Thunder Movie And Book Comparison Essay

    433 Words  | 1 Pages

    "A Sound of Thunder" is set in the future year of 2055. It was written

    Read More

  • Themes In The Veldt By Ray Bradbury

    911 Words  | 2 Pages

    The story The Veldt by Ray Bradbury can be an accurate depiction of human relationships in a family. This story focuses on George and Lydia Hadley, their two children, and the tragic events caused by the nursery that they have installed in their futuristic home. Their children Peter and Wendy are inseparable from the nursery. This short story mentions the strained and tense relationship George and Lydia have with their children. Like human relationships, This story shows common themes in family relationships such as the Hadley’s spoiling their children, Peter and Wendy talking back, and some exceptional themes as when the children threaten and then kill their parents. The children are seen complaining about having to do ‘work’, in addition this story also includes something

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Ray Bradbury's 'Dover Beach'

    612 Words  | 2 Pages

    Why did Ray Bradbury choose the poem “Dover Beach” by Matthew Arnold? Ray Bradbury chose the poem “Dover Beach” by Matthew Arnold, because at the time when Guy Montag reads it, he is questioning his faith similarly to Matthew Arnold. Also, the poem “Dover Beach” expresses Fahrenheit 451 Guy Montag’s sadness and unhappiness with the world. Lastly, this poem represents the loss of love, and hopelessness that Montag feels.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Ray Bradbury's 'The Veldt And August 2026'

    1171 Words  | 3 Pages

    Today’s world is full of robots that vacuum the floor and cars that talk to their drivers. People can ask their phones to send a text or play a song and a cheerful voice will oblige. Machines are taking over more and more tasks that are traditionally left to people, such as cleaning, navigating, and even scheduling meetings. In a world where technology is becoming increasingly human, questions arise about whether machines will eventually replace humankind altogether. In Ray Bradbury’s short stories, “The Veldt” and “August 2026,” he presents themes that technology will not only further replace the jobs of humans, but it will also outlast humankind as a whole. Although this is a plausible future, computers just cannot do certain human jobs.

    Read More

  • Commentary of Sun and Shadow by Ray Bradbury

    1049 Words  | 3 Pages

    As members of a first-world nation, we are disrespectfully quick to point out the flaws and downfalls of impecunious societies and use the societies like mere scenery, even though we walk together on this earth. In “Sun and Shadow," Ray Bradbury manipulates Ricardo to convey to the reader the impertinence from outsiders and the responses from Ricardo and his fellow townspeople. A photographer is encountered doing a photo shoot on Ricardo’s property, and Ricardo becomes unhappy with his presence and angrily tells him to leave. After Ricardo’s increasingly sharp comments and attitudes augment, the photographer becomes satirical and facetious, poking fun at the lifestyle in which Ricardo lives. The short-tempered townsman reveals his defiance through actions projected towards the photographer. Through the use of characterization, Bradbury defines the fine societal line between Ricardo, the penurious dweller of the village, the inconsiderate photographer, and the sympathetic townspeople.

    Read More

  • Hg Wells The Time Machine Summary

    823 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Time Machine by H. G. Wells was an intriguing and exciting book about a Time Traveller and his journey’s through time. In this book, the Traveller explained to a group of men who were discussing the nature of time that time was the fourth dimension; just like the three dimensions of space: length, width and height. The Traveller argued that since time was a dimension, then it stood to reason that people should be able to move along the time continuum, into the past or the future. Most of the men do not seem to believe the Traveller or his theory, but agreed that they would like to travel in time, and talked about what they would do if they could. To illustrate his point, the Time Traveller went and got a model of his time machine from his laboratory to demonstrate and later returned to detail the places, things and people he had seen in his travels with his working Time Machine. Throughout the story, the Time Traveller faced setbacks and challenges, but the book outlined how he persevered and pointed to the future mankind faced.

    Read More

  • The Chosen Path In 'A Sound Of Thunder'

    610 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the short story, "A Sound of Thunder" a man named Eckels tests the delicacy of life while traveling back in time to hunt the most ferocious predator to ever walk the planet. Ray Bradbury develops the theme that every choice made has an effect so we must be cautious of our actions in times of confidence, fear and guilt. Eckels is a young man, determined to hunt for his biggest catch yet and he enters TIME SAFARI INC. hoping they can give him the thrill he's been looking for. He has hunted many things like tigers, wild boars and elephants but has never hunted something like this. In his excitement he, "waved a check for ten thousand dollars to the man behind the desk" and was ready for his safari (Bradbury 1). He showed confidence

    Read More

  • The Butterfly Effect, and A Sound of Thunder by Ray Bradbury

    1125 Words  | 3 Pages

    Many science fiction shows, films, and novels today have been influenced by science fiction novels from the past. A few examples are Frequency,The Butterfly Effect, and A Sound of Thunder relating to A Sound of Thunder by Ray Bradbury. These films all express Bradbury’s idea of the butterfly effect and that time traveling can change the past, therefore changing the future. Although they share the same idea, they each have different outcomes.

    Read More

  • Techniques and Styles of Ray Bradbury and What Influenced Them

    1740 Words  | 4 Pages

    Ray Bradbury’s style of writing always included hidden meanings that present a central theme of the dangers of unchecked technology. Many factors in Ray Bradbury’s life had contributed to his style of writing and the themes that he wanted to present to society. Some factors that influenced Bradbury were events such as the Cold War and the writings of other writers such as Edgar Allen Poe. Bradbury’s style of writing was shaped by many factors in his life such as world events, his techniques learned from famous writers, and the progress of society. From life to death Bradbury’s world was always filled with war and government propaganda that attempted to sway the thoughts of citizens about the dangers of foreign threats (Schofelt, Cordon, “Science fiction writer Ray Bradbury: 1920-2012”). Bradbury’s writings were always influenced by the constant reminder of these governments ideology filling his ears. Bradbury’s writing was also influenced by the writings of other writers such as Edgar Allen Poe. His inspiration as a child began with Poe and was forever changed by his style of gothic writing and the morals that Poe always presented to his readers ("Planetary Pariahs: Bradbury and the Influence of Edgar Allan Poe."). Bradbury’s best known works were considered science fiction and always presented a story of the dangers of unchecked technology (Mataconis "Ray Bradbury And The Real Lesson Of Fahrenheit 451."). All these factor into how Bradbury would style his writing and the major themes he presents to his readers.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of A Sound Of Thunder

    1079 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the story, Ray Bradbury describes his views on what time travel could look like in the future. At the beginning of the story, he introduces a company called Time Safari, Inc. who takes people back in time to hunt if they pay Time Safari ten thousand dollars.

    Read More

  • The Negative Effects Of Time Travel

    1605 Words  | 4 Pages

    Time Travel has always struck close to the imagination of the minds. From H.G. Wells ' "The Time Machine" to blockbuster films like "Back to the Future" - for years, time travel was the stuff of science fiction and crazy-eyed mad men but as physicists approach the subject of time travel with new advances in scientific theories and equipment, the possibility of time travel has become a more legitimate field for scientific endeavours. This paper will argue the possibility of time travel and the positive effects that this discovery will bring forth to modern day society: technological advancements.

    Read More

More about Analysis Of Ray Bradbury's 'A Sound Of Thunder'

Open Document