The Pedestrian - Ray Bradbury

The Pedestrian ​by Ray Bradbury is set in a dystopian and futuristic society, where it opens with the
lead character, Leonard Mead, going on a walk in his neighborhood, which is a regular activity for him, but
he is then stopped by the Police, for being the only person walking at this time, in his community, even
though for years he has been doing the same. In this narrative, Bradbury’s usage of stylistic techniques
allows him to make a dystopian society, creating the feeling of fear on how our world would change into a
similar civilization.
Stylistic techniques used in the story add anxiety and create fear for the audience. The writer’s use
of personification in multiple lines, such as, “The car hesitated, or rather gave a faint whirring click” or “The
police car sat in the center of the street with its radio throat faintly humming.” personify the car, giving it
human qualities. This is symbolic to the futuristic society that it is set in and it shows how technology has
advanced, and further in the story we also learn that the car is automated and there were no policemen
inside the van. The cars also symbolize the technological advancements, and how there is no human action
taking place in the community, everything is happening in rigid houses. In a similar fashion, the author also
repeatedly uses the word “moon” in multiple phrases, “moonlit avenues”, “moon-white houses”, and “the
moon was high and clear among the stars and the houses were gray and silent.” The moon is a cliche in
horror, and it is the only light at midnight, in the darkness. The words recurrence of “moon”, creates the
effect of uncertainty, playing onto the forbidding setting and further describes the dystopian society,
instilling fear of a certain change in society onto the reader. In a similar manner, Bradbury also uses
imagery effectively to bring out a certain theme, further informing the reader more about the setting in
the phrase, “Everything went on in the tomblike houses at night now, he thought, continuing his fancy. The
tombs, ill-lit by television light, where the people sat like the dead, the gray or multicolored lights touching
their faces, but never really touching them.” The application of phrases like “tomblike houses” and “ill-lit
by television light” into the quote, create a visual representation for the reader, and familiarize them with
the dominance of technology over mankind in the story, revealing a theme of compliance to certain laws
and the lack of individuality and imagination, once again, informing the readers more about the dystopian
environment the story is set in. The idea being brought out, yet again, raises the fear created in the readers
and further briefs the reader about the dystopian setting.
To conclude, Ray Bradbury's use of stylistic techniques such as personification and imagery, builds
onto the setting of a dystopian society, as well as the feeling of fear of change in society onto the readers,
creating a setting of a futuristic and dystopian society.

Checklist

Introduction
1. Thesis Statement
2. The Author
3. Brief Explanation of the Genre
4. Brief Explanation of the Plot
5. Hook
6. Always use the Authors/Directors Last Name, after the Introduction
7. Third Person. No, “I” “You” “We”.

Body​ ​Paragraph
1. PEEL Format
 2. Language of Analysis: Words which you use to describe or analyze evidence: Exemplifies, Indicates
Implies
3. Integrate Quotes
4. Transition Words
5. 3 Evidence along with Explanation
6. Better and Diverse Vocabulary
7. Link
8. Always use the Authors/Directors Last Name, after the Introduction
9. Third Person. No, “I” “You” “We”.

Conclusion
1. Rephrase Thesis
2. Use one tense throughout. Present Tense.
3. Mention Horror effects again
4. Always use the Authors/Directors Last Name, after the Introduction
5. Third Person. No, “I” “You” “We”.