Description
“The Pedestrian” is a dystopian short story by Ray Bradbury, set in the year 2053, that draws unsettling parallels to modern society’s obsession with technology and isolation. Although the story is less than 500 words, it is rich with figurative language, vivid imagery, and ethical and social dilemmas, making it an excellent catalyst for discussion and analysis.
This lesson helps students move beyond basic comprehension to examine Bradbury’s warning about conformity, surveillance, and the loss of human connection. The story’s brevity makes it accessible, while its depth allows for meaningful conversations about technology, freedom, and individuality.
Students begin with before-reading questions designed to build anticipation and activate prior thinking. As they read, they work through vocabulary from the story, followed by reading comprehension questions that check understanding and guide close reading. After reading, students respond to analysis questions that focus on key literary elements such as mood, theme, irony, conflict, and symbolism.
To deepen analysis, students complete a figurative language and quote analysis graphic organizer that examines metaphors, similes, personification, imagery, and symbolism. The lesson culminates in a fishbowl discussion project, complete with teacher instructions, student guides, and thought-provoking discussion questions that encourage respectful dialogue and critical thinking.
This resource includes teacher guides and answer keys in PDF format, student materials in editable Word documents, and print-ready PDFs, giving teachers flexibility in how the lesson is implemented.
Perfect for middle school and high school ELA, this “The Pedestrian” lesson supports close reading, discussion, and analysis while helping students connect Bradbury’s dystopian vision to issues that still resonate today.