Bradbury's 1953 dystopian novel illustrates how society might look if books became abandoned and outlawed. Discuss how Bradbury describes this process taking place and determine how believable it seems. Draw any possible connections between the steps outlined in the novel and current media, entertainment and book trends. Alternatively, explore a person or literary work Bradbury alludes to in the novel, like the Bible, Shakespeare, Abraham Lincoln or Sophocles, and explain what this allusion indicates about the world portrayed in the novel.
"Dandelion Wine" and its official sequel, "Farewell Summer," describe the life of Douglas Spaulding, a boy growing up in Green Town, Illinois. "Something Wicked This Way Comes" also takes place in the same town but uses different characters. All three books deal with nostalgia and age, but each book approaches these topics differently. Compare and contrast these themes between the three books. If only focusing on one book, consider exploring how the description of dandelion wine reflects the tone of its namesake book, how the Civil War references impact the timeline of "Farewell Summer" or how Bradbury first indicates the sinister nature of the carnival in "Something Wicked."
"The Halloween Tree" presents, in the form of young adult fiction, a history of the fear and respect surrounding death. Pick any cultural tradition concerning death or Halloween mentioned in the book and explore the tradition in depth. Also consider researching a tradition not mentioned in the book and compare it to some of those used in the story. Another research idea concerns the use of names in the novel. Explore how names like "Tom Skelton," "Joe Pipkin" and "Carapace Clavicle Moundshroud" have significance within the context of the plot.
The unnamed, fictional writer who narrates "Death Is a Lonely Business," "A Graveyard for Lunatics" and "Let's All Kill Constance" encounters several mysteries and watches them unravel thanks to the work of the detective, Elmo Crumley. Research any connections between the life of the unnamed narrator and Ray Bradley himself. Explore the allusions and connections made to famous mystery writers, including Raymond Chandler and Ross Macdonald, in "Death Is a Lonely Business." Describe how the events in "A Graveyard for Lunatics" reflect those that Bradley experienced while working on the movie version of "Something Wicked" and other films. Explore the significance of the allusion made to "Fahrenheit 451" in "Constance."