Educational Center

SAN CARLOS DE ARAGÓN

DEPARTMENT OF SPANISH LANGUAGE
AND COMMUNICATION

QUESTIONNAIRE TO COMPLEMENT HOME READING OF

"The Martian Chronicles" by Ray Bradbury.

PROLOGUE
1. According to Borges, what tone has the author of the Chronicles used?
Martians to narrate the conquest and colonization of Mars? What is the
usual genre for this type of stories?
What does Borges feel when reading Bradbury's stories?

JANUARY 1999 The summer of the rocket

1. 'One minute before it was winter in Ohio' (p. 15). Suddenly, the weather
Change. What season do the new characteristics belong to?
meteorological?
2. What is the cause of this climate change?
3. How do people refer to this exceptional period in full
winter?
icicle

FEBRUARY 1999 Ylla

1. Where does the action take place?
2. Describe the home of the K. family.
3. What are the Martians like?
4. Is the marriage formed by Mr. and Mrs. K happy? To what extent?
due to?
5. Explain what absurd elements appear in the dream.
from Mrs. K. Would they be implausible to us?
It was evening when Mrs. K started to sing the song
as he walked among the whispering columns of rain.
21). What song is it about? In what language is it written? Is it known?
Is this language on Mars?
Mr. K. is irritated and worried about his wife's behavior.
What does he do to distract her and try to make her forget her dream?
8. At night Ylla dreams again of the earthling. At what time and in what
Where does the ship from Earth have to arrive?
9. When Ylla tries, under the pretext of visiting a friend,
approaching the Green Valley, her husband prevents her. Why?
10. While Yll goes hunting, Mrs. K. stays home cleaning.
What does he/she hear and see from his/her home?
11. Ylla hears someone climbing up the ramp of her house. "She smiled at the
door. The door opened. Ylla stopped smiling. It was her husband." (p. 31).
Who was Mrs. K. expecting to see?
12. Why is Ylla crying?
13. VOCABULARIO: “avejentar” (p. 18), “dormitar” (p. 20), “sisear”

AUGUST 1999 Summer night

How many moons does the planet Mars have?
2. What do Martian children play with?
3. This narrative describes a tranquil summer night, in the
that the inhabitants of Mars give themselves to pleasures and fun.
On a stage, a singer starts her show. Suddenly, the
The audience is startled. Why? In what language is the song?
Do you know the musicians?
4. Does this strange phenomenon only occur in the amphitheater?
5. Why do most Martians react with nervousness and
worry when hearing the strange melodies?
vocabulary: 'fifth' (p. 33).
AUGUST 1999 The men of the Earth
1. Why is Captain Williams surprised that Mrs. Ttt speaks?
English? How is it possible to have communication between a
Inhabitant of Earth and a Martian?
2. "There was a First Expedition, but we don't know what happened to them"
(p. 36). Can you explain what happened to that first group?
3. Captain Williams' group expects to be received with surprise and
cheers. But the inhabitants of Mars do not pay much attention to this
Second Expedition. Explain the behavior of the Martians with the
that contact the men of Earth.
4. We have already seen in previous stories what the physical traits are that
characterize the Martians, quite similar to the inhabitants of the
Earth. But, do they convey their mood in the same way as it
What do humans do? How do they do it?
5. The patients of the insane asylum, upon learning that Captain Williams and his
men come from the Earth, they are greeted with displays of joy and
expectation. What kind of madness do they suffer from? If someone told you that they have
arrival from Mars with a spaceship, would you believe that it is not in its
cables?
Captain Williams believes that when the Martians see the rocket they
they will realize that they have made a mistake and that neither he nor his men
They are crazy. Why, despite the evidence, doesn't the psychiatrist believe him?
7. Why does Mr. Xxx kill Captain Williams and the crew?
8. In the end, upon seeing that the bodies of the men of Earth do not
they disappear and neither does the supposed hallucination of the ship,
What conclusion does the psychiatrist reach?
9. VOCABULARIO: “embarrar” (p. 37), “atisbar” (p. 38), “alféizar”
(p. 40), “blandir” (p. 41), “hilaridad” (p. 45), “eutanasia” (p.
45), “azorar” (p. 47), “exorcizar” (p. 51), “onírico” (p. 52).

MARCH 2000 The taxpayer

What does the protagonist of the story want?
How does Pritchard justify his right to accompany the expedition?
Who is going to Mars?
According to Pritchard, "all people with common sense wanted to leave of
the Earth" (p. 56). Why?
Does Pritchard achieve his goal?
5. VOCABULARIO: “contribuyente” (p. 56), “estatismo” (p. 56),
to tremble

APRIL 2000 The third expedition

How many men make up the Third Expedition?
2. When the ship touches land, what appears before the eyes of the
crew? Is that what you expected?
3. What is the atmosphere of Mars like? Does it allow for life?
4. Before bringing down the rocket, the men propose several hypotheses to
try to explain the existence of a place so similar to Earth.
Explain them. What arguments refute them?
5. How old is the captain? How is it possible for a man to
At that age, lead an expedition to Mars? 6. The captain decides that only
three men leave the ship to find out what is happening. Among them,
besides the captain and Lustig,
an archaeologist, Samuel Hinskston. Upon seeing that everyone
Details of the population, including the music, show that they are present.
in front of a civilization of terrestrial origin, Hinskston claims to have
found the explanation for what they see and hear.
Finally, the three men talk to one of the inhabitants of the
surprising village, a woman in her forties, dressed in
fashion of the early 20th century. What information do you get from it?
8. "I wish we had brought Einstein with us," exclaims the captain.
Black. Why would he wish to have the German physicist among the men of his
expedition?
But soon Captain Black dismisses the theory of time travel.
Which hypothesis do you lean towards?
10. Lusting compares the inhabitants of Mars with the Pilgrims. What about
who is referred to?
11. Suddenly, Lusting "began to run, stumbling clumsily,
"falling and getting up, and running again" (p.68) Who does he see?
Why does it make you so happy?
12. What explanation does Lusting's grandfather give to Captain Black for
justify your presence there?
13. The crew men who had to stay in the rocket.
to protect him, he has left the ship because they have gone to look for relatives
and friends who had died on Earth. Captain Black gets angry,
but soon he will also forget about the mission. Who does he meet?
on Mars?
14. When Captain Black can finally think logically, leaving behind
on one side the strong emotion of reuniting with loved ones
dead years ago, develops a disturbing theory that could explain the
experience that he and the men of his crew are living. What
Does it highlight a phrase that summarizes the strategy of the Martians.
Does the Third Expedition end successfully?
16. VOCABULARIO: “vehemente” (p. 58), “leviatán” (p. 58), “atril”
(p. 59), “censo” (p. 65), “cottage” (p. 67).

JUNE 2001 Although the moon continues to shine

1. What Mars expedition is Spender a part of? Are they the first?
Men reaching Mars? What happened to the expeditions?
previous?
Despite a request from a colleague, Spender refuses to use the
chemical fire. Why?
3. Does the rest of the crew share Spender's respectful attitude?
towards Mars and its vanished civilization? Do you think that their profession has
something to do with his posture?
4. Hathaway the doctor-geologist of the expedition has explored the
nearby cities to the terrestrial camp and in them only has
Martian corpses found. What has caused the death of the
Inhabitants of the planet? Who transmitted the disease?
5. Investigate the history of the colonization of the American continent and
find out if a situation similar to the disappearance occurred
civilization of Mars.
6. Despite Captain Wilder's attempts to get his men to
keep them calm, they end up organizing a small party.
Spender, who has stayed on the sidelines, suddenly stands up and hits
your companion Biggs. Why does he do it?
7. Does Jeff Spender trust the human species? What does he predict will be the
behavior of human beings on Mars?
8. In contrast, Captain Wilder believes that the arrival on Mars could be
an opportunity for humans to reflect on their
behavior on Earth. What is your prophecy?
9. After visiting the Martian city, Spender disappears for more than
a week. What has she been doing? What is her purpose for returning to
expedition camp? Who do they identify with?
10. The spender, before killing them, asks his companions how they
they would feel if they were Martians and someone arrived on their planet with it
Objective of devastating it. How do they react to the issue?
11. Why doesn't Spender kill all the members of the expedition?
12. In a moment of truce, Captain Wilder maintains a
conversation with Spender. His superior wants to understand the reasons that
they have made him act in such a crazy way.
Why does the Martian civilization fascinate Spender so much? What makes it
superior to the earthly?
13. According to Spender, humanity deviated from the right path when
lost faith. What is the relationship, in your opinion, between religion, science and
art?
14. For Spender, the arrival on Mars has meant liberation. What about?
has it broken away to become the 'last Martian'?
In contrast, Captain Walker, despite understanding and, in some
cases, share the arguments of his subordinate, does not accept his
proposal. What do you argue to reject it?
15. What is Spender's plan to prevent the earthlings from colonizing?
Mars, for at least the next half century?
16. What legacy does Spender leave to his captain?
17. What does Captain Walker advise his men at the grave of their
old companion? Do they pay attention to you?
18. VOCABULARIO: “estriar” (p. 81), “metabolismo” (p. 83),
shroud
“cuaderno de bitácora”(p. 93), “pictografía” (p. 95), “desatino”
(p. 101), “zepelín” (p. 103), “cincelar” (p. 104).

AUGUST 2001 The settlers

The first men on Earth to go to Mars suffer a serious
disease. What is it? What is it due to?
If it were possible, would you leave Earth to embark on a new one?
Life on Mars? Justify the answer.

DECEMBER 2001 The green morning

What task is assigned to Benjamin Driscoll upon arriving on Mars?
How does she do it?
2. What is Benjamin's purpose in undertaking such a titanic task?
3. What has compelled Benjamin to dedicate his life to filling it with trees?
planet Mars?
4. Identify the metaphors with which rain is associated.
5. "It was a green morning" (p. 119), thinks Benjamin. Why does he qualify
to the new day with this adjective? And to the air?
6. VOCABULARIO: “rubicundo” (p. 115), “boquear” (p. 116),
icicle

February 2002 The locusts

1. What are locusts? Why do you think the author uses this
metaphor?
2. What transformations does the arrival of the
land ships?
3. What type of weapons do the men of Earth use to take over?
From Mars? Who are "the ground forces"?
Point out the image used by the author to describe them.
4. In a few months, twelve inhabited villages are created on the planet by
ninety thousand people. Do the earthlings respect the Martian idiosyncrasy?
What is the purpose of colonization?
sílice
121)

AUGUST 2002 Night Encounter

The gas station attendant who serves Tomás has decided to pass his
Old age on Mars. What does he like about this planet? What does he compare it to?
2. Is the old man's attitude that of a conqueror or is it more similar
to Spender's stance?
3. During the trip, Tomás has the impression that he can touch the
time, even though he is aware that that is impossible.
Point out the smells, sounds, and images that allow you to concretize a
reality as abstract as time.
4. How do Tomás Gómez and Muhe Ca manage to communicate?
5. What happens when the hands of the two young people try to touch each other?
6. Tomás and Muhe engage in a conversation, but soon realize
that they do not coincide in some coordinate of reality since despite
that when both talk about Mars they refer to different worlds, even
They perceive the Martian city differently. What is it due to?
7. VOCABULARY: 'multifaceted' (p. 125)

February 2003 Intermediate

The men who arrived with the first ships were
"willing to give that strange world a familiar shape" (p.
121, The locusts). Have they achieved their goal?

APRIL 2003 The musicians

What is the favorite place for Earth children to play?
What are the brittle black leaves that children find?
in the houses of the deserted city?
So the children had to play quickly, for very soon
the firefighters would arrive!” (p. 135). Are these firefighters coming to put out
any fire?
4. Justify the title. Are the predictions coming true?
Spender?
5. VOCABULARIO: ‘jirón’ (p. 135), “ébano” (p. 135), “marimba” (p.
136).

JUNE 2003 A path through the air

Where does the action of this story take place?
What news alarms Samuel Teece and his friends?
3. The white men who are on the porch of the hardware store see, from
soon, the long march of the blacks towards the meeting point with
the rockets. What are men and women compared to?
foreman?
4. Samuel Teece, irritated by what is happening, tries to stop
Belter, under the pretext that he owes him fifty dollars, claiming that
Until he pays his debt, he cannot go to Mars. Who helps him?
Good to solve your problem?
5. "Those who have help those who do not have. And so everyone can leave!"
Why do African Americans fervently desire to go to Mars?
6. Silly, a sixteen-year-old boy of color who works for
Teece goes back to the hardware store to return the bicycle to its owner first.
from leaving for Mars. But, his boss wants to prevent him from doing so by using the
contract that the young man signed committing to work for two years for
He. Do Afro-American men help Silly as happened with Belter?
7. Before leaving, Silly addresses her now former boss and throws him a
question: "What are you going to do now at night?" What does it refer to?
8. Why does it bother Samuel Teece so much that the blacks are leaving if
Does he hate them?
9. Identify the theme of the story.
carillon
to lynch
cotton-like

2004-2005 The choice of names

1. How is it verified that the conquest of Mars by the
Is the human being definitive?
2. Give an example of a similar situation, but that has occurred in
the planet Earth.
3. When the hardest stage of the conquest has already ended and of the
colonization, who is moving to Mars? Do you think the dream of the old
in charge of the gas station from the story Night Encounter that the
Will the red planet be a place different from Earth?
obelisk

April 2005 Usher II

1. Read carefully The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allan Poe,
story that inspired Ray Bradbury to write this tale and to
that belong to the initial and final fragment. Look for common elements
between the two texts.
2. Why are some words italicized and in quotes that
How does the architect use it to describe their work?
3. Mr. Stendhal cites authors such as Lovecraft, Hawthorne, Ambrose
Bierce and Poe themselves. What kind of literature did these authors produce?
4. Mr. Bigelow, the architect in charge of the construction of the
Usher II does not know Poe, despite being a writer.
internationally known today. What is its reason for
ignorance?
5. The laws enacted on Earth in the sixties pursued
those artistic manifestations in which fantasy prevailed and the
imagination and imposed censorship.
What values did the terrestrial governments impose? What was their
true objective?
6. Did the censors achieve their goal?
Soon, Mr. Stendhal receives a visit from Garrett, the inspector of
Moral Climates. What is this institution of the terrestrial government dedicated to?
8. What type of art and literature is respected by the inspectors of
Moral Climates?
9. Learn about the work of Ray Bradbury. In which novel do they appear,
also, books as a danger to totalitarian governments that
they intend to prevent citizens from having free thought
independent?
10. Mr. Stendhal kills Inspector Climas Morales and replaces them.
by a robot. What does it intend to achieve with it?
11. Who is Pikes?
12. Who are the guests at the party? What does the gentleman feel?
Stendhal for them? What intention has he invited them with?
13. When the party is in full swing, the real Garrett appears.
willing to end it all, but Stendhal traps him.
In which story by Edgar Allan Poe does he find inspiration to kill his enemy?
14. If Garrett had known Poe's work, could he have saved his
life?
Who causes the destruction of the Usher house? Why does he do it?
conflagration
167)”blasfemia” (p. 169), “perno” (p. 170), “tañido” (p. 171),
facsimile (p. 172).

AUGUST 2005 The old ones

Who are the last to arrive on Mars from Earth?
What resource does the author use in the first paragraph of this micro-story?
With what intention?

SEPTEMBER 2005 The Martian

1. Why have Lafe La Farge and Anna, his wife, abandoned the
Earth and have they moved to Mars? Is their son, Tom, with them?
2. La Farge, when they are already in bed, gets out of bed.
Why? Who do you see in the backyard of the house?
3. Despite his wife's pleas for him to forget about the shadow of the
patio, La Farge invites you to enter the house to take shelter from the rain and
the cold. Who does the marriage find the next day installed in his
housing?
4. Anna accepts her presence naturally and without asking questions.
Son, but La Farge has doubts. Who does he think Tom is? What happens?
When does he/she make him/her a participant in his/her suspicions?

5. When he returns from his getaway, Tom assures that he was about to
to fall into "a trap." What has really happened?
Why neither the Martian nor La Farge want to go to the village?
6. What does La Farge attribute the Martian's need to resemble the
loved ones of humans?
7. Do the omens of La Farge and the Martian come true? What happens?
When does Tom arrive in the town?
8. La Farge, secretly, goes to the Spaulding's house and manages to
convince the Martian to stop being Lavinia and return to being Tom.
Father and son separate to be able to escape.
Does Tom arrive at the dock where La Farge and Anna are waiting for him?
Who follows him? Why?
9. At last, the Martian dies. What causes his death?
10. Indicate the theme of the story.
bucket
to chirp

NOVEMBER 2005 The luggage store

1. What does the planet Earth look like from Mars?
2. What alarming news arrives from the green planet to the
luggage store?
3. The owner of the luggage store is getting ready to remove the dust from his
suitcases as it suggests that it will soon have many customers.
Why? Wouldn't it be more sensible for the settlers on Mars to
Will they stay on this planet to avoid war?
4. This and other stories reflect the situation of anxiety that for years
lived the American society, and a good part of the world population,
caused by the fear of a nuclear war that would end with the
humanity. Explain the causes of this situation. Remember that Chronicles
Martians was published in 1950.
5. VOCABULARY: 'crowd' (p. 196).

NOVEMBER 2005 Off-season

1. With which expedition did Sam Parkhill arrive on Mars? Whose was it?
partner?
2. Has Captain Wilder been able to fulfill the promise he made to Spender?
to fight for the preservation of Martian culture?
3. Parkhill has left the army to become a merchant.
What business is about to open? Does it have a future?
4. While the couple prepares the kiosk, a Martian arrives with
the intention of conveying a message to you. Describe it. How is it received?
by Parkhill?
5. What kind of life have the Martians who survived led?
chickenpox epidemic, which they call, the Disease?
6. Does Elma share her husband's fears? What attitude does she have towards them?
Martians?
7. What do the Martians use to slide on the sand?
8. In the face of Parkhill's violence, how do the Martians react?
Why were they chasing him?
9. To convey the elegance, delicacy, and lightness of the vessels
Martians, what resource does the author use? Give examples.
"This night is the night" (p. 208) the Martian tells the Earthling.
Parkhill, blinded by his ambition, believes it will be a very evening
fruitful for your business. What is really happening?
What do you think has happened on Earth?
11. Justify the title of the story.
12. Why do you think the Martians have delivered the titles of
property to the land?
phonograph
pennant

NOVEMBER 2005 The observers

Who are the observers?
2. What has happened on Earth? What message do the colonists receive from
Mars from her?
3. As we saw in the previous account, the sausage stand
Parkhill is out of season, but who takes advantage of the situation?
to sell a lot?
4. VOCABULARY: 'to flame' (p. 213).

DECEMBER 2005 The Silent Towns

In this story, a bleak outlook of the planet is presented to us.
Mars. What is the cause of the inhabitants of the towns and cities
have the abandoned returned to Earth?
2. Why hasn't Walter Gripp been evacuated like the rest of the colonists?
How often did the gold seeker from the blue hills come down to the town?
3. Upon finding the deserted town, how does Walter Gripp react?
After a few days of comfortable and carefree living, Gripp takes
awareness of his absolute solitude. What event brings him back to the
Hope that there are more terrestrial beings left on Mars?
5. We know that even before the evacuation of Mars, Walter Gripp
he was looking for a 'quiet and intelligent woman to marry'
Who imagines who makes the phone calls?
What do you do to get in touch with that person?
6. Finally, Walter manages to talk to a human. Who is it?
Where is it located?
7. What expectations does Walter have regarding Genevieve? Does he...
do they fulfill?
8. When Genevieve proposes to marry him. What does Walter say and do?
Grip?
9. After the experience with Genevieve, does Walter seek the
human contact?
10. VOCABULARIO: “dinamo” (p. 214), “baño turco” (p. 216),
to scrutinize

APRIL 2026 The long years

1. In what other story had the protagonist of The Longs already appeared?
years?
2. How long has Hathaway lived on Mars? With what
Did the expedition arrive? Who was the companion?
3. How much time has passed since the beginning of the Great War in the
Earth? What has Mars become during this period?
4. List the members of the Hathaway family.
Every day, the father walks to a nearby cemetery, what
asks in front of four graves with wooden crosses? What has allowed him?
endure solitude on Mars for twenty years?
6. Why did the Hathaway family not return to Earth twenty years ago?
At dusk, Hathaway scrutinizes the sky looking for the signal of a
a ship that allows him and his family to return to Earth. Finally, it appears in
the firmament a red light. Who is coming to Mars?
8. Before Spender's grave, Captain Walker requested that all the
crew will remind you. Has Hathaway followed the advice? Have they
fulfilled the catastrophic predictions of his former partner?
9. Upon seeing the Hathaway family, Captain Wilder is very
surprised because it seems that the years have not passed for them yet
that maintain the attributes of youth. To try to understand what
What happens is that he asks Williamson to do a check. What about him?
Does the soldier inform when he returns from his inquiries?
10. After Hathaway's death, Captain Wilder uncovers the mystery.
What are the wife and children of the doctor-geologist?
11. What other gadgets did Hathaway build to avoid loneliness?
12. Captain Wilder and his crew feel unable to extinguish or
destroy the robots. Why? What happens to them?
13. VOCABULARIO: “parihuela” (p. 239), “titilar” (p. 241).

AUGUST 2026 Light rains will come

Where does the action of this story take place?
2. Does any human being appear throughout the story?
3. What do you think has happened to the inhabitants of that building?
Look at the paragraph regarding quarter past ten.
4. What resource does the author use to make the absence of beings evident?
humans?
5. What is the house a symbol of? Justify your answer.
6. But the destruction also reaches the last trace of civilization
human. What causes the disappearance of the house?
7. After carefully reading the poem by Sara Teasdale, indicate what it is
theme of the story.
acolyte

OCTOBER 2026 The million-year picnic

What is the point of view adopted in this narrative?
2. Timothy's parents have decided to go on vacation to Mars. Do you think the
Child, is that the reason they have abandoned Earth?
The Thomases abandon the rocket and take a boat with which
They visit different cities. What does the father propose to the children?
4. What did Timothy's father do on Earth? What principles
Would you have liked them to govern the fate of humanity?
At night, William Thomas burns before the eyes of his family.
documents related to government, economy, religion, the
war… What does he want to symbolize with this act?
6. What does the former governor attribute the end of human civilization to?
Reread the story Although the moon continues to shine. According to Spender, could the
man having learned from the Martians the lesson he would have
allowed to be saved?
7. What has happened to the Earth? Apart from the Williams family, has anyone else...
Could I have saved other terrestrials?
8. Timothy's father keeps his promise to show the Martians to
your children. Where are you taking them? Who are the new Martians?
9. VOCABULARIO: “velludo” (p. 251), “aguileño” (p. 253), “tiara”
(p. 254), “enjuto” (p. 255), “crepitar” (p. 261).