Here you will find a number of resources to familiarize yourself with the life, work and philosophy of Ray Bradbury. Who was he? Why did he become the person he became? How did he become that person? What would Ray Bradbury want of you? from you? for you? How would he tell you? What would be your reply to his request?

One thing about the death of a great person is the promise of immortality. With the death of Ray Bradbury, we have the opportunity to pass on into the future a message of great import instructing us to take our selves and love our way into the world.

In the following embedded Fresh Air radio broadcasted interview called Writer Ray Bradbury (station WHYY) from November 17th, 2000, Mr. Bradbury says many things. These initial questions could give you an angle from which to consider Mr. Bradbury’s comments.

  1. How old was Mr. Bradbury when he learned to read?
  2. Name three authors who are just some of Mr. Bradbury’s biggest inspirations?
  3. What do teachers do? And What do libraries do?
  4. When he was 12 years old . . .
    1. What did he do every day after his experiences when he was 12 years old?
    2. What happened when Mr. Bradbury when he was 12 years old?
    3. A month after his discovery when he was 12, he met a man. Who was that man?
    4. What did he become after his experiences when he was 12 years old?
  5. Who wrote the book Fahrenheit 451? Where did the author’s come from?
  6. Who is responsible for the writing of Fahrenheit 451?
  7. Who is Clarisse? What is she? What does she inspire Montag, the main character, to do?
  8. Who is Aldous Huxley to Mr. Bradbury?
  9. What did Aldous Huxley tell Mr. Bradbury? What kind of writer did Huxley tell Mr. Bradbury he was?
  10. What is the most important book in Bradbury’s life?
  11. What book did Bradbury write when he was in his thirties that was inspired by The Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens?
  12. What kind of experience should reading be? Could reading be?
  13. What is the answer to life?
  14. Why does Mr. Bradbury think his books are popular?
  15. What is at the center of his books?
  16. How old was Mr. Bradbury when he “discovered” he was alive?
  17. You must “love what you do and do what you love.” What instructions does Mr. Bradbury give to young people on this idea?
  18. What should be the center of your life?
  19. What epitaph does Mr. Bradbury give us to remember him by?
  20. What T-shirt is Mr. Bradbury going to have made?
  21. How can you interpret this figurative statement?
  22. Ray Bradbury mentioned that he was surrounded by people who did not believe in the future. Do you believe the world is full of people who do not believe in the future? What does Mr. Bradbury believe you can do to instill hope for the future in people who seem hopeless? What did he do?
  23. What could Mr. Bradbury have meant when he said, “By doing things, things get done”?
  24. What could Mr. Bradbury have meant by, “The things you do should be things that you love, and things that you love should be things that you do.”

 

 

Additionally, I offer a traditionally text-based (easier to quote) interview which is part of a series from the Paris Review – The Art of Fiction No. 203, Ray Bradbury.

The announcement of the death of Ray Bradbury on National Public Radio’s Morning Edition.

FOR MORE RESOURCES ON Ray Bradbury mainly as they relate to Fahrenheit 451, please VISIT MY Fahrenheit 451 Resources page.

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