84 pages • 2 hours read
Ray BradburyThe Illustrated Man
Fiction | Short Story Collection | Adult | Published in 1951A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Introduction
Teacher Introduction
The Illustrated Man
- Genre: Science fiction; short stories
- Originally Published: 1951
- Reading Level/Interest: Lexile 680L; young adult and adult
- Structure/Length: Collection of 18 short stories with prologue and epilogue; approx. 304 pages; approx. 9 hours and 26 minutes on audio
- Protagonist/Central Conflict: The Illustrated Man is a collection of interconnected science fiction short stories with varying central conflicts. The titular character, the Illustrated Man, is covered in animated tattoos that tell the stories of his past and future. Each story delves into different futuristic scenarios, exploring themes of technology, morality, humanity, and the consequences of human actions.
- Potential Sensitivity Issues: Science fiction; futuristic concepts; moral dilemmas
Ray Bradbury, Author
- Bio: Born 1920, deceased 2012; American author known for his contributions to science fiction, fantasy, and speculative fiction; celebrated for his vivid and imaginative storytelling; body of work includes novels, short stories, and essays that have left a lasting impact on the world of speculative fiction
- Other Works: The Martian Chronicles (1950); Fahrenheit 451 (1953); Dandelion Wine (1957); Something Wicked This Way Comes (1962); The Halloween Tree (1972)
- Awards: International Fantasy Award nominee (1952); National Medal of Arts (2004); Pulitzer Prize (2007); Eaton Award for Lifetime Achievement in Science Fiction (2008)
CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Guide:
Featured Collections