Get notes, line-by-line explanation, summary, questions and answers, critical analysis, word meanings, workbook answers (Evergreen and Morning Star) extras, and pdf of the story “The Pedestrian” by Ray Bradbury, which is part of ICSE Class 10 English (Treasure Chest: A Collection of ICSE Poems and Short Stories). However, the notes should only be treated as references, and changes should be made according to the needs of the students.
Summary
The story is set in the year 2053 in a city where Leonard Mead enjoys taking long, solitary evening walks despite the emptiness of the streets. On this November night, Mead walks through the silent city, peering down moonlit avenues and whispering greetings to the darkened houses. The city feels like a graveyard to him, with faint lights flickering behind curtains. Mead has changed to sneakers to avoid bothering any dogs with his footsteps. He checks his watch and wonders what television shows the residents are watching in their tomb-like homes.
As Mead approaches an intersection, he imagines the busy highways during the day now deserted at night. He circles back toward home, stumbling on uneven sidewalk. Just a block away, a lone police car suddenly turns a corner and shines a bright light on him, ordering him to stop. A metallic voice interrogates Mead, asking his name, business, and why he is out walking. Mead explains he is out for air and to see, and that he is a writer though he hasn’t written in years.
The police voice accuses Mead of having no profession and presses him on why he is walking. Mead repeats that he is just walking for exercise and observation. The voice asks for Mead’s address, then whether he has an air conditioner and a television, to which Mead answers yes and no. When asked if he is married, Mead smiles and says no one wanted him.
He is ordered into the police car. Mead protests his innocence but compiles. He realises there is no one inside the vehicle, which is remotely controlled. The car informs Mead he is being taken to the Psychiatric Center for Research on Regressive Tendencies. As they drive past Mead’s own illuminated house, he points it out, but receives no response. The empty police car continues on, leaving the silent streets behind.
Video tutorial
About the author
Ray Bradbury was a renowned 20th century American author known for his creative works in genres like science fiction, fantasy, and horror. His short story ‘The Pedestrian’ depicts a dystopian future where even going for a solitary walk is seen as abnormal.
The protagonist Mead is detained and sent to an asylum simply for walking alone one night, which is now considered regressive behaviour in this isolated, technology-obsessed society. Bradbury uses this narrative as a cautionary tale, warning readers about the dangers of increasingly disconnected and self-absorbed lives.
The story serves as a prophetic call for the importance of community and human connection.
Evergreen workbook answers/solutions
Multiple Choice Questions
(i) The story ‘The Pedestrial’ belongs to which genre ?
A. romance B. fantasy C. horror D. futuristic
Answer: D. futuristic
(ii) In which month of the year is it set ?
A. November B. January C. December D. September
Answer: A. November
(iii) Which year of the future is the plot of the story set in ?
A. 2019 B. 2035 C. 2053 D. 2083
Answer: C. 2053
(iv) What do the houses of the people in their homes look like?
A. tombs B. huts C. palatial D. ugly
Answer: A. tombs
(v) Why had Mead worn sneakers while walking ?
A. They were smart. B. He liked wearing them. C. They were comfortable. D. They would not make a noise and attract attention.
Answer: D. They would not make a noise and attract attention.
(vi) How do the people glued to their television sets look to the protagonist?
A. lively B. romantic C. angelic D. phantoms
Answer: D. phantoms
(vii) The metallic cars have a ………… sound.
A. musical B. whistling C. harsh D. mesmerising
Answer: C. harsh
(viii) People driving in their cars during day are compared to
A. insects B. robots C. birds D. phantoms
Answer: A. insects
(ix) What does the story focus on ?
A. Laudable advancement of science and technology B. dehumanization of the people C. necessity of entertainment D. none of the above
Answer: B. dehumanization of the people
(x) Who is in the car ?
A. a policeman B. A police officer C. a computer engineer D. no one
Answer: D. no one
Comprehension passage
Passage 1
He would stand upon the corner of an intersection and peer down long moonlit avenues of sidewalk in four directions, deciding which way to go, but it really made no difference.
(i) Who is ‘he’ referred to? What was the routine of the person?
Answer: ‘He’ refers to Mr. Leonard Mead. His routine involved walking through the city streets at night, often for hours, without any particular destination.
(ii) Which time and month of the year does the passage describe?
Answer: The passage describes a misty evening in November, around 8:00 P.M.
(iii) Why does the author say ‘it really made no difference’?
Answer: The author says this because Mr. Mead was the only person walking the streets, and regardless of the direction he chose, the streets were equally empty and silent.
(iv) What would fascinate the solitary walker?
Answer: The solitary walker, Leonard Mead, would be fascinated by the emptiness and quietness of the city, as well as the eerie sight of houses with dark, silent windows.
(v) Who would accompany the walker in the open? Why?
Answer: No one accompanied the walker. He was always alone during his nightly walks, as everyone else stayed inside their homes watching television.
Passage 2
Sudden gray phantom seemed to manifest upon inner room walls where a curtain was still undrawn against the night, or there were whisperings and murmurs where a window in a tomblike building was still open.
(i) What are the gray phantoms? Why are they so called here?
Answer: The gray phantoms refer to the faint images and shadows inside houses, possibly from the flickering light of televisions. They are called “phantoms” because of their ghostly, ephemeral appearance.
(ii) Where would he see the gray phantoms?
Answer: He would see the gray phantoms on the walls of houses where curtains were still undrawn, revealing the faint light and shadows inside.
(iii) Why are the houses tomblike? What kind of picture is this?
Answer: The houses are described as “tomblike” because they are silent, dark, and lifeless, giving the impression of being dead or uninhabited. This paints a picture of a society where people are isolated inside their homes, disconnected from the outside world.
(iv) What was walking past the houses feel like?
Answer: Walking past the houses felt eerie and unsettling, as if walking through a graveyard, with the homes appearing lifeless and abandoned.
(v) What kind of life is hinted at here?
Answer: The passage hints at a life of isolation and inactivity, where people stay indoors, disconnected from the outside world, and consumed by passive activities like watching television.
Passage 3
There was a good crystal frost in the air; it cut the nose and made the lungs blaze like a Christmas tree inside, you could feel the cold light going on and off, all the branches filled with invisible snow.
(i) What time of the day does the passage indicate? How do you know?
Answer: The passage suggests it is nighttime, as it describes the cold, frosty air and the quiet atmosphere associated with late evening or night.
(ii) What kind of experience does the speaker tell? Explain the image lungs blaze like a Christmas tree inside.
Answer: The speaker describes the sensation of breathing in cold air, which makes the lungs feel as if they are blazing or glowing. The comparison to a Christmas tree suggests a vibrant, sharp sensation, as if the cold air ignites a flickering, bright feeling inside the lungs.
(iii) How did the speaker react to the scenery outside?
Answer: The speaker seems to enjoy the crisp, cold atmosphere, finding satisfaction in the sensation of walking in the frosty air and engaging with the natural world.
(iv) What do you learn about the speaker from this extract?
Answer: The speaker is likely someone who appreciates solitude and the quiet beauty of the night, finding pleasure in walking and experiencing the outdoors.
(v) Explain the image ‘all the branches filled with invisible snow.’
Answer: This image suggests the feeling of coldness pervading the air, as if snow, though unseen, covers the branches, making everything feel crisp and frosty.
Passage 4
The street was silent and long and empty, with only his shadow moving like the shadow of a hawk in midcountry.
(i) What kind of picture does the speaker present here?
Answer: The speaker presents an image of complete solitude, with an empty street stretching out before him, evoking a sense of desolation and stillness.
(ii) Who does the speaker compare himself with? How and to what purpose?
Answer: The speaker compares his shadow to the shadow of a hawk in midcountry, suggesting a sense of freedom and isolation, but also perhaps a feeling of being watched or hunted.
(iii) What kind of person is the speaker?
Answer: The speaker is likely a solitary, introspective person who enjoys walking alone at night, reflecting on the empty, quiet world around him.
(iv) Where is the speaker wandering? Why does he mention Arizona?
Answer: The speaker is wandering through a deserted city. He mentions Arizona to compare the empty streets to a vast, open desert, emphasizing the isolation and emptiness he feels.
(v) Who encounters him later in the context, and why?
Answer: He is later encountered by a police car, which stops him for questioning, as his act of walking at night is considered unusual and suspicious in this futuristic setting.
Passage 5
“What is it now?” he asked the houses, noticing his wrist watch. “Eight-thirty P.M.? Time for a dozen assorted murders? A quiz? A revue? A comedian falling off the stage?”
(i) Who is the speaker in this context? Who are the listeners?
Answer: The speaker is Leonard Mead. He is rhetorically asking the houses around him, though there are no real listeners present.
(ii) Are the murders so frequent? Why does the speaker ask about the murders?
Answer: No, the murders are not frequent. The speaker is making a sarcastic comment about the violent and trivial nature of television programming.
(iii) What is a revue? Where would the revue take place?
Answer: A revue is a theatrical entertainment consisting of short sketches, songs, and dances. In this context, it likely refers to television shows being broadcast in the houses.
(iv) What makes the speaker ask these questions? Is he satisfied with their answers?
Answer: The speaker is frustrated with the monotony and lack of meaningful activity in the city, as everyone is absorbed by television. He is not satisfied because there is no response from the houses or the people inside.
(v) What kind of life is lived by people in the city?
Answer: The people in the city lead a passive, sedentary life, consumed by television and disconnected from the world outside their homes.
Passage 6
He turned back on a side street, circling around toward his home. He was within a block of his destination when the lone car turned a corner quite suddenly and flashed a fierce white cone of light upon him. He stood entranced, not unlike a night moth, stunned by the illumination, and then drawn toward it.
(i) Where was the speaker when he was asked to stop?
Answer: The speaker, Leonard Mead, was on a side street near his home when he was asked to stop.
(ii) Why do you think was the speaker stopped and by whom?
Answer: He was stopped by the police, likely because his behavior—walking alone at night—was considered suspicious in a society where such actions were rare.
(iii) What led to his being stunned?
Answer: He was stunned by the sudden and intense light from the police car’s headlights, which illuminated him unexpectedly.
(iv) What was his reaction when he was asked to stop?
Answer: He was entranced and stunned by the light, like a moth drawn to a flame, and he stood still as commanded.
(v) Who do you think was in the car? What kind of light fell on the speaker?
Answer: The car was likely driven by an automated police system (as no one was seen in the front seat). A fierce, white, blinding light from the car’s headlight fell on the speaker.
Passage 7
Ever since a year ago, 2052, the election year, the force had been cut down from three cars to one. Crime was ebbing, there was no need now for the police, save for this one lone car wandering and wandering empty streets.
(i) Which event that took place in 2052 does the story refer to?
Answer: The story refers to an election in 2052 that led to a reduction in the police force, as crime had significantly decreased.
(ii) Why had the police force been reduced?
Answer: The police force was reduced because crime rates were declining, making it unnecessary to maintain a large police presence.
(iii) What does the passage hint at about activities of the people at night?
Answer: The passage hints that people no longer venture outside at night, preferring to stay indoors, and that the streets are eerily empty.
(iv) Earlier the speaker says that seeing a car wandering at night is an incredible thing. How?
Answer: It was incredible because the streets were always empty and quiet, with no cars or people around. Seeing a police car at night was rare and unusual.
(v) Which first question is the speaker asked by the car? What kind of car is it?
Answer: The first question asked by the car is, “Your name?” The car appears to be an automated police car, with no human officers inside.
Passage 8
He put his hand to the door and peered into the back seat, which was a little cell, a little black jail with bars. It smelled of riveted steel. It smelled of harsh antiseptic; it smelled too clean and hard and metallic. There was nothing soft there.
(i) What did the back seat look like?
Answer: The back seat looked like a small, black jail cell with bars, hard and metallic, devoid of comfort.
(ii) The speaker says that the back seat smelt of harsh antiseptic. What does he want to convey?
Answer: The speaker conveys that the back seat felt sterile, cold, and unwelcoming, like a prison cell, emphasizing the harshness and lack of humanity.
(iii) Explain: ‘There was nothing soft there.’
Answer: This phrase emphasizes the cold, hard, and impersonal nature of the back seat, reflecting the lack of comfort or warmth in the society symbolized by the police car.
(iv) Who was driving the car? Where was the speaker being taken?
Answer: The car was likely automated, with no human driver. The speaker was being taken to the Psychiatric Center for Research on Regressive Tendencies.
(v) Why do you think was the speaker taken in the car? What crime had he committed?
Answer: The speaker, Leonard Mead, was taken because his behavior—walking alone at night—was considered abnormal or “regressive” in a society where such actions were seen as unnecessary and suspicious.
Morning Star workbook answers/solutions
Multiple Choice Questions II
1. What does Leonard Mead love to do?
A. Remaining outdoors on a misty evening
B. Walking by night or day
C. Writing an article everyday
D. Enjoying watching Television programmes
Answer: B. Walking by night or day
2. Which of the following is reflected by the statement that Leonard Mead was “as good as alone”?
A. He was a nonconformist
B. He was a lonely person
C. He longed for the company of others
D. He wished to be like his neighbours
Answer: A. He was a nonconformist
3. Identify the figure of speech in the line given below:
‘….he would stride off, sending patterns of frosty air before him like the smoke of a cigar.’
A. Metaphor
B. Personification
C. Simile
D. Anaphora
Answer: C. Simile
4. What does the author want to convey by referring to the people in their homes as ‘gray phantoms’?
A. They are old and haggard
B. They have grey hairs
C. They are lifeless
D. They have no colours in their lives
Answer: C. They are lifeless
5. Why did Mead start wearing sneakers instead of hard heels on his walks?
A. To keep his night walks a secret
B. To protect himself from the dogs
C. To prevent other citizens from getting startled by his lonesome walks
D. All of the above
Answer: D. All of the above
6. Which figure of speech is used in the line given below?
‘There was a good crystal frost in the air; it cut the nose and made the lungs blaze like a Christmas tree inside.’
A. Personification
B. Metaphor
C. Simile
D. None of the above
Answer: C. Simile
7. Identify the type of imagery used in the phrase— ‘smelling its rusty smell.’
A. Tactile imagery
B. Olfactory imagery
C. Visual imagery
D. Auditory imagery
Answer: B. Olfactory imagery
8. What is suggested about Mead by comparing him to a hawk?
A. Adaptable
B. Free and independent
C. Powerful feet
D. Swiftness
Answer: B. Free and independent
9. Which of the following is the main theme of the story, The Pedestrian?
A. The advantages of walking
B. The difficulties faced by a pedestrian
C. Dehumanising effect of technology on man
D. None of the above
Answer: C. Dehumanising effect of technology on man
10. Why was there only one police car?
A. There was a shortage of cars for the police
B. The crime rate was low and there was no need for the police
C. There were no men available to operate these cars
D. None of the above
Answer: B. The crime rate was low and there was no need for the police
11. Why was Leonard taken away to the Psychiatric Centre?
A. To cure him of his regressive tendencies
B. To punish him for being a bachelor
C. To punish him for behaving like a drunkard
D. None of the above
Answer: A. To cure him of his regressive tendencies
12. What was Mead’s reply on being asked why he was out on the road at night?
A. Walking for air
B. Walking to see
C. Both (A) and (B)
D. None of the above
Answer: C. Both (A) and (B)
13. How was Mead’s house different from the other citizens’?
A. It was brightly lit
B. It was like an outdated cottage
C. It was totally cut off from the outside world
D. None of the above
Answer: A. It was brightly lit
14. Choose the option that lists the sequence of events in the correct order:
- He stood entranced, not unlike a night moth, stunned by the illumination, and then drawn toward it.
- He could not see the men in it for the bright light in his eyes
- He began his journey in a westerly direction, toward the hidden sea.
- He stumbled over a particularly uneven section of sidewalk
A. 3, 4, 1, 2
B. 1, 3, 2, 4
C. 3, 1, 4, 2
D. 2, 4, 1, 2
Answer: C. 3, 1, 4, 2
15. Select the option that shows the correct relationship between statements (1) and (2):
- But this one particular house had all of its electric lights brightly lit, every window a loud yellow illumination, square and warm in the cool darkness.
- And on his way he would see the cottages and homes with their dark windows, and it was not unequal to walking through a graveyard.
A. 1 is the cause for 2
B. 1 is an example of 2
C. 1 is independent of 2
D. 1 is a contradiction of 2
Answer: D. 1 is a contradiction of 2
Cointext Questions and Answers
Extract 1
To enter out into that silence that was the city at eight o’clock of a misty evening in November to put your feet upon that buckling concrete walk, to step over grassy seams and make your way, hands in pockets, through the silences, that was what Mr. Leonard Mead most dearly loved to do. He would stand upon the corner of an intersection and peer down long moonlit avenues of sidewalks in four directions deciding which way to go but it really made no difference; he was alone in this world of A.D. 2053 or as good as alone and with a final decision made a path selected he would stride off sending patterns of frosty air before him like the smoke of a cigar.
(i) Why was there complete silence on the city streets at 8 o’clock in the evening? Who was the lone traveller who entered into ‘that silence’? Why was he there at that time?
Answer: There was complete silence because society had withdrawn indoors, likely absorbed in watching television or some other form of entertainment. The lone traveller was Leonard Mead, who loved walking through the quiet streets at night. He ventured out simply because he enjoyed the tranquillity and the act of walking itself.
(ii) Who was Leonard Mead? What did he love dearly? For how long had he been pursuing what he loved dearly?
Answer: Leonard Mead was a solitary man living in the future, in the year 2053. He loved walking alone in the city streets, especially at night. He had been doing this for years, perhaps as long as a decade, as he found peace and contentment in this pursuit.
(iii) What is meant by ‘it really made no difference’? What is suggested about Leonard Mead by this sentence?
Answer: The phrase ‘it really made no difference’ means that Leonard Mead felt no obligation to follow any particular path or direction during his walks. This suggests that he was indifferent to where he was headed and that his walks were more about the experience of being outside and moving through the world than about reaching a destination.
(iv) Why is he described as ‘alone in this world of A.D. 2053’?
Answer: Leonard Mead is described as being alone because the society around him has become so isolated, with people retreating into their homes and engaging with technology instead of interacting with each other. He feels physically and emotionally detached from the world around him.
(v) What is suggested by the phrases ‘final decision made’ and ‘path selected’? What do these phrases tell about Leonard Mead?
Answer: These phrases suggest that Leonard Mead enjoys the process of making a decision, even when it is insignificant. They indicate his independence and perhaps his need for some sense of control in a world where human activity has diminished. His walk, though aimless, still involves deliberate choice.
Extract 2
Mr. Leonard Mead would pause, cock his head, listen, look, and march on his feet making no noise on the lumpy walk. For long ago he had wisely changed to sneakers when strolling at night because the dogs in intermittent squads would parallel his journey with barkings if he wore hard heels and lights might click on and faces appear and an entire street be startled by the passing of a lone figure, himself, in the early November evening.
(i) Why does Mead make a deliberate attempt not to produce any sound while walking?
Answer: Mead tries not to produce any sound to avoid drawing attention to himself. He knows that making noise would disturb the dogs and startle people, as it is unusual for someone to be walking outside at night.
(ii) Why does Leonard Mead start wearing sneakers instead of hard heels while strolling at night?
Answer: Mead starts wearing sneakers because the hard heels of his shoes would cause dogs to bark and lights to turn on in the houses as people would be startled by the sound. He wants to remain unnoticed during his walks.
(iii) What is suggested by Mead’s act of wearing sneakers?
Answer: Mead’s choice to wear sneakers suggests that he has adapted to the increasingly reclusive nature of society. It also reflects his desire to avoid confrontation and remain an invisible presence in a world that no longer appreciates or tolerates outdoor activity.
(iv) Why is he described as a ‘lone figure’? Who would get startled by his walk at night? Why?
Answer: He is described as a ‘lone figure’ because he is the only one out walking in a world where no one else ventures outside. People inside their homes, engrossed in their technology, would be startled because they are unaccustomed to seeing anyone walking on the streets.
(v) Explain briefly the characteristic traits of Leonard Mead as reflected in this extract.
Answer: Leonard Mead appears to be a quiet, thoughtful, and independent individual. He enjoys solitude and seems to prefer peaceful, reflective activities like walking. His deliberate efforts to remain unnoticed show that he is aware of society’s indifference or even hostility to his behaviour.
Extract 3
Was that a murmur of laughter from within a moon-white house? He hesitated but went on when nothing more happened. He stumbled over a particularly uneven section of sidewalk. The cement was vanishing under flowers and grass. In ten years of walking by night or day for thousands of miles he had never met another person walking, not once in all that time.
(i) What does Mead think about the ‘murmur of laughter’? What does it suggest about his connection with other people?
Answer: Mead is intrigued but distant from the laughter, suggesting that he feels disconnected from the people inside the houses. He is both curious and alienated from the social lives of others, highlighting his isolation.
(ii) Why does he stumble while walking? What does ‘cement was vanishing’ suggest?
Answer: He stumbles because the sidewalk is uneven and deteriorating, as the cement is being overtaken by flowers and grass. This suggests neglect and the slow encroachment of nature on a city that has fallen into disuse, symbolising the decline of human activity.
(iii) Why has he not encountered another person on the road in ten years of his solitary walks? What does it suggest?
Answer: Mead hasn’t encountered anyone because people no longer engage in outdoor activities. This suggests that society has become completely withdrawn and consumed by technology, leading to the collapse of public life.
(iv) How does this extract reveal the dormant potential of nature?
Answer: The extract shows how nature is slowly reclaiming the city. The flowers and grass growing over the cement indicate that, in the absence of human maintenance, the natural world has the power to recover and flourish.
(v) Explain briefly the theme of ‘Nonconformity’ as presented in the story.
Answer: Nonconformity in the story is exemplified by Leonard Mead’s refusal to follow societal norms. While everyone else is absorbed in their homes and technology, Mead continues to walk outside, seeking a connection with the world in his own way. This highlights his individuality and resistance to the dominant culture of isolation and passivity.
Extract 4
He turned back on a side street, circling around toward his home. He was within a block of his destination when the lone car turned a corner quite suddenly and flashed a fierce white cone of light upon him. He stood entranced, not unlike a night moth, stunned by the illumination, and then drawn toward it.
A metallic voice called to him:
“Stand still. Stay where you are! Don’t move!”
(i) Where was Mead when he saw a lone car? What was the ‘lone car’ in actuality?
Answer: Mead was within a block of his home when he saw the lone car. The ‘lone car’ was a police vehicle, the only one left patrolling the streets in a largely abandoned city.
(ii) State two figures of speech used in the line given below:
“He was within a block of his destination when the lone car turned a corner quite suddenly and flashed a fierce white cone of light upon him.”
Answer: The two figures of speech are:
- Metaphor: “A fierce white cone of light” compares the light from the car to a cone without using “like” or “as”.
- Personification: The car “flashed” the light, implying an action typical of a human or living thing.
(iii) How did Mead react to the light flashed on him by the car?
Answer: Mead stood entranced and stunned by the light, much like a night moth, temporarily paralysed by its sudden brightness.
(iv) What is suggested by Mead’s comparison with a moth?
Answer: The comparison with a moth suggests that Mead is both mesmerised and powerless in the face of authority, represented by the police car. Like a moth drawn to a light, he is instinctively attracted but also vulnerable and exposed.
(v) How does this extract convey the feeling of fear and foreboding?
Answer: The sudden appearance of the police car, the harsh light, and the commanding metallic voice create a sense of fear and tension. Mead’s helpless reaction heightens the foreboding atmosphere, suggesting that something ominous is about to happen.
Extract 5
Ever since a year ago, 2052, the election year, the force had been cut down from three cars to one. Crime was ebbing; there was no need now for the police, save for this one lone car wandering and wandering the empty streets.
“Your name?” said the police car in a metallic whisper. He couldn’t see the men in it for the bright light in his eyes.
“Leonard Mead,” he said.
“Speak up!”
“Leonard Mead!”
“Business or profession?”
“I guess you’d call me a writer.”
“No Profession,” said the police car, as if talking to itself. The light held him fixed, like a museum specimen, needle thrust through chest.
“You might say that,” said Mr. Mead. He hadn’t written in years.
(i) Why did the voice from the police car speak in a metallic whisper? Why could not Mead see the men in the car?
Answer: The voice from the police car spoke in a metallic whisper because it was mechanical, most likely automated. Mead couldn’t see the men in the car because of the bright light being shone directly into his eyes.
(ii) Why was there only one car? What did it suggest about the people of the city?
Answer: There was only one police car because crime had decreased significantly. This suggests that the people of the city were either so isolated and inactive that there was no need for law enforcement or that society had reached a state of extreme conformity, where individuality and disorder were rare.
(iii) What was Mead’s profession? Why did the police car describe it as ‘No profession’?
Answer: Mead’s profession was a writer, but the police car described it as ‘No profession’ because, in this future world, writing had become obsolete, as magazines and books no longer sold. The concept of art and literature had lost its value in society.
(iv) Explain briefly the simile in this extract.
Answer: The simile “The light held him fixed, like a museum specimen, needle thrust through chest” compares Mead’s immobilised state to that of a pinned insect in a museum display. This imagery highlights his helplessness and the dehumanising effect of the police car’s scrutiny.
(v) Why had Mead not written anything for years? Which characteristic trait of Mead is revealed in this extract?
Answer: Mead hadn’t written anything for years because society no longer valued books or magazines; people had abandoned reading in favour of passive entertainment like television. This reveals Mead’s resilience and attachment to his craft, even though it has been rendered obsolete by the changing times.
Additional/extras
Questions and answers
Extract 1
To enter out into that silence that was the city at eight o’clock of a misty evening in November to put your feet upon that buckling concrete walk to step over grassy seams and make your way hands in pockets through the silences that was what Mr. Leonard Mead most dearly loved to do. He would stand upon the corner of an intersection and peer down long moonlit avenues of sidewalk in four directions deciding which way to go but it really made no difference; he was alone in this world of A.D. 2053 or as good as alone and with a final decision made a path selected he would stride off sending patterns of frosty air before him like the smoke of a cigar.
(i) What activity does Mr. Leonard Mead enjoy doing?
Answer: Mr. Leonard Mead enjoys walking alone through the empty streets of the city at night.
(ii) Why does the direction he chooses to walk in not matter to him?
Answer: It doesn’t matter because he is completely alone, and the city is devoid of other people walking.
(iii) What is the significance of the time setting in this passage?
Answer: The time setting, A.D. 2053, indicates a futuristic world where solitude is emphasized, suggesting societal changes where people no longer go outside.
(iv) What does the imagery of “frosty air” and “smoke of a cigar” convey?
Answer: The imagery conveys a sense of cold, loneliness, and isolation, emphasizing Mr. Mead’s solitary nature.
(v) What might Mr. Mead’s solitude represent in the context of the story?
Answer: His solitude represents a disconnect from society, where people no longer engage in outdoor activities, instead being confined indoors, possibly due to technological advances.
Extract 2
Sometimes he would walk for hours and miles and return only at midnight to his house. And on his way he would see the cottages and homes with their dark windows and it was not unequal to walking through a graveyard where only the faintest glimmers of firefly light appeared in flickers behind the windows. Sudden gray phantoms seemed to manifest upon inner room walls where a curtain was still undrawn against the night or there were whisperings and murmurs where a window in a tomblike building was still open.
(i) What does Mr. Mead compare the dark homes to, and why?
Answer: Mr. Mead compares the homes to a graveyard because of their dark windows and the lifeless, silent atmosphere.
(ii) What effect does the imagery of “sudden gray phantoms” have on the reader?
Answer: The imagery of “sudden gray phantoms” creates an eerie, ghostly feeling, enhancing the theme of isolation and detachment from life.
(iii) What do the “whisperings and murmurs” inside the houses suggest about the inhabitants?
Answer: The whisperings and murmurs suggest that the inhabitants are alive but distant, living in their own isolated worlds without real interaction with the outside.
(iv) Why does Mr. Mead’s walk feel like walking through a graveyard?
Answer: It feels like walking through a graveyard because the homes seem lifeless, with only faint traces of activity inside, as if the people are as disconnected as the dead.
(v) How does this passage contribute to the story’s overall theme?
Answer: This passage reinforces the theme of societal isolation, showing how people have become distant and disconnected from their environment and each other.
Extract 3
The street was silent and long and empty with only his shadow moving like the shadow of a hawk in midcountry. If he closed his eyes and stood very still frozen he could imagine himself upon the center of a plain a wintry windless Arizona desert with no house in a thousand miles and only dry riverbeds the streets for company.
(i) How does the description of the street contribute to the mood of the story?
Answer: The silent, empty street creates a mood of loneliness and desolation, mirroring Mr. Mead’s isolation from society.
(ii) What does Mr. Mead compare the empty street to, and why?
Answer: He compares the street to a deserted plain or an Arizona desert, emphasizing the emptiness and his sense of isolation.
(iii) What is the significance of Mr. Mead being the only moving figure?
Answer: His solitary movement highlights the absence of human activity, reinforcing the theme of alienation in this futuristic world.
(iv) Why might the author have chosen the image of a “shadow of a hawk” to describe Mr. Mead?
Answer: The “shadow of a hawk” suggests a predatory or watchful nature, as well as a solitary existence, much like the way Mr. Mead navigates the empty city.
(v) How does this passage reflect Mr. Mead’s inner world?
Answer: This passage reflects his deep sense of solitude and detachment, imagining himself in a vast, barren landscape devoid of human life.
Extract 4
The police of course but what a rare incredible thing; in a city of three million there was only one police car left wasn’t that correct? Ever since a year ago 2052 the election year the force had been cut down from three cars to one. Crime was ebbing; there was no need now for the police save for this one lone car wandering and wandering the empty streets.
(i) Why is there only one police car in the city?
Answer: There is only one police car because crime has decreased, and there is little need for law enforcement in this society.
(ii) What does the reduction in police cars suggest about the state of society?
Answer: The reduction suggests that society has become highly controlled, with little crime, possibly due to technological or social changes.
(iii) How does the police car’s rarity mirror Mr. Mead’s own situation?
Answer: The rarity of the police car mirrors Mr. Mead’s isolation, as both are solitary figures in an empty city.
(iv) What does the author imply about the relationship between crime and the society’s state of isolation?
Answer: The author implies that the isolation of society has led to a lack of crime, but also a lack of human connection and activity, resulting in a lifeless world.
(v) How does the presence of the police car affect Mr. Mead’s journey?
Answer: The police car interrupts his peaceful walk, treating his harmless activity of walking as suspicious, further highlighting the dystopian nature of this society.
Extract 5
He walked like a man suddenly drunk. As he passed the front window of the car he looked in. As he had expected there was no one in the front seat no one in the car at all.
(i) Why does Mr. Mead walk “like a man suddenly drunk” after seeing the car?
Answer: He walks in a disoriented and confused manner, likely due to the shock and disbelief at being apprehended for simply walking.
(ii) What is significant about there being no one in the police car?
Answer: The lack of a human officer in the police car symbolizes the dehumanization of society, where machines have replaced human interaction.
(iii) What does this reveal about the society in the story?
Answer: This reveals that the society has become fully automated, with little human oversight, reducing individuals to mere objects of control by machines.
(iv) How does this moment affect the tension in the story?
Answer: The realization that the car is controlled by a machine increases the tension, as it reinforces the idea of a totalitarian society where technology dominates.
(v) What does Mr. Mead’s reaction to the police car suggest about his place in this world?
Answer: His reaction suggests that he is out of place in this world, a relic of an earlier time where human connection and simple activities like walking were normal.
Extract 6
He came to a cloverleaf intersection which stood silent where two main highways crossed the town. During the day it was a thunderous surge of cars, the gas stations open, a great insect rustling, and a ceaseless jockeying for position as the scarab beetles, a faint incense puttering from their exhausts, skimmed homeward to the far directions. But now these highways too were like streams in a dry season, all stone and bed and moon radiance.
(i) How does the cloverleaf intersection differ between day and night?
Answer: During the day, the intersection is full of traffic and noise, with cars moving constantly. At night, it is silent, empty, and desolate, resembling a dry streambed under the moonlight.
(ii) What does the metaphor of “scarab beetles” suggest about the cars?
Answer: The metaphor likens cars to small, insignificant insects, highlighting their mechanical nature and the mundane, automated routines of the people driving them.
(iii) How does the silence of the highways contribute to the story’s atmosphere?
Answer: The silence enhances the eerie, lifeless atmosphere of the city, emphasizing the isolation and abandonment of the urban environment.
(iv) Why might the author compare the highways to “streams in a dry season”?
Answer: The comparison to dry streams suggests that the highways, like the city, once had life and movement but are now devoid of it, reflecting the decline of human activity.
(v) What theme does this passage reflect about society in the story?
Answer: This passage reflects the theme of societal stagnation, where once-busy areas are now empty, indicating a loss of vitality and human connection.
Extract 7
“Hello in there,” he whispered to every house on every side as he moved. “What’s up tonight on Channel 4, Channel 7, Channel 9? Where are the cowboys rushing, and do I see the United States Cavalry over the next hill to the rescue?”
(i) Why does Mr. Mead speak to the houses as he walks?
Answer: Mr. Mead speaks to the houses because he feels isolated and perhaps longs for some form of interaction, even if it’s one-sided and imaginary.
(ii) What does his reference to television channels and cowboys reveal about the society?
Answer: His reference to television channels and cowboys suggests that society has become absorbed by entertainment and media, to the point where real-life interactions have diminished.
(iii) How does the question about the cavalry reflect Mr. Mead’s state of mind?
Answer: The question about the cavalry reflects Mr. Mead’s awareness of his isolation, hinting at a desire for rescue from the monotony and loneliness of his surroundings.
(iv) What does this passage suggest about the role of technology in the story’s society?
Answer: The passage suggests that technology, particularly television, has replaced real social interactions and become a dominant force in people’s lives, leaving the physical world empty.
(v) Why does Mr. Mead whisper, and what does it signify?
Answer: Mr. Mead whispers because the silence of the city is overwhelming, and speaking loudly might feel intrusive or pointless. It signifies the emptiness and absence of other people to hear him.
Extract 8
“Your hands up! Or we’ll shoot!” The police of course but what a rare incredible thing; in a city of three million there was only one police car left, wasn’t that correct? Ever since a year ago 2052, the election year, the force had been cut down from three cars to one. Crime was ebbing; there was no need now for the police save for this one lone car wandering and wandering the empty streets.
(i) What is the significance of the police’s aggressive approach to Mr. Mead?
Answer: The aggressive approach shows how out of place Mr. Mead’s behavior is in this society. Simply walking is considered suspicious, and the police respond as if it is a crime.
(ii) Why is there only one police car for the entire city?
Answer: There is only one police car because crime has significantly decreased, reflecting the controlled and monotonous nature of this futuristic society.
(iii) How does the lone police car parallel Mr. Mead’s situation?
Answer: The lone police car, wandering through empty streets, mirrors Mr. Mead’s own isolation as a solitary figure in a city that seems devoid of life.
(iv) What does the passage suggest about the relationship between individuals and authority in this society?
Answer: The passage suggests that authority in this society is distant and impersonal, relying on technology and harsh measures to maintain control, even in the absence of real crime.
(v) What does the author imply about societal change since the election year of 2052?
Answer: The author implies that since 2052, society has become more automated and less human-driven, with fewer needs for traditional law enforcement due to the lack of crime, but also a greater sense of isolation.
Extract 9
“You have a viewing screen in your house to see with?”
“No.”
“No?” There was a crackling quiet that in itself was an accusation.
(i) Why is the police officer surprised that Mr. Mead does not have a viewing screen?
Answer: The police officer is surprised because having a viewing screen (likely a television) seems to be the norm in this society, where people stay indoors and interact with technology rather than going outside.
(ii) What does the “crackling quiet” imply about the officer’s reaction?
Answer: The “crackling quiet” suggests suspicion and disbelief, as if not having a viewing screen is seen as highly unusual or even deviant in this society.
(iii) How does Mr. Mead’s lack of a viewing screen set him apart from others?
Answer: Mr. Mead’s lack of a viewing screen sets him apart as someone who rejects the technological immersion that seems to dominate the lives of others, making him an outsider in his own society.
(iv) What does the viewing screen represent in this story?
Answer: The viewing screen represents the passive consumption of entertainment and the detachment from reality that characterizes this future society, where people no longer engage with the outside world.
(v) How does this exchange highlight the central conflict of the story?
Answer: This exchange highlights the conflict between individual freedom and societal conformity, with Mr. Mead’s simple act of walking and not owning a viewing screen seen as abnormal in a highly controlled, technologically dependent world.
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Extract 10
He put his hand to the door and peered into the back seat which was a little cell, a little black jail with bars. It smelled of riveted steel. It smelled of harsh antiseptic; it smelled too clean and hard and metallic. There was nothing soft there.
(i) What is the significance of the police car being described as a “little black jail”?
Answer: The police car being described as a “little black jail” emphasizes the oppressive and authoritarian nature of the society, where even something as simple as walking can lead to confinement.
(ii) How does the description of the car’s smell contribute to the atmosphere?
Answer: The description of the car’s smell—harsh antiseptic, too clean and metallic—adds to the sterile, inhuman atmosphere, reinforcing the theme of dehumanization in this society.
(iii) What does the phrase “nothing soft there” suggest about the society in the story?
Answer: The phrase “nothing soft there” suggests that the society is rigid, harsh, and unfeeling, lacking any warmth or comfort for individuals like Mr. Mead who do not conform to its norms.
(iv) How does this moment reflect the story’s critique of technological control?
Answer: This moment reflects the critique of technological control by showing how even law enforcement has become impersonal and mechanical, reducing human beings to prisoners of an automated, emotionless system.
(v) Why is Mr. Mead’s experience in the police car significant to the overall message of the story?
Answer: Mr. Mead’s experience in the police car is significant because it symbolizes the loss of personal freedom in a society dominated by technology and conformity, where individuality is suppressed and controlled.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. Why does Leonard Mead wear sneakers during his night walks?
A. To run faster B. To avoid barking from dogs C. To look fashionable D. To keep his feet warm
Answer: B. To avoid barking from dogs
25. What does Leonard Mead say he is walking for?
A. Exercise B. Fresh air and to see C. Socializing D. Work
Answer: B. Fresh air and to see
Ron’e Dutta is a journalist, teacher, aspiring novelist, and blogger who manages Online Free Notes. An avid reader of Victorian literature, his favourite book is Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë. He dreams of travelling the world. You can connect with him on social media. He does personal writing on ronism.
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The most helpful site ever
Thank you very much.
The question who is in the car? The last mcq is wrong as there is no one not a police officer
Editor’s response
Thank you. We have updated the answer
Really helpfull!!