A Sound of Thunder Questions and Answers
A Sound of Thunder
What is the theme of the story "A Sound of Thunder" by Ray Bradbury?
The two most significant and related themes of the story "A Sound of Thunder," are that the existence of everything is connected to the existence of everything else and that human life cannot be...
A Sound of Thunder
What is the main conflict in Ray Bradbury's "A Sound of Thunder"?
One could argue that the primary conflict in Ray Bradbury's celebrated short story "A Sound of Thunder" is a Man vs. Nature conflict. In a typical Man vs. Nature conflict, characters struggle...
A Sound of Thunder
What's the external and internal conflict in "A Sound of Thunder" by Ray Bradbury?
There are several external conflicts in the short story "A Sound of Thunder." The dangerous Tyrannosaurus Rex that threatens Eckels's life is an example of an external man vs. nature conflict. The...
A Sound of Thunder
Travis kills Eckels at the end of the story. Why does he do this?
Travis kills Eckels at the end of the story because Eckels disobeyed the rules of traveling back into time to the dinosaur age—but as we will see, Bradbury implies it is more complicated than...
A Sound of Thunder
What are some examples of metaphors in "A Sound of Thunder"?
The main metaphor in this story is, as the first answer says, thunder. The metaphor of thunder seems to be used just to describe the sheer physical awesomeness of the dinosaur, but it is much more...
A Sound of Thunder
When Eckels returns from the world of dinosaurs, what is different about the present in "A Sound of Thunder"?
Before Eckels leaves with his safari guides to shoot a dinosaur from the prehistoric past, he says, If the election had gone badly yesterday, I might be here now running away from the results....
A Sound of Thunder
In the story of "A Sound of Thunder," what things have changed since the men travelled into the past?
I think there's an argument that we don't entirely know the full nature of the changes Eckels has created in the timeline. Afterall, what we see at the end of the story is, more than anything else,...
A Sound of Thunder
Why does Eckels want to go back in time in "A Sound of Thunder?"
In Ray Bradbury’s short story “A Sound of Thunder,” Eckels wants to go back in time to hunt dinosaurs because he is what is commonly called a “trophy hunter.” Trophy hunters are those who crave the...
A Sound of Thunder
Who is the protagonist and who is the antagonist in "A Sound of Thunder"?
One could make the argument that Eckels is the protagonist and Time Safari, Inc. is the antagonist of Bradbury's celebrated short story "A Sound of Thunder." Eckels is certainly the protagonist of...
A Sound of Thunder
What are three precautions that Time Safari, Inc. has taken to prevent any altering of the future in "A Sound of...
In "A Sound of Thunder," Ray Bradbury explores how apparently minor changes in the past might create catastrophic changes to the future. With this in mind, Time Safari has set up various safeguards...
A Sound of Thunder
What is the mood of "A Sound of Thunder?"
I would say that the overall mood of Ray Bradbury's "A Sound of Thunder" is suspenseful and intense. Both of those feelings are given to the reader because Bradbury makes sure that the reader...
A Sound of Thunder
What happens to Eckels at the end of Bradbury's story "A Sound of Thunder"?
The short answer to this question is: We don’t know for sure. What we do know is that a group of hunters went back to prehistoric time with the Time Safari leaders to shoot and kill a Tyrannosaurus...
A Sound of Thunder
What imagery is used in the Ray Bradbury story "A Sound of Thunder"?
As a writer, Bradbury was renowned for his highly lyrical prose. Much of his writing was extremely imagery intensive and flooded with metaphor. "A Sound of Thunder" is no exception. In this short...
A Sound of Thunder
What is the paradox in "A Sound of Thunder"?
The time travel paradox is that you might go back in time and meet yourself. A paradox is a contradiction. The problem with time travel is that if it were really possible, nothing could change....
A Sound of Thunder
What are some examples of literary devices in Ray Bradbury's "A Sound Of Thunder"?
Ray Bradbury had a very florid writing style, rich in description and metaphor, and "A Sound of Thunder" is no exception. Consider the following passage, when Bradbury describes the Tyrannosaurus:...
A Sound of Thunder
What are four examples of foreshadowing in "A Sound of Thunder"?
As Ray Bradbury's story "A Sound of Thunder" introduces its characters, setting, and plot and as it builds tension toward its climax, it incorporates several details that foreshadow occurrences...
A Sound of Thunder
In "A Sound of Thunder", explain Eckels' personality.
Eckels is an arrogant person; he is used to being in charge, yet he lacks self knowledge. He doesn't consider the serious ramifications of time travel. It's simply another experience he can...
A Sound of Thunder
When the time travelers return to the world of 2055, how has the setting changed in "A Sound of Thunder?"
When the time travelers return to 2055, they immediately notice that the man behind the desk in the office has changed in a subtle way. As Bradbury writes, "the same man did not quite sit behind...
A Sound of Thunder
How does Eckels react when he confronts the dinosaur?
When Eckels confronts the dinosaur, his initial reaction is one of disbelief. He says that it is "impossible" to kill this dinosaur and that they were "fools" to come. In other words, Eckels has...
A Sound of Thunder
How does the butterfly that Eckels steps on contribute to the theme of the short story "A Sound of Thunder"?
In the famous science fiction short story "A Sound of Thunder" by Ray Bradbury, a man named Eckels books a place in an unusual hunting expedition through a company called Time Safari, Inc. He and a...
A Sound of Thunder
What is the setting of "A Sound of Thunder"?
Because "A Sound of Thunder" is an exploration and critique of the hubris of using advanced technology for frivolous purposes, the story has two settings: the age of dinosaurs and the "present day"...
A Sound of Thunder
What are some examples of personification giving human characteristics from the text "A Sound of Thunder"?
Personification is the attribution of human characteristics to something that is not human. As we read through Bradbury's short story, we find a great deal of figurative language, and...
A Sound of Thunder
What is the meaning of the title "A Sound of Thunder" by Ray Bradbury?
The title is a phrase taken from the narrative of Bradbury's short story; it is used twice. The first time it is a description of the footsteps of the Tyrannosaurus Rex that Eckels has contracted...
A Sound of Thunder
Who are the two candidates for President of the United States in "A Sound of Thunder"? Who wins the election?
At the beginning of the story, Eckels arrives at the office of the Time Safari and remarks to the employee behind the desk that they are fortunate President Keith won the election. The man behind...
A Sound of Thunder
What is the sound of thunder at the end of "A Sound of Thunder"?
The first sound of thunder that Eckels hears are the steps of the gigantic Tyrannosaurus Rex walking through the forest. The thunderous steps drown out the myriad of forest sounds as Eckels and the...
A Sound of Thunder
What's the point of view in "A Sound of Thunder?"
The point of view of any story is the perspective from which it is told. In Ray Bradbury's "A Sound of Thunder," we are told the story from the perspective of Eckels, in a "third-person limited"...
A Sound of Thunder
How would you describe Eckels in "A Sound of Thunder"?
I would not describe Eckels in very positive terms. I have never liked the character of Eckels. The fact that he messes everything up in the present doesn't exactly endear him to me. I would...
A Sound of Thunder
What did Eckels do in the past that has far-reaching consequences in "A Sound of Thunder" by Ray Bradbury?
When he travels into the pre-historic past, Eckels steps off the anti-gravity path made by Time Safari, Inc., and in so doing, he kills a butterfly. This act has consequences that reach all the way...
A Sound of Thunder
Explain why it is so important that the hunters stay on the path in "A Sound of Thunder."
In "A Sound of Thunder," hunters time travel. When they travel back in time, the hunters must be extremely careful not to alter anything at all that exists in the previous time in which they insert...
A Sound of Thunder
What does the change in election results suggest about how American society has been altered because of Eckels' error?
Before Eckels embarks on the Time Safari, President Keith recently won the election over a dictatorial candidate named Deutscher. Both Eckels and the man behind the desk are glad that Keith won the...
A Sound of Thunder
What is the climax of "A Sound of Thunder"?
The climax of a story is the turning point. It's the point where everything changes. The climax of this story occurs once Eckels and the safari group return to the present. They realize that the...
A Sound of Thunder
Compare and contrast Eckels and Travis in "A Sound of Thunder."
The only similarity between Eckels and Travis is their feeling of awe towards the dinosaurs. Travis, for example, calls the dinosaur his "Royal Majesty," suggesting that he feels respect towards...
A Sound of Thunder
What is one allusion in "A Sound of Thunder?"
An allusion is a reference in one work of literature to another piece of literature or to historical events or figures. In 1952, when "A Sound of Thunder" was first published, World War II had...
A Sound of Thunder
What mistake does Eckels make while the men are hunting in the story "A Sound of Thunder."
Eckels made the mistake of walking off the edge of the floating path while hunting dinosaurs in the past. "This fool nearly killed us. But it isn't that so much, no. It's his shoes! Look at...
A Sound of Thunder
Define and give an example of hyperbole in "A Sound of Thunder."
Hyperbole, deliberate exaggeration for dramatic effect, is used in interesting ways in Ray Bradbury's “A Sound of Thunder.” It is used several times by characters who are deliberately exaggerating,...
A Sound of Thunder
What is the plot of "A Sound of Thunder" as written on a plot graph consisting of the initial incident, rising...
"A Sound of Thunder" begins with Eckels standing before the Time Safari Sign, then paying the ten thousand dollars to travel back in time. I feel that this decision, to go back in time to kill the...
A Sound of Thunder
What kind of business does Time Safari, Inc. operate in Ray Bradbury's "A Sound of Thunder?"
In the Bradbury story "A Sound of Thunder," Time Safari, Inc. brings travelers to previous eras in time to hunt the animals of their choice. At the beginning of the story, a man named Eckels hires...
A Sound of Thunder
What is the purpose of Ray Bradbury's "A Sound of Thunder"?
A theme throughout Bradbury's work is the need to for humans to be in control of the powerful technology we have developed or might develop in the future. We should handle it with care and not...
A Sound of Thunder
What is the setting of the story "A Sound of Thunder" by Ray Bradbury?
The basic setting in which the story takes place is a jungle in which a safari is being conducted. The characters are on a type of safari- like hunt for a Tyrannosaurus Rex. The safari is taking...
A Sound of Thunder
How do they choose which dinosaurs to kill in "A Sound of Thunder"? How do they mark them?
The only dinosaurs that are killed are about to die anyway. The time travel safari company Time Safari, Inc. allows its customers a unique experience. They get to go back in time and kill a...
A Sound of Thunder
What are three quotes that describe what the main character Eckels is like in "A Sound of Thunder"?
Eckels is a nervous man. Eckels is a big game hunter. He hires Time Safari, Inc. to take him back to the days of the dinosaurs so he can shoot a Tyrannosaurus Rex. However, Eckels is a bit of a...
A Sound of Thunder
Identify the steps in the chain of causes and effects that Travis says would occur if a time traveler accidentally...
In Ray Bradbury's celebrated short story "A Sound of Thunder," Eckels signs up to participate in a Time Safari, where he will have the rare opportunity to travel sixty million years back in time to...
A Sound of Thunder
In "A Sound of Thunder," when the time travelers return to the world of 2055, how was that setting changed? What...
"A Sound of Thunder" describes the misadventure of a rich big-game hunter, Eckels, who has paid for a "time safari" - a trip to the distant past using a time machine, in order to hunt animals that...
A Sound of Thunder
What characteristics of a dystopian society does this story contain?
Bradbury's celebrated short story "A Sound of Thunder" includes several elements of a dystopian society. The story is set in the United States in the year 2055 A.D., which is a futuristic setting...
A Sound of Thunder
What is the style of "A Sound of Thunder " by Ray Bradbury? (diction, figures of speech, tone, mood, theme)
"A Sound of Thunder" Bradbury employs metaphor, simile, parallelism, irony, and paradox. In the exposition of the story Bradbury writes in metaphor and simile, using parallelism to enhance the...
A Sound of Thunder
How would you characterize the business practices of Time Safari Inc. in "A Sound of Thunder"?
Time Safari Inc. is certainly a disreputable business which relies on government corruption to remain open while jeopardizing the future of humanity to make a profit. Travis explicitly tells Eckels...
A Sound of Thunder
How does the author create suspense in the short story "A Sound of Thunder"?
Bradbury initially creates suspense when one of the Time Safari officials tells Eckels that their company does not guarantee his safety during the expedition. Eckels's expedition to the distant...
A Sound of Thunder
What are examples of irony in "A Sound of Thunder"?
The most re-published short story in science fiction history, Ray Bradbury's "A Sound of Thunder" deals with the idea of time travel and how subtle changes in the past can drastically affect the...
A Sound of Thunder
What is an example of Irony in Ray Bradbury's short story A Sound of Thunder?
The irony in Ray Bradbury’s 1952 short story A Sound of Thunder lies mainly in the story’s ending. Eckels is a man on a mission: hunt and kill a dinosaur. Towards this end, he arrives at the...
A Sound of Thunder
What is the falling action in "A Sound of Thunder?"
"A Sound of Thunder" concerns a group of hunters using a time machine to travel into the distant past, in order to hunt animals that are extinct in the modern era. In this particular case, they are...
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