Name:_____________________
Date:______________________
“The Screaming Woman” By: Ray Bradbury
1. The opening scene shows Heather reading a horror story. What does this tell you about Heather?
2. Why does Heather dare to enter Mr. Nesbitt’s house? Are some children at a certain age apt to be more curious than cautious?
3. Why, at the end, does Heather’s father suddenly race to the empty lot? What shocking connection has he made?
4. Why is the ending ironic? Who, do you suppose, is more shocked by what is uncovered in the empty lot—Heather or her father?
5. Explain why “The Screaming Woman” is considered to be in the genre of science fiction. Include two specific examples or details from the text in your answer.
Vocabulary: For each word, define it and then use it in your own original sentence on the lines below.
Fidgeting-______________________________________________________
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Haggard-_______________________________________________________
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Faint-__________________________________________________________
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Despairing-_____________________________________________________
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