for “A Day in Megalopolis” by Zenna Henderson
Objectives
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1. To further students understanding of theme, setting, plot, conflict, climax and resolution.
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2. To help students imagine the effects of a highly developed technological society and how it will shape the future.
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3. To improve students ability for writing an extended comparison.
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4. To increase understanding of technical terms and student slang of the future society in the story.
Introducing the story
Twixt, the main character, is a teenager who lives in a unit of an “advanced society of the future.” In this society people do not touch the green natural world or one another. There are many “eyeless towering buildings” joined together and enclosed so the people inside can not see the sun, sky or the natural world, or feel the air or touch the earth. Have you ever been in this kind of an environment? Have you ever visited an enclosed mall or underground center?
From: Hans P. Guth ed.,
Our World Today
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Lexington, Mass: D.C.Heath Co., 1981 pp. 179-186.
Vocabulary development
What do the following technical terms, student slang or informal expressions mean? Try to figure out the meanings from the context and explain them to the class.
megalopolis
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Gonky slot
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grimaced
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hydroponics
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study carrel
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glide-hops
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crumpling
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simultaneously
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left-footed
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crazed across
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chartreuse
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double-dump stuff
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First Level
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adjunct
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eddy
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mythology
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compensating
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Immortality
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info switch
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cavern tours
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destination
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lavcube
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immunispray
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installation
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Discussion questions:
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1. What is theme or unifying idea of the story? Is it important to you?
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2. Where is the setting? Is the setting important to plot, character and theme?
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3. What are some of the problems in this future society?
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4. Why is Twixt so depressed and disturbed about her life?
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5. How does one know the time, when one can never see the sun?
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6. What do the people do for entertainment?
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7. How do the plants grow in Megalopolis?
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8. What is likely to happen in the future as portrayed in “A Day in Megalopolis?”
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9. Similes and metaphors are used more often in Science Fiction stories because the authors are writing about the unknown. Find descriptions in the story that use metaphors and similes. Do they give a mental image of what is described?
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10. What face of the city—the brighter or darker side is—reflected here?
Enrichment and writing activities:
See activities listed under “The Pedestrian”.