The Martian Chronicles Study Questions
"The Settlers" and "The Green Morning"

1. What was the "disease" they all got as they traveled to Mars?
2. The settlers in the first wave of people moving to Mars were all ____.
3. What was Benjamin Driscoll's dream for Mars?
4. What happened when he first arrived on Mars that inspired that dream?
5. Just when he thinks his work might have been wasted, what happens?
6. What did Benjamin Driscoll awake to the next morning?  What was his reaction?

"The Locusts" -- Find out what locusts are, and then explain what Ray Bradbury's point is.
"Night Meeting"

1. What indication is there in this story that when it was written Bradbury was not thinking of a Mars covered by the trees described in "The Green Morning?"
2. Pop compares life on Mars to a ________ with all kinds of different patterns.
3. True or False. Pop enjoys being on Mars.
4. How do Tomas and the Martian communicate? What scares and puzzles both of them after they begin to communicate?
5. Why does Tomas insist he has to be the one from the Future?
6. Is there a message in this story? What do you think it is? What do you think the last paragraph means?

"The Musicians"

1. What are the xylophones? What are the "leaves"? What does the last paragraph mean? What do the "firemen" do?
2. Which previous MC character's view of Earth people is sadly demonstrated in this story?

"The Martian"

1. What did "Tom's" "singing" that first night do to LaFarge's wife?
2. How do we know that the real Tom died already?
3. What happened to Nomland? Why?
4. Who else did "Tom" appear to be?
5. Why does Tom shield his face when LaFarge starts to suspect Tom is a Martian?
6. After the LaFarges get separated from "Tom" at the theatre, whom does he become?
7. Now we know why "Tom" was afraid of going to town. Don't we?
8. Why was one of "Tom's" eyes gold when he died?

"The Luggage Store"

1. The word proprietor means...
2. The proprietor think that most people on Mars will go back to Earth if there's a war there because...

"The Off Season"

1. Parkhill used glass he had broken in the old Martian cities to decorate around his hot-dog stand. This is rather appropriate because back in the other story...?
2. What threat does Parkhill use to try to get the Martian to go away?
3. Why does Parkhill shoot the Martian?
4. Why doesn't Parkhill read the message the Martian brought?
5. What message did the Martians finally give to Sam?
6. Why does Elma keep looking at the sky after the Martians give Sam the message?
7. Why is the story called "The Off Season"?

"The Silent Towns"

1. How did Walter end up being left behind? What are some of the things he does during the first week alone?
2. What's his first reaction when the phone rings? What's his plan to try to call the person back?
3. Where does he eventually think of calling (since he's hoping it will be a woman)? What do you think of this? Is it sexist?
4. What is his vision of Genevieve?
5. How did Genevieve end up being left on Mars? Why?
6. Why does Walter finally run away from Genevieve?
7. Re: The last line of the story. Why?