The Pedestrian by Ray Bradbury - Vocabulary and Key Concepts

A collection of vocabulary flashcards covering the key characters, settings, terms, and institutions from Ray Bradbury's short story 'The Pedestrian'.

Mr. Leonard Mead

The protagonist of the story who walks alone through the silent, empty city streets at night in A.D. 2053.

A.D. 2053

The year in which the story is set, marked by silent, empty streets and citizens who stay inside their dark homes watching screens.

2052

The election year in which the city's police fleet was reduced from three cars down to a single car because crime was ebbing.

Eleven South Saint James Street

The home address provided by Leonard Mead to the police car, notably the only house on the street brightly lit with electric lights.

Psychiatric Centre for Research on Regressive Tendencies

The destination to which the automated police car transports Leonard Mead after interrogating him about his walking habits.

Viewing screen

A device in homes used to see entertainment, which Leonard Mead admits he does not possess.

Writer

Leonard Mead's stated profession, which the police car records as 'No profession' because magazines and books no longer sell.

Sneakers

The soft footwear Leonard Mead wore at night to walk silently and avoid alerting intermittent squads of barking dogs.

Scarab-beetles

The insect metaphor Leonard Mead uses to describe the daytime rush of cars jockeying for position along the highways.

Lone police car

The single automated, empty vehicle left to patrol the entire city of three million people, speaking with a metallic phonograph voice.