Lesson 11: Summarizing Literary Text

Question

What is a summary? (Lesson pg. 1)
A summary is a brief statement that highlights the main ideas and points of a text without providing detail.

What does being objective mean? (Lesson pg. 3)
Being objective means presenting information without bias or personal feelings; focusing solely on facts.

If you have not done so already, read the short story “The Pedestrian” by Ray Bradbury. You may also watch this video. Then complete the Summarizing Texts Graphic Organizer below.
Summarizing Texts Graphic Organizer
Somebody
Who is the main character?

Wanted
What did the character want?

But
What was the problem or conflict?

So
How did the character respond to the problem?

Then
What was the resolution? How did it end?

Combine your answers to the questions above to write a summary of the story in the box to the right.

Answer 1

Summarizing Texts Graphic Organizer

Somebody Who is the main character?
The main character is Leonard Mead, a man who enjoys walking alone at night in a deserted city.

Wanted What did the character want?
Leonard wanted to experience life and the outdoors, enjoying the simple act of walking and observing the world around him.

But What was the problem or conflict?
The problem is that society has become increasingly reliant on technology, and most people stay indoors, watching television, which has rendered public spaces empty and isolated. Leonard’s behavior is seen as strange and suspicious in this dystopian world.

So How did the character respond to the problem?
Leonard continued to take his nightly walks despite the societal norms. He embraces his love for walking, even when confronted by law enforcement.

Then What was the resolution? How did it end?
The story ends with Leonard being confronted by a police car, which symbolizes the oppressive nature of the society he lives in. He is arrested for his actions, illustrating the conflict between individuality and conformity in a technology-driven world.

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Summary
In Ray Bradbury's short story "The Pedestrian," the main character, Leonard Mead, is a man who loves to take solitary walks at night. He wants to enjoy the outdoors and connect with the world around him, but he faces conflict in a society that favors isolation and technology, where everyone is consumed by their televisions. Despite this, he continues his nightly walks, demonstrating his defiance and appreciation for life. Ultimately, his nonconformity leads to his arrest by law enforcement, emphasizing the tension between individuality and the oppressive nature of a technologically dominated society.