Independent Reading Reflection

Title of Short Story: The One Who Waits

Author: Ray Bradbury 

1. Who is the protagonist? What is their want or desire? What are some character traits that are important to note about this protagonist? 

The protagonist is the one who waits. It wants to know what he is, or die. It is a being able to switch bodies and unable to die.It can link brains together and he doesn't seem to have many emotions. It is very old and doesn't really know it's role in life. It is from Mars. 

2. Is there an antagonist? If so, what are they trying to stop the protagonist from achieving and why? If there is not an antagonist, what is the conflict for the protagonist and what force is stopping them?

The antagonist is it's abilities. It cannot have one stable body without it killing it, and it cannot control the person's body he takes. The creature's mind has memory but they are all feint and depressing. The Unknown  is basically the main antagonist which prevents the one who waits from knowing  what it is or dying.  It is also it's own antagonist since it cannot control what it does. 


3. What is the theme of the story? Which techniques are used in order to develop the message within this story?

The theme of this story is a search for purpose a struggle for peace. Bradbury depicts the being as lonely, depressing, and clueless. It makes it easier for the reader to sympathize with the being because we know all he want is to die, and he means to stop the damage he can do and make peace with itself.

4. What is the author’s tone within the story? Which techniques help develop the author’s voice?

 The story is very gloomy and mysterious. He never explain what the being is except for Soul Water. He makes a note that it doesn't know what it is which adds an extra mysterious part to the creature switching from body to body. The author uses short sentences to portray the panic withing everyone's mind. 

5. What is the crisis action in this story? Does the protagonist achieve in getting what they want? What to they realize and how do they change?

The crisis action was when it tries to shoot it's borrowed body but instead of dying with him he switch bodies.  It does not get death, satisfaction, or understanding from the people. It tries and tries but it just can't achieve what it's wants because of the fact that it is unable to do so because of it's abilities.

6. What did you enjoy about this story? (Be specific….point out specific quotes and techniques to support your answer


I enjoyed the suspense of the story and how the author keeps you thinking that one of these days it would be liberated from it's boring eternal life. I loved how serious it was without being too crude. I love that he made the protagonist evil and yet comforting enough to cheer on.