Essays on A Sound of Thunder

Ray Bradbury's "A Sound of Thunder" is a short story about the dangers of technology, and the necessity of ecological consciousness. The short story uses powerful imagery and metaphors to drive home its central points of the consequences of mankind's meddling with nature. The leitmotif of the short story, the so-called butterfly effect, leads the reader to a deeper understanding of the story's meaning -- as well as mankind's vain and ignorant struggle to conquer his environment, at any cost. The butterfly effect was first discovered in 1961 by meteorologist and mathematician, Konrad Lorenz. As a part of a weather prediction, Lorenz ...

Many authors use science fiction and fantasy to explore complex and difficult themes and issues that may be invisible in the everyday world. In both Ray Bradbury's “A Sound of Thunder” and Robert Heinlein's “--And He Built a Crooked House--,” the authors use the hypothetical science fiction worlds and technologies that exist only in the abstract to discuss issues and themes that apply directly to the current day. Both Bradbury and Heinlein are masters of the science fiction genre, creating worlds and scenarios that are both whimsical and impactful to the present day. “A Sound of Thunder” follows a corporation ...

Ray Bradbury is a renowned science fiction writer whose works have an overwhelming number of fans around the globe. The Sound of Thunder, one of his short stories, is a masterpiece in both its content, stylistic devices, and method of delivery. This fiction story not only focuses on the building of a solid plot, but also leaves the audience in suspense leaving many questions unanswered. Despite the story’s ability to capture the attention of its audience, Bradbury is able to bring out a take home message that he would like to impart into his readers. Though subject to debate, Ray Bradbury builds ...