Ray Bradbury's Dandelion Wine
Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury is a novel that evokes all emotions in a whimsical and sentimental way. The story begins in Green Town, Illinois with twelve year old Douglas Spaulding and eleven year old Tom Spaulding. Summer of 1928 just began when Douglas had a sudden revelation; he is truly alive! Little, self-aware Douglas then sets out to experience what summer really means to him and Tom. The adventurous boys travel around the small town, meeting with all sorts of unique and intellectual residents. Over the course of the summer, the two boys feel a spectrum of emotions. Some feelings include nostalgia and joy, while others are on the dark side; fear, neglect, and sorrow. Life and death and beginnings and endings are things humans cannot control, and young Douglas came to accept this philosophy. Life is not about the past, and the future is unpredictable. Douglas and Tom are perfectly
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The death of Colonel Freeleigh signifies what to Douglas? How does his death impact the way Douglas perceives death?
2. Dandelion wine serves as a drink brewed with dandelions and several other ingredients in the summer. Reflect on the novel and describe the other purpose dandelion wine has other than a drink.
3. Douglas Spaulding only cared for one true friend in Green Town. Who was it who moved away and how did his leaving affect Douglas?
From Chapter 33, page 186:
Douglas’s writings: “SO IF TROLLEYS AND RUNABOUTS AND FRIENDS AND NEAR FRIENDS CAN GO AWAY FOR A WHILE OR GO AWAY FOREVER, OR RUST, OR FALL APART OR DIE, AND IF PEOPLE CAN BE MURDERED AND IF SOMEONE LIKE GREAT-GRANDMA, WHO WAS GOING TO LIVE FOREVER, CAN DIE…IF ALL OF THIS IS TRUE…THEN…I, DOUGLAS SPAULDING, SOME DAY…MUST…” (Bradbury
The death of Colonel Freeleigh signifies what to Douglas? How does his death impact the way Douglas perceives death?
2. Dandelion wine serves as a drink brewed with dandelions and several other ingredients in the summer. Reflect on the novel and describe the other purpose dandelion wine has other than a drink.
3. Douglas Spaulding only cared for one true friend in Green Town. Who was it who moved away and how did his leaving affect Douglas?
From Chapter 33, page 186:
Douglas’s writings: “SO IF TROLLEYS AND RUNABOUTS AND FRIENDS AND NEAR FRIENDS CAN GO AWAY FOR A WHILE OR GO AWAY FOREVER, OR RUST, OR FALL APART OR DIE, AND IF PEOPLE CAN BE MURDERED AND IF SOMEONE LIKE GREAT-GRANDMA, WHO WAS GOING TO LIVE FOREVER, CAN DIE…IF ALL OF THIS IS TRUE…THEN…I, DOUGLAS SPAULDING, SOME DAY…MUST…” (Bradbury