1. The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street
By Rod Serling
(creator of “The Twilight Zone”)

2. Drama A drama is a story that is written to be acted for an audience.
The action of a drama is usually driven by the characters who want something very much and take steps to get it.
The related events that take place are separated into acts.

3. Elements of Drama
Exposition (narrator gives setting, characters, background)
Complications and Conflicts
Climax
Resolution

4. Elements of Drama Chart

5. The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street was an episode featured on

6. Writer Rod Serling
Rod Serling created and wrote episodes for “The Twilight Zone” including The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street.
In these episodes, Serling made his concerns and beliefs visible.
As we read Monsters, think about what Serling’s message (theme) might be.

7. Directions: Look through pages 835-856
Directions: Look through pages What do you think the setting of the story is?

8. What words come to mind when you think of the word MONSTER?

9. Vocabulary for The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street
Transfixed- very still, as if nailed to the spot
Intelligible- understandable
Assent- agreement
Intimidated- frightened with threats
Defiant- boldly resisting authority
Idiosyncrasy- peculiarity (could be an odd or unusual habit)

10. Vocabulary for The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street
Menace- danger or threat
Converging- closing in
Explicit- definite, clearly stated
Variations- differences

11. Teleplay Terms (a teleplay is a script written for television)
Fade in: the picture gradually appears on the screen
Pan: a swiveling movement of the camera, from one side to the other
Fade to black: the picture gradually disappears until all that remains is a black screen
Cut to: a sudden change from one scene or character to another

12. Teleplay Terms Continued
Outside shot: camera shot of an exterior.
Long shot: a camera shot from far off.
Close-up: a camera shot that is very close to its subject
Opening shot: the first scene of the production
Dissolve: a new scene is blended with a scene that is fading out.

13. Characters Narrator Figure One Figure Two Steve Brand Mrs. Brand
Don Martin
Pete Van Horn
Man one
Man two
Charlie
Charlie’s wife
Tommy
Sally (Tommy’s mom)
Les Goodman
Mrs. Goodman
Woman Next Door
Woman one

14. Rod Serling’s Epilogue in The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street

15. Notes on THEME
The author’s message that he/she tries to communicate/express to the reader. Usually the author’s theme has to do with a “truth about life” and what it means to be human.
A work’s theme is not is not usually stated directly. You have to think about the elements of the work (characters, conflict, resolution, setting, etc.) to understand the theme.