Dark They Were, and Golden-Eyed
Summary and Questions and Answers
This story shows the effects of their strange new surroundings on a family of travelers to Mars. It is also a suspense story. Ray Bradbury’s description of Mars and the reactions to it of the Bittering family give warning that something could go wrong. The atmosphere is one of apprehension and foreboding. Slowly but surely, the circumstances tighten around Harry Bittering. Perhaps, too, the story is a parable, illustrating the ways that people respond to the environments in which they find themselves. The atomic war has caused the Bittering family, natives of Boston; Harry, Cora, and their children, Dan, Laura, and David; to flee, joining the small population of humans who have colonized a somewhat terraformed Mars. Shortly after their arrival, Harry decides he wants to go back to Earth, as Mars is too different from Earth. Unfortunately, a nuclear bomb hits New York City destroying the ships, making the Bitterings stranded on Mars. Uneasily settling into their new environment, Harry begins to notice subtle changes to the plants and animals. (The family dairy cow has grown a third horn and the grass is now purple, for example.) Harry also begins to notice that the people in town are referring to local mountain ranges in the Martian language, easily unsettling him. Upon realizing there is something seriously wrong, Harry becomes scared of living on Mars, and although his wife and children think nothing of it, Harry begins to suspect a Martian virus that is in the soil they grow their crops in, making them act like Martians. While his family begins to fear his sanity, Harry begins eating only frozen food that was grown on Earth in his deep freeze. Unfortunately, that runs out quickly, and Harry quickly grows desperate, buying the metal and blueprints for a rocket to transport himself and his family home to Earth, despite the imminent danger and the nagging doubt that he will not be able to build a sturdy rocket. He tries to convince some of his friends to help him build the rocket and return home, but they laugh and talk about him. Harry gets into several arguments with them, but oddly enough, they never raise their voices. Harry’s boy, Dan, wants to be called a Martian name (Linnl), and he himself is using Martian words (iorrt for Earth). In the meantime, Harry and his family become very dark skinned, tall, thin, and golden-eyed. Harry slowly stops resisting the change, and he is convinced that they, along with the rest of the colonists, should spend the rest of the summer in the cool Martian villas (ancient Martian mansions in the hills), where they can swim in the water canals. They eventually become Martians, and stay in the villas because that is where they “belong”. After a time in the hills, the colonists completely forget about their human origins and transform completely into Martians. This is implied when Harry notices their old homes and remarks how the “Earthlings’” houses are built silly. At the end of the story a group of American G.I. astronauts arrive a few years later to tell the human colonists that the war on Earth is over and rescue them, but there are no humans left, only the buildings and a rusted rocket. Instead, they find Martians, and at first suspect the Martians may have killed the colonists, but then they realize the Martians are too friendly for that. The astronauts conclude that a plague wiped out the colonists and make plans to recolonize Mars, even naming the mountains after famous things from Earth. The ending is a foreboding feeling that what happened to the Bitterings will soon happen to these new. colonists
Short Questions
Q1. Why did Harry want to go back to Earth?Ans. Some strange changes had been taking place in him, his wife and his children. That is why he wanted to go back to Earth.
Q2. Why did he want to stay on the Mars?
Ans. His rocket had been destroyed. He could not go back to the Earth. He had no other choice. That is why he wanted to stay on the Mars.
Q3. What was the climate they faced on the Mars?
Ans. The climate of the Mars was hot and dry. Strong wind blew all the time. All the canals had been dried.
Q4. What was the shocking news that Laura brought?
Ans. Laura brought the shocking news that the war has been broken out on the Earth.
Q5. What was the condition of the Bittering family on hearing the news of war on Earth?
Ans. When Bittering family heard that war had been broken out on the Earth, they became much worried.
Q6. What did they want to grow on Mars?
Ans. There was nothing to eat on the Mars. Therefore they wanted to grow vegetables, crops and fruits.
Q7. What was the condition of their house?
Ans. Their house was in a very bad condition. Strong wind in the day time and dense fog at night destroyed it badly.
Q8. What was the advice Harry gave to the people?
Ans. Harry and other people wanted to go back to Earth. Therefore Harry advised the people to build a rocket.
Q9. How much dangerous a Martian virus can be?
Martian virus might be very dangerous. It can change the external body of human. It can reduce the height. It can change the colour of eyes.
Long Questions
Q1. Under what circumstance had the Bittering Family to pass through?
Ans: According to the writer the Bittering family had to pass through an strange condition and mental agony when they had landed on Mars.
What Harry Felt on Mars?
Mr. Harry felt his hair flutter.
He felt the tissue of his body draw tight.
His wife seemed to whirl away in smoke.
The children as small human seeds might be sown to all the Martian climes.
He felt as if the Martian air might draw his soul from him.
He felt as if the Martian air might draw his soul from him.
He had the feeling as if he was submerged in a chemical that could dissolve his mind and cause oblivion of his past.
They saw that Martian hills had been worn.
The old cities had been lost in their meadows and lying among lake of grass
The children shouted but there was no echo.
Only the wind hissed through the stiff grass.
There was constant fear they felt on Mars.
Q2. How social were the people of Mars?
What Harry Felt on Mars?
Mr. Harry felt his hair flutter.
He felt the tissue of his body draw tight.
His wife seemed to whirl away in smoke.
The children as small human seeds might be sown to all the Martian climes.
He felt as if the Martian air might draw his soul from him.
He felt as if the Martian air might draw his soul from him.
He had the feeling as if he was submerged in a chemical that could dissolve his mind and cause oblivion of his past.
They saw that Martian hills had been worn.
The old cities had been lost in their meadows and lying among lake of grass
The children shouted but there was no echo.
Only the wind hissed through the stiff grass.
There was constant fear they felt on Mars.
Q2. How social were the people of Mars?
Ans: Actually they were the people of the earth but as they had undergone physical and mental changes due to the Martian atmosphere, they seemed to be the people of Mars. They were not social but they were friendly and they could learn English fast. The lieutenant hoped that the earth people would enjoy friendly relationship with them. They six to eight hundred people living in marbles ruins in the hills. Their women were tall, healthy and beautiful. They were amazingly peaceful.
Q3. How did the life change finally? Was this worse or better?
Ans: Some time after the Bittering family landed on Mars, life changed in both the physical as well as environmental sense. There was burning air on Mars in summer season which affected everything - their houses were got twisted out of shape, the canal turned dry, he paints on the wall houses was flaked and peeled. Later on, they looked strange and ridiculous. Physically all earth people became slender, golden eyed and looked younger in age. They turned to be like aliens and forgot their past. It was better because they were safe from the destruction of the nuclear bombs which was going on earth.
Q4. What differences can you point out in the life of the two different plants?
Ans: There is a big difference in the life of the two planets. The people on earth lived in well built houses and had the travelling facilities. They had gas, electricity, sanitation, water etc. The people on earth had religions and educations. But, in spite of all these things, they had hate, rancour, grudges and belligerent feeling for others.
On the other hand, the people on Mars were deprived of these facilities. They looked physically dark, thin, tall, yellow-eyed and younger than their age. Their women were tall, healthy and beautiful. But they were forgetful of their past. They mostly lived in the hills. There the seasons had the intensity of destroying the houses. They were peaceful and didn't have idea of war. They were rather friendly.
Q5. What is the moral lesson or theme of the story "Dark They Were and Golden Eyed"?
Ans: The moral lesson of this story is that human beings should put an end to war preparations and hatred for one another on earth. Wars causes destruction and nothing else. So, they should solve all their problems on earth and then should start living in peace. In such conditions they may be able to visit other planets but if the nations on this planet live the life of enmity and hostility, they will never be able to impress the inhabitants of other planets if there is any.
Q3. How did the life change finally? Was this worse or better?
Ans: Some time after the Bittering family landed on Mars, life changed in both the physical as well as environmental sense. There was burning air on Mars in summer season which affected everything - their houses were got twisted out of shape, the canal turned dry, he paints on the wall houses was flaked and peeled. Later on, they looked strange and ridiculous. Physically all earth people became slender, golden eyed and looked younger in age. They turned to be like aliens and forgot their past. It was better because they were safe from the destruction of the nuclear bombs which was going on earth.
Q4. What differences can you point out in the life of the two different plants?
Ans: There is a big difference in the life of the two planets. The people on earth lived in well built houses and had the travelling facilities. They had gas, electricity, sanitation, water etc. The people on earth had religions and educations. But, in spite of all these things, they had hate, rancour, grudges and belligerent feeling for others.
On the other hand, the people on Mars were deprived of these facilities. They looked physically dark, thin, tall, yellow-eyed and younger than their age. Their women were tall, healthy and beautiful. But they were forgetful of their past. They mostly lived in the hills. There the seasons had the intensity of destroying the houses. They were peaceful and didn't have idea of war. They were rather friendly.
Q5. What is the moral lesson or theme of the story "Dark They Were and Golden Eyed"?
Ans: The moral lesson of this story is that human beings should put an end to war preparations and hatred for one another on earth. Wars causes destruction and nothing else. So, they should solve all their problems on earth and then should start living in peace. In such conditions they may be able to visit other planets but if the nations on this planet live the life of enmity and hostility, they will never be able to impress the inhabitants of other planets if there is any.
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