Hitchhiker

Hitchhiker Pre-reading Questionaire

Answer the following questions using your own personal experiences or internet resources (as appropriate). No "yes or no" answers will be accepted. Explain all answers in detail.

1. The title of the story is "The Hitchhiker." Knowing that this is a suspenseful story, make a prediction as to what might happen based on the title. 2. What is a hitchhiker? Explain any personal experience you have had with hitchhikers, or describe how you feel about the concept of hitchhiking. 3. What is drama (as it applies to plays on stage)? Have you had any experience with drama? Relate your experience in detail. What do you know about theatre? Radio plays? 4. What is tragedy as it applies to theatre? Other types of literature? 5. Define foreshadowing. Define flashback. Explain scenes from any movies/plays you have seen that make use of these techniques. 6. In criminal cases, people sometimes plead temporary insanity. Other people believe certain events may cause a person to "go insane." Do you believe this is possible? Why or why not? 7. Define "deja vu." Have you ever experienced it? How/when/where/with whom? Briefly explain. 8. How do sound effects affect a suspenseful movie or TV? How does music affect these mediums? 9. What do you know about New York City? It's districts? The Brooklyn Bridge? (If you know nothing, do some research about the layout of the city). 10. Describe the geographical topography of New Mexico and Southern California. 11. What is Route 66? What is its point of origin? Ending destination? Describe its route across the U.S. 12. What is an "Auto Camp?" This will require some research. 13. Who is the "Grim Reaper?" Briefly relate his appearance in older mythology/folklore. How does he appear? What is his purpose? 14 . In a short paragraph, relate in detail an experience you found mysterious or terrifying (or both). Using sensory details, explain what made the experience so frightening. Make the reader feel your fear. Use specific, vivid, interesting details.