Setting and Plot
Where does the story take place?
Mars
Who is the main character of the story?
Harry Bittering
What happens to the settlers’ eyes?
They turn golden
What does the transformation into Martians symbolize?
Adaptation and change
What is the mood of the story?
Uneasy, mysterious, and eerie
Why do the Bitterings move to Mars?
To escape war on Earth
What does Cora, Harry’s wife, think about staying on Mars?
She accepts it and wants to adapt
What happens to their skin?
It becomes darker
What theme does the story explore about identity?
That identity can change over time and place
How does Bradbury use description to create atmosphere?
Vivid imagery and sensory details
What event cuts Mars off from Earth?
A nuclear war destroys Earth’s rockets
What do Harry’s children begin to do before their parents?
Speak Martian and change appearance
What happens to their language and names?
They begin speaking Martian and take Martian names
What does Mars represent in the story?
The unknown, transformation, and loss of control
In the story, people from Earth renamed the landscape features of Mars, such as the Lincoln Mountains. These names alluded, or refer, to famous people from history. Why do you think the Earth people did that?
Earth people wanted to make their new home feel more familiar or make it represent where they came from.
How does wind affect the characters in the beginning, middle, and end of the story?
Villa and other Martian houses were larger and more luxurious.
What emotion drives most of Harry’s actions?
Fear
How did the houses built by the Earth people differ from the ones built by Martians?
They melt and blend into the landscape
What might the title “Dark They Were, and Golden-Eyed” symbolize?
Physical and emotional change
How does the ending show irony?
Humans from Earth think the Martians are gone — but they are the Martians
After the Bitterings arrive on Mars, what disaster happens on Earth?
War breaks out on Earth
What happens to Harry and his family by the end?
They fully become Martians
What does Harry’s rebuilding of his house symbolize?
His struggle to hold onto his human identity
What does the story suggest about humans trying to control nature?
Nature always wins; people must adapt
What lesson do the colonists’ changes teach readers?
Change is natural and sometimes necessary for survival