The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street

1. Why do you think the writer made the events occur on Maple Street, USA?

• The setting indicates that small towns are filled with superstitious people.

• The setting suggests that the events could happen anywhere.

• The main characters live on this street.

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2. In Act 1 of “The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street,” which event signals the beginning of the neighbors’ troubles?

• A woman’s telephone does not work.

• A roar is heard, and a flash of light is seen.

• The ice-cream vendor sold ice-cream

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3. In Act 1 of “The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street,” what motivates Steve to explain the flash of light by talking about meteors and sunspots?

• He knows a lot about science and wants to educate his neighbors.

• He wants to reassure himself that there is nothing to fear.

• He wants to find the meteor and sell it to a collector.

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4. Right after the power failure, Charlie says, “A little power failure and right away we get all flustered and everything.”  Why is this statement important?

• It is similar to what the figures later say about the humans.

• It suggests that the residents will discover the reason behind the power failure.

• It shows that Charlie will overcome his fear and save the town.

5. When Tommy tells Mr. Brand not to go downtown, he says, “They don’t want you to.”  To whom is he referring?

• aliens from outer space

• his parents

• the neighbors on Maple Street

6. In Act 1, what is Steve’s motivation for asking Tommy to explain his story about the aliens sent ahead to earth?

• He wants to make Tommy look foolish.

• He wants to take charge of the action.

• He wants to leave town immediately.

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7. Which of these events in Act 1 is a clue that the neighbors will stop trusting one another?

• A woman says that Tommy has been reading too many comic books.

• A man says that they should not be paying attention to Tommy.

• Steve jokes that they should check to see who among them is human.

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8. At the end of Act 1, what does Steve say to the mob that foreshadows the neighbors’ behavior at the end of the teleplay?

• “You know what I’m guilty of? I’m guilty of insomnia.”

• “What is this, a gag or something?”

• “The only thing that’s gonna happen is we’ll eat each other up alive.”

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9. Which of these is the best summary of Act 1 of “The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street?”

• The neighbors on Maple Street are unhappy because their power is out.

• A strange event causes neighbors to become suspicious of one another.

• Pete Van Horn leaves Maple Street to see what is happening elsewhere.

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10. What emotion motivates Steve in his speech from Act 2 of the teleplay when he says, "Go ahead, what’s my wife said?  Let’s get it all out.  Let’s pick out every idiosyncrasy of every single man, woman, and child on the street.  And then we might as well set up some kind of citizen's court.  How about a firing squad at dawn, Charlie, so we can get rid of all the suspects?"

• amusement

• disgust

• love

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