The Hitchhiker

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. The “Golden Age of American Radio” occurred in the 1930s and 1940s. Consider the historical and social implications of this golden age. Why was radio the preferred choice of media broadcasting for American audiences? What kind of programming was popular with American audiences? What brought an end to this golden age?

Teaching Suggestion: This prompt orients students with the historical and sociological context of the radio drama and the importance of radio as a form of entertainment in Americans’ leisure time during the 1930s and 1940s. With the rise of technological development related to media in the early 20th century, many families depended on an in-home radio set to receive news as well as listen to entertaining radio shows. Radio thrillers, such as Fletcher’s drama, and other programs became popular forms of entertainment for families. Additionally, radio became an important outlet for political discussions; President Franklin Delano Roosevelt used radio broadcasting to communicate his “Fireside Chats” during the Great Depression, and political candidates used radio to share their platforms with expanded audiences. The end of WWII in 1945 signaled a transition in preferred broadcasting technology as manufacturers began to produce in-home television sets. Many American households would have a television set by the 1950s.

• This article provides a thorough overview of “The Golden Age of American Radio.”
• The Digital Public Library of America’s “The End of the Golden Age and the Rise of Television” discusses the transition of nuclear families’ leisure time from radio to TV after WWII.

2. What are some of the essential elements in a “thriller”? For example, what kinds of details or plot components create tension or suspense? Consider story elements such as setting, characterization, and point of view as well.

Teaching Suggestion: This question invites students to consider the literary context of the story: the ghost story/thriller genre. Thrillers such as Fletcher’s story toy with the reader’s psyche, usually incorporating initially familiar details or situations that turn out to be not what they seem. Fletcher’s protagonist, Ronald Adams, is an “average Joe” of the era who loves his mother, works for a company, and confidently begins a cross-country drive. That such a shocking event could happen to an ordinary and relatable character contributes to audience members’ fear. This question segues to the Short Activity.

• WHSmith shares the “10 Elements That Make a Good Thriller.”
• BBC revisits the unusual case of the “The Halloween Myth of the War of the Worlds Panic.” (A free account registration may be needed to view.)

Short Activity

During the Golden Age of Radio, radio dramas and thrillers were widely popular among US audiences. Working in small groups, research and select one radio show in the US to share with the class. Plan to contribute your responses to these questions as well: Why were radio shows popular? Does this show incorporate the themes of The Inevitability of Death, How Perception Shapes Reality, or The Corruption of the Mundane into the plot? If so, how?

Teaching Suggestion: This Short Activity introduces the genre of the radio drama in mid-20th-century America with a group research and presentation exercise. Students might use the links below as a starting point in their research. Depending on the genre, students should have a wide variety of shows to select and choose from. This Short Activity is a preparatory exercise for the main Activity.

• Old Radio World is a comprehensive collection of radio shows from the Golden Age of Radio, including audio tracks.
• “Old Time Radio” is a collection of many radio programs from the period, downloadable with a free Internet Archive account. Many of the programs have descriptions, summaries, historical info, and analyses.
• Dramatist Play Services shares the background and collection of scripts from author Lucille Fletcher.

Differentiation Suggestion: For an approach that includes more focus on creative interpretation and performance, invite each group to act out a particular excerpt or scene from their chosen radio show. While students may use their scripts for the presentation, encourage them to create an engaging atmosphere that mimics a radio show with emphasis on vocal expression and sound effects.

Personal Connection Prompt

This prompt can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before reading the play.

Think of a movie, TV series, or piece of literature you have studied in which a twist in the plot becomes evident. What was this twist? What techniques did the author use to “trick” you as the audience? Were you surprised by this twist? Why or why not?

Teaching Suggestion: This Personal Connection Prompt invites students to think about the theme of How Perception Shapes Reality within the context of their own experiences with plot twists. In Fletcher’s drama, the audience believes that Ronald is a reliable narrator as he begins his travels; however, as inconsistencies begin to surface, the audience questions Ronald’s perception of reality, indicating the likelihood of a “twist” as the climax of the story. This Personal Connection Prompt works well as either an in-class discussion, an “entrance ticket” journal response, or a take-home assignment.