Prepared by
HEURISTIX
Laurie Blass and Pam Elder
Instructional Designers


"I Shot An Arrow Into the Air" - Synopsis

BACKGROUND

Writer: Rod Serling; Director: Stuart Rosenberg; Cast: Leslie Barrett, Harry Bartell, Edward Binns, Dewey Martin, Ted Otis; Original Air Date: First season, 01/15/60.

The first manned spacecraft, the Arrow One, represents years of planning, all the mathematical and scientific knowledge of the past, and the hopes of the world. But shortly after launch, it disappears from contact and is lost in space. The survivors of its crash landing find themselves in an alien, hostile environment, apparently on an asteroid. Colonel Donlin attempts to maintain military order for the good of all. However, one of the men, Flight Officer Corey, is determined to survive at the expense of the others. Donlin's reason and order are no match for Corey's selfishness, arrogance, and deceit. Evil prevails until the final ironic twist: Corey, the victor, is instead the vanquished. He discovers that he's stranded not on an asteroid after all, but in the desert‹just far enough from Reno, Nevada that without water or assistance, he faces certain agony and defeat, compounded by guilt and remorse.


Background Notes

Knowing what we do about such things today, the many incongruities in the depiction of the launch, project oversight, and crash of Arrow One may seem laughable. However, viewers should keep in mind that in when this episode first aired, the so-called "space age" was in its infancy. Sputnik I, the fist artificial satellite, was launched just three years before, starting a race between the USSR and the USA to develop manned spacecraft, which both superpowers succeeded in for the first time in 1961. In 1960, no one could predict the outcome of space exploration, but everyone knew the great risk of conflict in this uncharted territory. Serling explored this fear on the most basic, interpersonal level. As with other Twilight Zone episodes, the enduring story is the underlying, allegorical one.


Focus: Choices

Discussion Before viewing "I Shot and Arrow Into the Air", discuss the following in small groups:
1. Is it always best to follow the rules? If you think rules are inappropriate, what can you do? How do you feel when those who are in charge won't listen to your ideas? What are your alternatives when this happens? How does what you can do differ from what you should do?
2. Imagine a local disaster where you have a choice between (1) trying to help everyone survive at the risk of everyone perishing in any case, or (2) saving yourself at the expense of others. Talk about what the disaster might be, and what you would do. Which rules or laws wouldn't matter as much any more? Or, conversely, which of them might be more important than ever? Would your views change under different circumstances? For example, what if your entire class survived and had to choose its survival as a group over that of others?
3. Think of and share examples of situations or circumstances where you have experienced or observed teamwork‹at its best, and at its worst.


ACTIVITIES

During Viewing:

Note the following:
1. Many people believe that good and evil are a part of life throughout the world, with plenty of evidence of each, to some degree. What shapes each of us is how we experience these opposing elements, and how that experience affects our choices and us. Think about the three individuals who survive Arrow One's crash landing. Identify the good and bad qualities in each of them, as well as the good and bad choices they make. What causes them to behave in the way they do? What kind of previous life experiences might have shaped their personalities, understandings, and behaviors?
2. Describe Donlin's and Pierson's reactions to Corey. What could they have done to prevent him from overpowering them?
3. Note the symbolism in the story. What does the cross that Pierson draws in the sand represent? Is it just the telephone pole? Or a religious ? Or more?


After Viewing:
1. Have you seen movies or plays or read stories with themes similar to those in this episode? If so, discuss them.
2. This type of morality play, with the forces of good and evil jostling within a hostile environment, is an effective way to test the extremes of human motivation. Think of another such setting for a story of your own. You can write a modern update of a space journey, or create another fantastic journey within a different realm. Reflect on the plot and character representations from this Twilight Zone episode as you outline your story and create your heroes/heroines and villains. What will be the central conflict? How will circumstances test the prevailing moral code? And what will that code be?
3. Discuss your story within a small group. Use your classmates' suggestions to expand and improve upon your ideas. Then, write a first draft of your story and have these students read it and make suggestions. Finally, rewrite the story and share it with your class.
4. If you wish, develop a screenplay based on your story. If possible, have classmates help you videotape a scene from it, then show it in class.

Journal

Write about any or all of the following topics in your Twilight Zone journal: How important is it to have a moral code? What role does a moral code play in your life or in the lives of people you care about? What criteria do you use to judge the moral code of others? What institutions within our society help define society's common moral code and how would you like to see them change it?

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