Prepared by
HEURISTIX
Laurie Blass and Pam Elder
Instructional Designers


"Time Enough at Last" - Synopsis

BACKGROUND

Writer: Rod Serling; Director: John Brahm; Cast: Burgess Meredith, Jacqueline DeWit, Vaughn Taylor, Lela Bliss; Original Air Date: First season, 11/20/59.

Henry Bemis, is a rather meek bank teller who loves to read, but his wife, his boss, and even his customers belittle him for his avid interest in books. While escaping to the vault to read at peace on his lunch hour, an atomic bomb destroys everything and everyone on earth but Henry. In his solitude, he despairs until he discovers that he still has books to read. With joy, he finds a wealth of undamaged books at the public library and delights in his prospects. Tragically, he accidentally breaks his eyeglasses and is left with nothing.


Focus: What gives life meaning?

Discussion

Before viewing "Time Enough at Last," discuss the following in small groups:

• In general, what makes life worth living for most people?
• In your own experience, what kinds of things do you value most highly?
• What would you miss most if it were lost?

ACTIVITIES

During Viewing:

Note the following:
1. What are Henry Bemis's feelings prior to the bombing? Afterward? In the concluding scenes?
2. What devices or symbolism does Serling use to demonstrate man's subjugation to commerce, anti-intellectualism, the nuclear threat, and the elevation of ideas and learning?


After Viewing:
1. Divide into groups of four or five students. Have each person think about and list his or her individual personal qualities and strengths, as well as those of the others in the group. These might include such inner resources as remaining calm under pressure, good problem solving abilities, and being practical.
2. Then think about and discuss the following: What if you, as a group, found yourselves alone and surrounded by total devastation as did Henry Bemis. Assuming that, like Henry, you had access to the basic necessities for living such as food, water, and basic shelter, what would you do?
3. Finally, create a survival plan. Pool your inner resources and describe how you could use them to help one another survive. Decide what the most important things would be in the short term and in the long term. Explain your plan to the class.
4. For an extension activity, sketch out a story about another group such as yours. Each of you can develop one of the characters. Later, combine your writing into a group piece.

Journal

Write about the following topic in your journal:
Think about what truly gives your life meaning. Write an autobiography about yourself, as you would like to be living several decades from now. Focus on the intangible things that fulfill your life at that time. If you like, share your entry with the class.

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