Read Thoreau's 1849 essay, "Civil Disobedience." What are the circumstances in which Thoreau wrote this essay? What are the main points that he makes? Why do you think that Ellison chose to use the quote that he did to start "'Repent, Harlequin!' Said the Ticktockman?"

Examine the adaptation of "'Repent, Harlequin!' Said the Ticktockman" by Ellison and Rick Berry as a graphic novel, looking particularly at the illustrations. How do the illustrations change or affect your reading of the story? What techniques does illustrator Berry bring to Ellison's short story? Pick some of the drawings that you would have done differently, redraw them according to how you think they should appear, and share with your class why you think your adjustments help convey the story better.

Read Ellison's classic collections of essays on television, The Glass Teat (1970) and The Other Glass...