Genre
Science fiction, fantasy, episodic novel/short story collection
Setting and Context
The plot takes place mostly on Mars from the years 1999-2026 (although the dates are altered in several editions of the book), and a couple of scenes take place on Earth (Ohio and California, among others).
Narrator and Point of View
Third-person limited point of view, following the stories of various people and civilizations on both Earth and Mars. These stories are tied together by following the grand narrative of Earth's colonization of Mars.
Tone and Mood
Contemplative, imaginative, occasionally tense and/or critical
Protagonist and Antagonist
It's unclear who the protagonist is: the Martians are guilty of terrible crimes, as are the humans. If anything, it could be the latent good in the universe, present in both humans and Martians. The antagonist would be the negative side of human/Martian nature, which creates many problems throughout the novel.
Major Conflict
Facing a nuclear war, humans attempt to reach and colonize Mars, which is already inhabited by the Martians. There are conflicts between these two groups, as well as among the humans who land on Mars.
Climax
Having fully settled on Mars, the humans leave and return to Earth in the wake of the nuclear war, leaving Mars empty. At the very end, a man and his family return to Mars, the beginning of a new age.
Foreshadowing
In "The Summer Night," the Martians suddenly begin speaking rhymes and songs from Earth, getting a glimpse into human culture. This unpleasant experience foreshadows the Martian downfall at the hands of the humans, bringing diseases as well as culture from their home planet.
Understatement
“Not many people want to be cured. The cure is drastic, you know.” - Mr. Xxx ("The Earth Men")
Allusions
In "The Summer Night," a singer suddenly begins singing lines from the poem "She Walks in Beauty" by Lord Byron. Additionally, the events of "Usher II" are direct references to the stories of Edgar Allen Poe, including "The Cask of Amontillado," "The Masque of the Red Death," and "Fall of the House of Usher."
Imagery
When the humans colonize and begin to settle on Mars, Bradbury uses the image of locusts razing a crop field. The image of humans as locusts casts a bleak light on the practice of imperialistic colonization, revealing its selfishness and the detrimental effects on the native people and environment.
Paradox
The men of the Second Expedition in "The Earth Men" find themselves in a paradoxical situation: they have traveled from Earth, but no one will believe them since they landed in an insane asylum.
Parallelism
The humans' colonization and exploitation of Mars parallel that of their own planet, which undergoes nuclear war in the course of the book. The use of chickenpox to eradicate the Martians also parallels the intentional use of smallpox to wipe out large portions of the Native American population in the settlers' attempts to colonize and push out on the Western frontier.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
“Let's take the flame birds to town tonight to see an entertainment.” ("Ylla")
Personification
“The wind stirred her russet hair, crooning softly in her ears." ("Ylla")
