The Illustrated Man Essay Topics & Writing Assignments. Essay Topic 5. Essay Topic 2. In "The Man", Martin and the Captain disagree on who "The Man" is. Discuss who they think the man is and why. Discuss whether the men in "Kaleidoscope" decide if how they lived their lives matters when it comes time to die. Compare and contrast the reactions of the men in "Kaleidoscope" when they find themselves floating in space and know they are about to die. Essay Topic 3. Essay Topic 4. Explain why Hernando cannot understand what a young man means when he says that it is the end of the world. Use examples from the story. Discuss why in "The Veldt" the children become dependent upon the house and nursery instead of their parents. Use examples from the story. Essay Topic 6. Essay Topic 1. Using examples from the story, discuss the cycle of violence that occurs in "The Other Foot".