The Fun They Had: Central Idea and Important Questions

The Fun They Had

Isaac Asimov wrote the story “The Fun They Had” about the scenario in the year 2157 when every child has his own mechanical teacher and schools like they are today do not exist anymore. It was written in 1951 for a syndicated newspaper page. Later “The Fun They Had” was published in “Fantasy and Science Fiction” magazine.

The Theme of the Lesson- The Fun They Had

The main theme in the short story The Fun They Had’ is that of education. More specifically, the narrative deals with the future of education which will become increasingly Computerized and estranged from social interactions. The story shows us a glimpse of education that our future kid will be a part of.

Answer in 30-40 words

1. Who are Tommy and Margie? How old are they?
2. What did Margie write in her diary?
3.  Why did Tommy find the book and in what condition?    OR                                                                                                                                                 Describe the book that Tommy had found in the attic?
4. Had Margie ever seen a real book before?
5. Did Margie like the printed book? Why/why not?
6. What things about the book did Margie find strange?
7. “What a waste! “What is Tommy referring to as a ‘waste’? Is it really a waste?
8. What do you think a tele book is?
9. How does Tommy find the telebooks of his own time to be better?
10. Where was Margie school? Did she have any classmates?
11. Why did Margie started hating her school?
12. Which part of her school did Margie hate the most? OR                                                                                                                                                 What did Margie hate the most about her school?
13. What subject did Tommy and Margie learn?
14. What kind of teachers did Margie and Tommy have?
15. Why did Margie’s mother send the county inspector? OR                                                                                                                                              Why did Margie’s mother shake her head one day and send for the county inspector?
16. What views did Margie’s mother have about the teachers and learning?
17. What was the county inspector trained to do?
18. What idea do you form of the country inspector as a person?
19. Why was Margie doing badly in geography? What did the county inspector do to help her?
20. Margi was disappointed says the author why was she disappointed?
21. What had once happened to Tommy’s teacher?
22. Did Margie have regular days and hours for school? If so, why?
23. How does Tommy describe the old kind of school?
24. How does Tommy describe the old kind of teacher?
25. How did Margie react when Tommy told her that 23rd century school held human teacher?               OR                                                                     Why did Margie remark how could a man be a teacher?
26. Who interrupts Marcus and Thomas conversation? Why?
27. When Magie went to her school what did the teachers on the screen teach?
28. Why couldn’t mark concentrate on the arithmetic lesson?
29. Why did Margie feel that children must have loved to go school when her grandfather’s grandfather was a little boy?                   OR                       Why did Margie feel that the children in old time had the fun while studying in a school?            OR                                                                         What was Tommy’s opinion about the real book?
30. How does Tommy describe the old kind of teacher?
31. Who was the county inspector? What was his work?
32. Why was Margie doing worse in geography? What did the county inspector to do help her?
33. Why did Tommy pronounce the word century ago carefully?
34. What had once happened to Tommys teacher?
35. What is the slot? Why did Margie hate it?
36. Evaluate ‘The Fun They Had’ as a futuristic story.
37. How will the e-books be different from the old books that existed centuries ago?
38. What did Margie’s mother think about the teacher and the school?
39. Describe the characteristics of old school? How did it influence?
40. Will future school be completely devoid of humans and human values? Give a reason to your answer.
41. Why did Tommy and Margie think that old book a wastage of resources?
42. What difference did Margie’s mother find in the old school?

       Answer in 100-120 words.

1. How did a chance discovery of a paper book leave mark and Tommy awestruck?
2. What are the main features of mechanical teacher and the school rooms that Margie and Tommy have in the story?
3. Why did Margie hate school? Why did she think the old kind of school must have been fun?
4. Do you agree with Margie that school today’s schools are more fun than the schools in the story?  Give a reason to your answer.
5. Suppose you are Margie. Write a diary entry dated 17 May 2157 about Tommy’s real book that he found in his attic?
6. Why did Margie hate school? Why did she think the old kind of school must have been fun?
7. The old schools are considered as fun by the modern generation. Explain.
8. Do you agree with Margie that school today are more fun than the schools in the story. Give a reason for your answer.
9. Will the existing school and teachers become totally irrelevant in future? Give a reason?
10. Describe the characteristics of old school? How did they arose so much interest in Margie and Tommy?
11. Can you imagine a school without teachers and book? Give your opinion on the basis of the lesson the fun they had.
12. What is the role of teacher in the life of a student? How is a human teacher better than a mechanical teacher?