Class 9 English - HARYANA
Prose: The Fun They Had
The Fun They Had by Isaac Asimov is a futuristic science fiction story set in the year 2157, where education is fully computerized and children learn alone in their homes from mechanical teachers. The story centers on two young students, Margie and Tommy, who discover an old-fashioned printed book from the past. Through their curiosity about school in the old days, the chapter highlights the value of human interaction, social life, and traditional classrooms. For Haryana Board (BSEH) exams, this chapter is crucial for testing reading comprehension, character analysis, and thematic understanding.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Setting of the Story
The story takes place in the future (May 17, 2157), where traditional schools and printed books have become obsolete and replaced by mechanical teachers and tele-books.
Margie and Tommy
Tommy is a thirteen-year-old boy who finds an old real book in his attic, while Margie is an eleven-year-old girl who maintains a diary and struggles with her automated geography lessons.
The Mechanical Teacher
A large, black, and ugly robotic screen installed in the children's homes that gives lessons, asks questions, and tests homework at a fast pace.
Old Schools vs. Future Schools
The story contrasts future isolation—where children study alone at home—with old schools, where human teachers taught children of the same age together in school buildings, sharing fun and laughter.
Thematic Significance
The chapter emphasizes that school is not just about academic learning through machines, but also about socialization, emotional bonding, and human connection.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
This chapter typically carries 4 to 6 marks in the Haryana Board (BSEH) Class 9 English exam. Common question types include short answer questions based on the plot, character sketches of Margie and Tommy, long answer questions comparing old and future schools, and extract-based reading comprehension questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Margie hating her school?
Margie hated her school because the mechanical teacher was giving her test after test in geography, and she was performing poorly due to a glitch in the machine's setup.
What was strange about the old book Tommy found?
The words in the old book were printed on paper and stayed still instead of moving across a screen like tele-books, and turning back to the previous page showed the same words.
What message does the story give about education?
The story conveys that physical schools, human teachers, and peer interaction are vital for a child's overall development, and technology alone cannot replace the joy of learning together.
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