In Isaac Asimov's thought-provoking story "The Fun They Had," young Margie's encounter with a physical book reveals fascinating insights about how technology shapes our perception of reading. Margie found it strange that the words printed on a book stood still instead of moving the way they did on a screen, and she also found it odd that the words on a page always remained the same as the first time they were read.
What Made the Book So Strange to Margie?
1. Static Words That Never Moved
The most striking thing Margie discovered was how the words in the book remained completely still. In her futuristic world of 2157, she was accustomed to digital screens where text could move, scroll, and change dynamically. The static nature of printed text seemed almost primitive to her technology-adapted mind.
2. Words That Never Changed
The book had the same words on it that she had read earlier. Unlike her telebooks that could display different content each time, this physical book showed identical text every single time she looked at it. This consistency was both puzzling and fascinating to her.
3. The Physical Appearance
She found that the pages of the book were yellow and crinkly. Having never seen aged paper before, the yellowed and worn pages seemed strange and ancient to Margie, who was used to pristine digital displays.
4. The Concept of Schools
The idea that someone would write a book about schools was itself strange for Margie. In her world, education happened through mechanical teachers at home, making the concept of traditional schools seem outdated and peculiar.
5. The Book's Disposable Nature
One of the odd things was that the book became worthless after it was read. Unlike digital content that could be accessed repeatedly, this physical book seemed to lose its purpose once consumed, which struck her as wasteful.
Why This Question Matters for Students
This NCERT Class 9 English question helps students understand:
Literary Analysis: How authors use contrast to highlight technological advancement
Character Development: Margie's perspective reveals her world's technological dependence
Theme Exploration: The story's commentary on education and human connection
Critical Thinking: Comparing past, present, and future reading methods
Understanding the Context
Set in the year 2157, "The Fun They Had" presents a world where:
Children learn from mechanical teachers
Books exist only as digital "telebooks"
Physical books are rare historical artifacts
Education is completely individualized and automated
Margie's reaction to the book serves as the author's way of making readers appreciate both traditional and modern forms of learning.
Complete Answer for Exams
Question: What things about the book did she find strange?
Answer: Margie found several things strange about the book:
The words were printed and stood still, unlike the moving text on screens
The words remained exactly the same each time she read them
The pages were yellow and crinkly from age
The book was about schools, which seemed like an odd topic to her
The book appeared worthless after being read once
Key Takeaways
This question explores themes of technological progress, educational evolution, and the value of traditional learning methods. Margie's amazement at a simple book reminds us not to take our current educational resources for granted.
Understanding these strange elements helps students appreciate how the author Isaac Asimov used Margie's perspective to comment on the potential future of education and the irreplaceable value of human interaction in learning.
Looking for more NCERT Class 9 English solutions? This detailed explanation of what things about the book did she find strange covers all aspects needed for complete exam preparation.
