Summary
The Fun They Had by Isaac Asimov is set in a future where schools and books are entirely digital. Instead of human teachers, classes are conducted by robots in virtual classrooms. The story begins with two children, Margie and Tommy, who live in a world dominated by computers and attend virtual schools. Traditional books and classrooms are no longer a part of their world.
On May 17, 2157, Margie wrote in her diary about Tommy finding an old printed book. It contained stories and had yellow, crumpled pages. Margie’s grandfather had once told her that his grandfather said all stories were printed on paper in the past. As Margie and Tommy flipped through the book, they found it funny that the words didn’t move like on a computer screen. In their time, only digital books exist, and no hard copies are available. Tommy called printed books a waste because they’re useless after being read, unlike their computer screens that can store millions of books.
The children then read about old schools where human teachers taught students. Although Margie disliked school, she was amazed to learn that people once taught in classrooms. She hated her school, located next to her bedroom, as she had no classmates, and her robot teacher gave her too much homework.
Margie and Tommy’s virtual school relied on electronic devices and robots. Lessons appeared on a screen and included subjects like math and science. Once, Margie’s mother had called a County Inspector to fix her robot teacher. Though it was quickly repaired, Margie was unhappy because she had to continue feeding homework and tests into the machine through a punch code.
As Margie and Tommy read the book, Margie’s mother called her to attend her class. While studying fractions, Margie’s mind wandered, imagining how much fun children had in the past. Schools then were buildings where kids of the same age studied together. She thought about how children from different neighborhoods met and attended school happily. Margie was fascinated by the idea of the fun children had in the old days when they went to real schools.
Conclusion:
The story The Fun They Had shows how technology is transforming the world. It hints that in the future, human teachers might be replaced by robots, impacting education and our way of life.
Summary
The Road Not Taken is a famous poem about the choices we make in life and how they shape us. The road in the poem symbolizes life, and the path not chosen is “the road not taken.” The poet shares a personal experience, recalling a time when he faced two choices. He chose one path and moved forward, knowing he couldn’t go back to choose the other. The poet’s message is that our choices greatly impact our future. If we make the wrong decision, we can’t undo it but will have to live with the regret. Therefore, it’s essential to think wisely before making decisions.
The poet describes walking down a road when he came to a fork where two roads split. He felt sad that he couldn’t take both roads and had to choose only one. Standing at the junction, he looked as far as he could down each road, trying to see where they led. However, the view was blocked by trees and curves, making it impossible to know what lay ahead. The phrase “yellow wood” refers to a forest in autumn, with fallen leaves covering the ground. The poet uses this scene as a metaphor, showing that in life, we often have to choose between alternatives without knowing the full consequences. Like the poet, we weigh the pros and cons and take time before making a decision.
After thinking for a while, the poet chose the road that seemed less traveled. It had grass growing on it, suggesting it was used less often. He felt it was the better choice for him. However, as he walked further, he realized the two roads were nearly identical, with little difference between them. This highlights that, in life, every choice has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Challenges are part of every decision, and we must be prepared to face them.
That morning, both roads looked the same, covered with fallen leaves and untouched by others. The poet thought he might return someday to take the other road, but he doubted he would ever come back. He knew that one decision would lead to another, making it impossible to retrace his steps. Similarly, in life, once we make a choice, we can’t go back. We must move forward and deal with the consequences of our decisions.
The poet concludes that, in the future, he will reflect on this moment with a deep sigh. He will remember the time he reached a point in life where he had to choose between two options. He took the less traveled road, which means he made a unique choice that few others would take. This decision, he says, made all the difference in his life. Through this poem, the poet delivers a strong message: we must choose wisely, as our decisions shape the course of our lives.