The Fun They Had

“The Fun They Had” was originally published in a children’s magazine. What stylistic and narrative choices does Asimov make indicating that he is writing for a children’s audience? How does this affect the story’s subject matter and themes?

Asimov was a secular humanist and wrote this story during a time of profound technological, scientific, and social upheaval. How does Asimov use this story to promote themes of secular humanism? How does this relate to the historical context during which it was written?

“The Fun They Had” frequently uses irony. What narrative purpose does this accomplish in the text? How does the use of irony succeed or fail at communicating the story’s themes? Consider specific examples from the text.