Class 9 English Chapter 1 Summary (Notes) of The Fun they Had - FREE PDF Download
FAQs on The Fun They Had Class 9 Notes: CBSE English Beehive Chapter 1
1. What is a quick summary of the Class 9 chapter, 'The Fun They Had'?
The chapter 'The Fun They Had' by Isaac Asimov is a futuristic story set in the year 2157. It follows two children, Margie and Tommy, who learn individually at home from a mechanical teacher. Their perspective on education changes when Tommy finds a real, printed book that describes schools from centuries ago, where children learned together from human teachers, making them wonder about the 'fun' of the past.
2. What are the key themes to focus on when revising 'The Fun They Had'?
When preparing your revision summary for this chapter, focus on these core themes:
- Education and Technology: The contrast between highly personalised, automated learning and traditional, communal schooling.
- Nostalgia and the Past: How the discovery of an old book makes the characters long for a past they never experienced.
- Human Interaction vs. Isolation: The story highlights the importance of social interaction in learning, which Margie's system lacks.
3. How does the story contrast futuristic education with traditional schooling?
The chapter builds a strong contrast for quick revision. Futuristic education is depicted as isolated and rigid, with a mechanical teacher in a home-based schoolroom. In contrast, traditional schooling is portrayed as a communal and interactive experience, where students of the same age learn together in a special building with a human teacher, an idea that fascinates Margie.
4. Why is the discovery of the 'real book' a crucial turning point in the chapter's summary?
The discovery of the real book is the central event in the summary because it serves as the catalyst for the story's main conflict. It introduces the concept of past-era schools to Margie and Tommy, forcing them to question their own sterile educational environment and prompting the central theme of comparing human-led community learning to their isolated, mechanical instruction.
5. How does Margie's experience with the mechanical teacher highlight the limitations of technology-based learning?
Margie's struggle with the geography sector, which was geared 'a little too quick,' shows that a purely mechanical system can be inflexible and unempathetic. It lacks the ability to understand a student's frustration or adapt in a nuanced way. The need for the County Inspector to manually adjust it highlights the limitations of a one-size-fits-all technological approach compared to the intuitive understanding of a human teacher.
6. Besides the teacher, what are the main differences to recap between Margie's school and the old schools?
For a complete revision, remember these key differences:
- Learning Space: Margie's school was a room in her house, while old schools were a special, shared building.
- Classmates: Margie learned alone, whereas children in the past learned and played with peers of the same age.
- Study Materials: Margie used 'telebooks' on a screen, which are different from the printed paper books of the past.
- Homework Submission: She had to submit her work in a punch code slot, a stark contrast to written assignments.
7. How can these revision notes help to quickly recap the chapter before an exam?
These revision notes are designed to provide a concise yet comprehensive overview of 'The Fun They Had.' They summarise the plot, highlight the most important themes, and clarify key character motivations. This helps you quickly recall essential details and structure well-formed answers for the Class 9 English exam, ensuring you cover all the main points from the chapter.
8. Are these revision notes for 'The Fun They Had' aligned with the latest CBSE syllabus for 2025-26?
Yes, this summary and the key concepts highlighted within these revision notes are prepared based on the NCERT "Beehive" textbook. They fully align with the Class 9 English curriculum as prescribed by the CBSE for the academic year 2025-26, focusing on the core understanding required for your exams.

















