Q2 of 14 Page 200

Observe how the paragraph, as a form, has been used in the essay. Some paragraphs consist of just one sentence. What purpose do you think the author had in putting them in this manner?

Paragraphs that consist of just one sentence are:

1) The goals of these ancient stories are the same as those of modern science fiction—the depiction of life as we don’t know it.


2) Science fiction is a literary universe of no mean size because science fiction is what it is, not through its content but through its background.


In first paragraph, author is talking about some ancient and modern science fiction and in second paragraph author is putting a light on science fiction background and its genres. Author put these paragraphs in one line as to put a strong plot in explaining what science fiction actually was in different forms.


More from this chapter

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2

The difference that science and technology have made to everyday life today was visualised in science fiction fifty years ago.

 1

Discuss the author’s attitude towards the pre-scientific imagination and the tone he adopts while talking about it.

 3

Mark the linkers used by the author to connect the point he makes in one paragraph with that in the next. For example, let me explain the difference that makes in the last line of Para 1 of Section II. These are called discourse markers or discourse signallers.

 1

Literary Allusions

(i) Look up a literary dictionary or encyclopaedia or the internet to understand the references to the following mythical creatures.


1) Centaur: 2) Satyr3) Sphinx: 4) Harpy: 5) Gryphon: 6) Gorgon: 7) Pegasus:


(ii) Find out about the story of Achilles and Hector.