Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. Think about the examples of science fiction you have encountered, whether in literature, cinema, or even the visual arts. What are the main characteristics of science fiction? List 6-8 characteristics, noting examples with each.

Teaching Suggestion: Science fiction is a genre of fiction typically characterized by an emphasis on the potential of scientific principles, discoveries, or technologies. Though there are examples of science fiction from antiquity (e.g., Lucian’s A True Story), science fiction first rose to prominence in the 19th century under authors such as Jules Verne and H. G. Wells. The genre became increasingly popular in the middle of the 20th century, a period that produced some of the most famous science fiction authors (including Isaac Asimov, Philip K. Dick, Frank Herbert, and Ursula K. Le Guin). Science fiction also became extremely popular as a cinematic genre in the 20th and 21st centuries. Students might enjoy compiling their characteristics and sharing examples briefly; pairs or small groups might work together after sharing to discuss the impact of the genre on the publishing and film industries or on the history of storytelling in general.