Question 35 of 59intermediate🔍 AnalyzeLong Answer5 marks

Explain how has the writer presented science fiction with a touch of humour.

Correct Answer

Arthur C. Clarke masterfully blends science fiction with humor throughout the story.

The very premise—a canary smuggled onto a space station—is inherently absurd and creates immediate humor.

The narrator's tone is consistently wry and self-deprecating, describing his office as 'the little cubbyhole laughingly called my office' and noting that Sven 'managed to qualify easily for the 150-pound bonus that kept so many of us on a reducing diet.'

The description of Claribel performing 'a curious kind of backward loop I'm sure no earthbound canary had ever managed' and 'not believing in doing unnecessary work' gives the bird a charming personality.

The humor peaks in moments like the crew hiding Claribel from VIPs while she makes 'curious peeps and whistles' from ventilation shafts, and the deadpan observation that 'who would dream of looking for a canary in a space station?'

The climax contains dark humor—passing the oxygen bottle 'like a pipe of peace' and the unforgettable line about being 'slightly dead.'

The ending's suggestion that canaries are now standard equipment on space stations adds a final touch of ironic humor. This light touch makes the serious themes about technology's limitations more accessible and memorable.

Exercise: Let us think and reflect | Q: II.6 | (Page Page 9)
For More Understanding

Explanation

Clarke uses various humorous techniques: the absurdity of a pet canary in space, the narrator's self-deprecating voice, personification of Claribel, situational comedy (hiding the bird from VIPs), and dark humor in the face of danger ('slightly dead'). This humor serves to humanize the characters and make the story's serious message about over-reliance on technology more palatable and engaging.

Solution Steps

  1. The absurd premise of a canary smuggled onto a space station creates immediate humor

  2. The narrator's wry, self-deprecating tone adds consistent humor throughout the story

  3. Personification of Claribel with descriptions like 'backward loops' and 'not believing in unnecessary work' gives the bird charming personality

  4. Situational comedy arises from hiding Claribel from VIPs while she makes noises from ventilation shafts

  5. Dark humor in the climax includes passing the oxygen bottle 'like a pipe of peace' and the line about being 'slightly dead'

  6. Ironic humor in the ending suggests canaries are now standard equipment on space stations

  7. The humorous approach makes serious themes about technology's limitations more accessible and memorable

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