I am writing report on the novel The Time Machine, by H.G. Wells. I am supposed to write when the story takes place. I have searched through the book and the internet and can't find any hints as to what time frame the young scientist lived in. Please help!
Thank you for using the Jiskha Homework Help Forum. Because this is a work of science fiction, it could take place at ANY time!
But does the author write in this particular book what time frame the main character lived in?
The Time Machine is simply set in the future, although most of the action takes place in 802,701 AD. It's just as well that Wells didn't set a specific date for the invention of his time machine. I first read Orwell's 1984 about 1950. At that time, 1984 seemed to be in the far distant future. The novel is still relevant today, but the year 1984 is now history, not the future.
Thank you very much, Ms. Sue. Does this sound like a good opening line for my report?
The Time Machine, by H.G. Wells,is an American literature classic relating the tale of a young scientist who travels through time with the help of his invention, the time machine.
That's a good opening line -- except for one thing. Wells was British, not American. I suggest you leave out the nationality.
Sure, I can help you with that. In the novel "The Time Machine" by H.G. Wells, the story doesn't explicitly mention a specific time frame or date. However, we can gather some clues that can help us approximate when the story takes place.
1. Time Period: The story provides a description of the society in which the young scientist lives, which includes elements of social stratification and class divisions. Based on these themes, we can infer that the novel is set in the late 19th or early 20th century. The story was published in 1895, so it is reasonable to assume that the events take place around that time.
2. Technological Context: The Time Machine itself is described as a marvel of scientific invention, showing that the young scientist is working in an era with significant technological advancements. Similarly, the existence of electric lights and the progress of industrialization further suggest a time period in the late 19th or early 20th century.
3. Historical Context: The novel reflects the concerns and anxieties prevalent during that era, such as the social inequality brought about by the Industrial Revolution. This indicates that the story is set in a time when these issues were of particular relevance.
Considering these factors, it is reasonable to conclude that "The Time Machine" takes place in the late 19th or early 20th century, possibly around the time of the story's publication in 1895.
To support your conclusion, you can use these contextual clues and explain how they relate to the time period in which the novel was written. However, it's also important to note that the story primarily focuses on the future and the distant past, rather than the specific time period in which the young scientist lived.