Compare and contrast the treatment of freedom in 'The Flying Machine' and 'The Thief’s Story', citing specific incidents and discussing the authors’ viewpoints.
Answer
Both stories explore freedom, but while 'The Flying Machine' presents freedom as a lofty, intellectual pursuit hindered by societal fear – illustrated by the boy’s successful test flight and the elders’ demand to destroy the machine – 'The Thief’s Story' shows freedom as a fleeting, illicit escape, exemplified by the thief’s brief triumph in stealing and flying the kite; the authors thus suggest that true freedom requires responsibility, whereas reckless freedom leads to moral loss.
Step-by-step solution
- Read both stories and note every incident that deals with the idea of freedom.
- In 'The Flying Machine', record the boy’s invention, his flight, and the elders’ reaction to destroy it.
- In 'The Thief’s Story', record the thief’s use of the kite to escape and the moment he is caught.
- Analyse how each incident reflects the authors’ stance – one sees freedom as a noble, responsible goal, the other as a selfish, temporary escape.
- Structure the answer: start with a brief introduction, then compare the two incidents, contrast the underlying messages, and conclude with the authors’ viewpoints.
Common mistake: Providing a superficial comparison that mentions only the word ‘freedom’ without specific incidents or the authors’ perspectives.
Concept tested: Comparative analysis of theme
Published · How this solution was prepared and checked
Related questions
- 1 Which narrative perspective is used in 'The Flying Machine'?
- 2 What is the central conflict in 'The Thief's Story'?
- 3 In 'The Thief's Story', the thief’s profession is best described as:
- 4 Which theme is most prominently explored in 'The Flying Machine'?
- 5 Explain how the setting influences the development of the plot in 'The Flying Machine'.
- 6 What does the kite symbolize in 'The Thief’s Story' and how does it contribute to the story’s theme?