The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Plan + Paragraph (Very Sorry for the slight delay of the plan)

Plan for a Commentary of the Hitchhiker’s guide to the Galaxy

Introduction:

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, is an amalgam of the genres of science fiction absurdist humour and radio serial. Firstly published in 1985, the episodic radio podcast was broadcast on a regular basis in the United Kingdom. Typical Codes were connected with science fiction conventions to create this unique genre. Many literary and humorous devices are used to create the absurdist atmosphere that makes the podcast humorous. With the help of common motifs and devices recognized in the passage on page 90 of the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, certain themes can be strengthened. Typical for this episodic radio show, the passage is read by a narrator, giving background and a cliff hanger from the previous episode. The specific passage is read and analyzed, in order to find the devices and motifs that are used in service of the theme.

Paragraph 1:

Each theme is a code combined with a science fiction convention, in order to result in an absurdist piece. Different humorous and literary devices are used in service of the theme. Letting the setting be a convention, space is a fundamental idea that connects with the idea of science fiction. The earth is the most important motif in this passage which is used in service of the theme; the importance of humanity. The passage is driven by biblical allusions such as “that… the universe … was created by some sort of God.”(p.90). Since humans, living on earth are probably the only one’s believing in God, it refers to both the motif, earth, and as a result leads into the theme as mentioned above. The statement is juxtaposed with the next sentence, having a change in tone which gives a negative response to the first statement. In addition, absurd and ironic elements are added to give the controversial idea a humorous effect.

Apparently “the universe was in fact sneezed out of the nose…”.

Theme: The importance of humanity
Motifs used in service of theme: earth,
Literary/humorous devices: Biblical Allusion, Juxtaposition, Irony, absurdity
Convention: Setting: Space


Paragraph 2:

Theme: Past + Present
Motifs used in service of the theme: earth
Literary Devices: Parallel Structure, historical allusion, biblical allusion, irony, absurdity

Paragraph 3:
Theme: 42
Motifs used in service of the theme: earth, deep thought, the ultimate question
Literary devices: Parallel Structure, absurdity, logical fallacy,



Paragraph 4:

Theme: The Probability of the Improbable/ paradox statement
Motifs used: earth
devices: irony, absurdity, foreshadowing

Conclusion:

Of the four mentioned themes, which were present in the passage, all were strengthened by the use of literary, humorous devices and motifs. In this passage, the earth was the most repeated motif, because it could be referred to the theme in every case. The frequent absurdity emphasizes the idea of this humorous, episodic radio show, and as a result used frequently. The use of irony is of equal and fundamental importance, because it emphasizes the unexpected in many cases, which then created the humor.