The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy Practice Plan

Plan for In-Class Commentary (only 60 minutes)

Introduction:
• Mention the book, Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, published in 1985.
• Mention the big theme (ex. The Probable of the Improbable) and the smaller themes that are referenced to. (ex. Importance of Humanity, Aliens rule)
• Mention that the themes are found by using motifs such as( the earth, mice,)
• And rhetorical devices such as ( Irony, Sarcasm ), Imagery (motifs) are used in service of the big theme

Context:
• Just before the cliff hanger in that episode
• Genre:
o Radio serial/episodes
o Science Fiction
o Absurdist
• Setting is on Magrethea, where Arthur Dent is about to learn that the earth was a giant computer, generated the ultimate question of life, the universe and everything, which was destroyed 5 minutes before it processed the question.

Paragraph 1:
• The Probable of the Improbable is the main theme, because everything that is mentioned highly Improbable to a human, but fits perfectly into the context of the passage.
• Therefore Absurdity drives the piece, due to the absurd statements such as (dolphins) are more intelligent.
• Irony also drives this passage, because since it is highly improbable, it is unexpected to happen, which results in an ironic atmosphere.

Paragraph 2:
• Themes such as “The importance of humanity” are referenced in different areas of the passage.
• This smaller theme is in service of the big theme.
• EX Dolphins are much more intelligent than humans. Absurd elements such as the playing and fooling in the water, emphasizes the “unimportance” of humanity. This ties directly to the main theme, since it is highly improbable that dolphins are more intelligent than humans.

Paragraph 3:
• There is a paradox, between the difference of intelligence of humans and dolphins and (… and mice are more intelligent than dolphins for the same reason)
• These qualities were brought about by listing (the wheel, New York…)

Paragraph 4:
• Characters Arthur Dent is an uncertain, nervous and mostly sarcastic, in order to blend his uncertainty out of play. (example “Oh”)
• He is just in complete panic, because he was abruptly put into a very new situation.
• Really, he is just in desperate need and search of a normal life (Symbol/Motif a cup of tea)

Conclusion:
• The big theme “The Probable of the Improbable” emphasized by smaller themes and characters.
• Motifs and literary devices are used in service of the big theme.