the time machine essay prompts

The Time Machine

44 pages • 1 hour read

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Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-2

Chapters 3-8

Chapter 9-Epilogue

Character Analysis

Symbols & Motifs

Literary Devices

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Discussion Questions

Besides a box of matches , what other items from 1895 might the Time Traveller have brought with him to make his visit to the future less dangerous and stressful?

The Time Traveller finds a beautiful world of plenty in 802,000 AD. Explain why this upsets him.

Why do the Eloi and Morlocks evolve differently from one another?

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The Time Machine

H. g. wells.

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Inequality and Social Class

The Time Machine , written in Britain in 1895, is the product of an era of great anxiety about social class and economic inequality. The industrial revolution of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries had generated incredible wealth in Britain, but that wealth went almost entirely to the upper classes instead of being equally distributed to the lower-class workers whose labor was instrumental to industrial prosperity. Moreover, the economic writings of Karl Marx (who died just…

Technology and Progress

The Time Machine opens with the Time Traveller explaining to his dinner guests the underlying scientific principles that make his invention, the time machine, possible. This immersion into mathematical concepts and scientific language is meant to give readers a taste of the intelligence, creativity, and ambition that fuel technological development. In contrast, the Eloi of the future lack language, technology, and even physical strength—they are presented as a lazy species that naps and frolics and…

Humans, Nature, and the Universe

One of the most radical aspects of The Time Machine is that it questions the centrality of human beings to history by challenging the notion that humans will endure in their present form forever. Written about thirty-five years after the publication of On the Origin of Species , Charles Darwin’s seminal text on evolution, The Time Machine takes Darwin’s theory of evolution seriously and explores its possible consequences. In The Time Machine , present-day humans…

Fear and Kindness

Throughout The Time Machine , Wells shatters several common assumptions of human thought (for example, the belief in the inevitable progress of the species, the notion that technology will make human life better, and the insistence that people are at the center of the universe and will endure forever). However, two aspects of humanity whose value Wells does not question are the experience of fear and the ability to feel kindness. These qualities are roughly…

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The Time Machine

by H.G. Wells

The time machine study guide.

" The Time Machine " is primarily a social critique of H.G. Wells 's Victorian England projected into the distant future. Wells was a Socialist for most of his life with Communist leanings, and he argued in both his novels and non-fiction works that capitalism was one of the great ills of modern society. Rapid growth in technology, education, and capital had launched the Industrial Revolution in the 17th- and 18th-centuries, and by the late 19th-century of "The Time Traveler," England was a leading force in the new economy: while industrialists reveled in their unbounded wealth, droves of men, women, and young children toiled long hours for meager wages in dirty, smoke-filled factories. While Charles Dickens won sympathy for the poor by sentimentally depicting their struggle, Wells chose to incorporate a number of scientific--both natural and social--ideas in his argument against capitalism.

Wells's major target is the often elitist branch of evolution, Social Darwinism. In " The Origin of Species ," Charles Darwin argued that different environments encouraged the reproduction of those species whose varying traits best suited them to survive; their offspring, in turn, would be better adapted for the new environment, as would their offspring, and so on. Social Darwinism, developed by British philosopher Herbert Spencer, frequently misapplied this concept of "natural selection" to justify 19th-century social stratification between the rich and poor. The catch-phrase "survival of the fittest" (actually coined by Spencer, not Darwin; Spencer also popularized the term "evolution") does not mean the surviving members of an environment are the "best," but merely the best fit for their specific environment (for instance, Spencer's pale British skin would not survive long in sun-baked Africa). Therefore, evolution does not lead to the "perfectibility" of any species, as is generally perceived, but to the increasing adaptability and complexity of a species. Social Darwinism ignored this idea and contended that the social environment was much like the cutthroat natural environment, and that those who succeeded were biologically destined to do so and to continue in their march to human perfection. Conversely, those who failed were naturally inferior specimens of humanity.

In "The Time Machine," Wells shows first how far human evolution will go if capitalism continues unhampered: mankind will split into two distinct species, the ruling class (the Eloi in the novel) and the working class (the Morlocks). Furthermore, the advancements of civilization will not necessarily advance the species--quite the opposite, in fact. Their luxurious, carefree civilization has made the beautiful Eloi the weak, lazy, and stupid targets of the Morlocks; without an urgent need to survive, the Eloi have not needed to become more "fit," but have instead regressed. Therefore, even though man may evolve to adapt to his environment, the changing environment itself may make that evolution ultimately undesirable. Social Darwinism does not take this into account, and Wells's portrayal of the Eloi serves as an ominous warning to the ruling class who believes it is striving toward perfection.

To counter the notion of evolution as perfection, Wells brings in the concept of entropy (from the Second Law of Thermodynamics). The principle of entropy states that systems tend toward disorder and loss of energy over time. The Eloi seem to embody the effects of entropy; they are lazy, have little physical strength, and grow chaotically fearful when the Morlocks are near. But Wells truly shows his hand in Chapter XI, when the Time Traveler advances thirty million years into the future and witnesses the universe's gradual dissipation of energy.

The Time Machine Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for The Time Machine is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

I'm sorry, you will need to provide the excerpt in question.

Arrange the events in The Time Machine from earliest to latest, based on the Time Traveller’s perspective.

1) The TT finds his machine missing.

2) The TT saves Weena from drowning.

3) The TT realizes people of the future belong to two different races called "eloi and morlocks."

4) The TT realizes the morlocks have his machine.

5) The TT explores the...

(a) Identify What issue related to the model’s disappearance does the Psychologist bring up for discussion?

When the machine disappears. The men are astounded. The TT says he has nearly completed a larger machine, with which he intends to travel through time himself. When asked, he admits he does not know if the model has gone into the past or the...

Study Guide for The Time Machine

The Time Machine study guide contains a biography of H.G. Wells, a complete e-text, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About The Time Machine
• The Time Machine Summary
• Character List
• Chapters 1-2 Summary and Analysis

Essays for The Time Machine

The Time Machine essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The Time Machine by H.G. Wells.

• Chronotopic Shaping and Reshaping in H.G. Wells' The Time Machine and Octavia E. Butler's Kindred
• On the Novum and the Dangers of Humanity’s Pursuit of Scientific Advancement
• The Time Machine: When Progress Becomes Destructive
• The Time Machine and the Protocols of Science Fiction
• Marxist Criticism of The Time Machine

E-Text of The Time Machine

The Time Machine e-text contains the full text of The Time Machine by H.G. Wells.

• Chapters 1-2
• Chapters 3-4
• Chapters 5-6
• Chapters 7-8
• Chapters 9-10

Wikipedia Entries for The Time Machine

• Introduction

Home — Essay Samples — Literature — Books — The Time Machine

Essays on The Time Machine

The analysis of the novel "the time machine" by h.g. wells, kindred and the time machine: the construction of chronotops, made-to-order essay as fast as you need it.

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A Study of The Drawbacks of Capitalism in The Time Machine

A critique of the time machine by marxists, the time machine, h.g. wells's critique of victorians' fear of evolution in "the time machine", let us write you an essay from scratch.

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Humanity's Rise and Fall: a Comparison of The Time Machine in Film and Fiction

H. g. wells’s time machine: a fear of the unknown, analysis of the time machine as a science fiction, the aim and features of time travel narratives.

H. G. Wells

Science Fiction, Comics, Fantasy Fiction, Graphic Novel, Time Travel Fiction, Scientific romance, Dystopian Fiction

The Time Traveller, The Narrator, Weena

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The Time Machine discussion questions

Readers guide, questions and topics for discussion.

1. 1. As Ursula Le Guin mentions in her Introduction, The Time Machine was once published in a collection titled Seven Scientific Romances , and indeed H. G. Wells was known to refer often to the novella as a “romance.” This may seem an unusual way of classifying The Time Machine . Why might Wells have deemed his work a “scientific romance”? What elements of the story, and of Wells’s own motivations for writing it, would justify that categorization?

2. 2. In Wells’s Preface to this edition of The Time Machine , he refers to himself in the third person, as “the writer,” until he startles the reader by referring to “my story” at the midpoint of the essay. Why might Wells have made the choice to refer to himself in the third person, and what effect did this have on your response to the rest of the book? Did his apparent objectivity provide an additional sense of credibility to the text? Why might he have abruptly switched voices, making the piece more personal, after establishing himself as an objective observer?

3. 3. The story of The Time Machine is framed by a dinner party. The banquet, or dinner party, is prevalent in literature as both a trope and a literary device. The use of a dinner party in science fiction may, however, seem somewhat untraditional. Why might Wells have chosen a dinner party as a framing device for his story? What purposes does it serve? In a story about time and time travel, did it help to ground you, the reader, in the present?

4. 4. The Time Machine , written in 1895, is often viewed as a radical and insightful discourse in the science of time/

space relations. As a piece of fiction, it is entertaining and provocative, but Wells also delves into a profound discussion of time as a fourth dimension. The Time Traveller’s explanation of these scientific ideas is rather detailed and quite scholarly. Where in the story does he first explain these ideas, and how does he do so? While this may be exposition for the rest of the story, what other purposes might Wells have had in engaging this discussion in such detail? What might Victorian readers have thought about these ideas? What might the character of the Time Traveller reveal about Wells’s attitudes toward science and the scientific pursuit?

5. 5. The issue of credibility comes up at the outset of The Time Machine . How does the Time Traveller attempt to give credibility to his ideas at the beginning, and what devices throughout does the character use to make the time-travel premise believable for his audience? What techniques or ideas does Wells use to make the premise credible for his readers?

6. 6. Throughout the novel, the only character named is Weena. Each of the Time Traveller’s companions is referred to by either first initial or occupation, and the narrator’s identity is not even disclosed until the book’s conclusion. Why might Wells have used this technique? Is the fact that Weena is the only character acknowledged by name meaningful to the book?

7. 7. Written at a time of rapid economic growth and industrialization in England, The Time Machine is renowned as a work of social criticism. It is known that Wells’s own political beliefs were leftist. Describe the relationship between the species of the future, the Eloi and the Morlocks. How might The Time Machine , in its depiction of the future and the struggle between these species, be a metaphor and prophecy for the age in which Wells was living?

8. 8. It is noteworthy that the Time Traveller comments so often on the year in the future to which he traveled, 802,701. Why was it necessary for Wells’s to set his story so far in the future? Does the extremity of the setting make the novel more or less relevant as a work of social criticism?

9. 9. The idea of evolution arises often in this book; the discussion of it falls into the categories of both scientific commentary and social criticism. How does Wells depict the evolution of the human race? What factors contribute to the final results? How do the Eloi evolve into androgynous automatons, while the Morlocks devolve into brutish troglodytes?

10. 10. The processes of evolution and devolution as depicted in The Time Machine provide interesting insight into the concept of gender roles in modern society. How does Wells construct his criticism of gender and society through the depiction of these two species? How do you think his Victorian audience would have responded to this type of commentary?

11. 11. The Time Machine is a work laden with symbolism. The Palace of Green Porcelain stands out as having significant meaning in terms of both the plot and the social commentary it affords. What is the relevance of the palace in the year 802,701, what is it in the Time Traveller’s age, and how does the palace figure into the plot? While in the Palace of Green Porcelain, the Time Traveller chooses a few “weapons.” What are they and how does he use them? It is interesting that the matches he selects figure the most prominently into the story. Is the importance of fire in the far distant future ironic? Find, describe, and discuss other symbols that appear over the course of the novel.

12. 12. While the story takes place far in the future, the hero of the story, a civilized British scientist, experiences profoundly primitive emotions over the course of the story. At what points in the book is it evident that the Time Traveller is regressing to a primitive state? What does this character development say about “time travel,” in scientific, evolutionary, and emotional terms?

13. 13. What purpose does the Time Traveller’s foray to “the end of the world” serve in the story and in Wells’s social commentary? This episode appears desperate and hopeless. Do you think Wells was truly pessimistic about the future of mankind? How does Wells remind the reader that optimism is not only present in his story, but essential? How do Weena’s flowers figure into the optimism/pessimism discourse?

14. 14. The Time Machine is a major work of utopian/dystopian fiction. What is a utopia? A dystopia? Describe the physical landscape of the future as Wells envisions it. What elements of both utopia and dystopia are immediately noticeable? How is the social landscape simultaneously utopian and dystopian? How does this theme figure into the idea of appearance versus reality, a debate that also figures prominently in the novel?

15. 15. Wells certainly opens the doors for discussion with this novel, and it is clear that he felt extremely connected to the ideas conveyed in the book. To what extent do you think the character of the Time Traveller was a literary mask or mouthpiece of the author? Are there any aspects of the book that lead you to believe Wells was more or less hopeful about the future of mankind than his protagonist?

What do the names Eloi and Morlock suggest about the natures of these creatures in The Time Machine ?

Eloi sounds like the word elite , reflecting their place in the future society visited by the Time Traveller. In addition, the long e sound in Eloi (pronounced ee-loy ) and the oi lend a feeling of flow to the word. These vowels can be drawn out for a long time, letting them slide off the tongue without obstruction. Their happy, easygoing nature is reflected linguistically in their name. The Hebrew word Elohim , meaning "God," may also be the origin of the term Eloi , suggesting a fall from grace. On the other hand the ck (pronounced kuh ) sound in Morlock is hard and stops the word abruptly. Morlock also rhymes with warlock , a word meaning a male witch. The harder, more violent-sounding word befits the Morlocks' nature as primitive and savage predators. The Latin root mor , meaning "death," is suggestive of the origin of the term Morlocks , implying a kind of living death.

How does the opening paragraph of The Time Machine function as exposition, introducing readers to the main protagonist and an important theme or conflict?

Exposition, as opposed to story or plot, describes characters, setting, and important issues rather than narrating. In the first paragraph, readers learn that the protagonist is the Time Traveller; he will have no name but be identified solely by his activity in the story. This immediately lets readers know that time travel itself is the key issue, not personality and character development. Furthermore, the scene is "after dinner," a time of day when "thought roams gracefully free" and the host, the Time Traveller himself, is presenting a "paradox" for discussion. It is apparent that readers have already moved into a time and realm that is beyond the usual. Because a paradox is a seemingly impossible statement or situation that nonetheless turns out to be true or workable, the stage is set for the time travel itself and the wondrous events that will unfold—all before the second paragraph.

In Chapter 4 of The Time Machine , how does Wells use features that the Eloi share with human children to show that time has reversed biologically for this species?

Wells felt that the ruling upper class in Victorian England in his time was becoming less and less vigorous and competent. He uses exaggeration to make this point. Thus, he makes their counterparts in the land he is visiting, the Eloi, appear as children. They are small. They spend their days laughing, playing, swimming and braiding flowers. They cry a lot. They are not intelligent, are unable to communicate with the Time Traveller, and are apparently uninterested in trying to do so. At night, they huddle together in their palaces in fear. They are not capable of rebuilding the dilapidated structures they inhabit or protecting themselves from the Morlocks. All of their incapacities add up to an evolutionary regression. As time has moved on, this branch of humanity has devolved. It has biologically gone backward in time—tall, strong, intelligent, knowledgable adults of the 19th century become small, weak, slow-witted, ignorant children in the future: an unanticipated evolutionary irony.

In Chapters 1 and 2 of The Time Machine , what do the dinner guests' various suggestions about what to do with the time machine show about their personalities?

While H.G. Wells is using the dinner guests in Chapter 1 as types to represent a number and variety of different points of view in society, he also crafts their comments to reflect their characters. The Medical Man, for instance, shows that he is at least open to a new idea, no matter how surprising. He takes the Time Traveller seriously from the start, asking "Are you in earnest about this?" and later, "Are you perfectly serious?" He is inquisitive and curious. The Psychologist is more careful, more circumspect, more suspicious: "Let's see your experiment," he says to the Time Traveller, then pulls back, saying, "though it's all humbug, you know." The Provincial Mayor is the most conservative and doubtful. While the dinner guests debate whether the little version of the machine has gone into the past or the future, the Mayor remarks only that there are "serious objections." In Chapter 2, the Editor shows a singular professional focus when he imagines headlines about the potential time travel rather than expressing an interest in the scientific ramifications: "Remarkable Behaviour of an Eminent Scientist," is one. The Journalist overtly ridicules the Time Traveller, imagining his own headline, shouting, "Our Special Correspondent in the Day after To-morrow reports ..." and showing only his own obtuseness.

In Chapter 3 of The Time Machine , how does the Time Traveller's description when he starts the time machine reflect his point that "time is only a kind of Space?"

The Time Traveller's point is made by the very words he uses from the start, first describing a sensation of "falling," which is, of course, a rapid descent through space, from a higher to a lower location. When his housekeeper, Mrs. Watchett, seems to "shoot across the room like a rocket," she is perceived as moving through that particular confined space. He also describes "a feeling exactly like that one has upon a switchback—of a helpless headlong motion!" It is as if he is hurtling down a mountainside back and forth from curve to curve—on a road that is located in a concrete space on the planet. He is describing being jostled from side to side (in space), not from second from second (as in time).

In Chapter 5 of The Time Machine , what does the Time Traveller mean in his remark about Weena: "I did not clearly know what I had inflicted upon her ..."?

The full text of this important realization is "Until it was too late, I did not clearly know what I had inflicted upon her when I left her. Nor until it was too late did I clearly understand what she was to me." What the Time Traveller means is that he has underestimated both his own capacity for affection and, as well, his ability to be touched deeply by another human being. Weena is an important addition because she is able to form an affectionate bond—even if it is not a mature or romantic relationship—with the Time Traveller, demonstrating that the human heart is still vibrant and important despite the collapse of human society over time, evident in the existence of the savage Morlocks and ineffectual Eloi. He has to admit to himself that "she was, somehow, a very great comfort" and "the little doll of a creature presently gave my return to the neighbourhood of the White Sphinx almost the feeling of coming home." Are the two "in love"? They do not share a mature, developed, romantic bond. They never embrace or kiss. They share mutual affection of the kind between a parent and a child; they may be said to love each other in this way. However, Weena is intellectually and emotionally a child. The Time Traveller rescues her, carries her here and there, takes care of her in every way. Then when she dies, surprisingly he does not weep or mourn or even look for her remains. It seems as if the author uses the relationship with Weena to make a point about the Time Traveller's capacity for compassion more than to say anything about a future human's capacity to develop a romantic attachment.

What makes the flowers mentioned in the Epilogue of The Time Machine significant to readers' belief in the Time Traveller's story?

In the Epilogue, the Narrator is left with two withered white flowers that are extremely important. The flowers, though withered, are living things. They are not artificial but grew in actual earth somewhere at some real time on the planet. Theoretically, they provide concrete physical evidence of the journey the Time Traveller described to his dinner guests. After examining them, the Medical Man says pointedly: "I certainly don't know the natural order of these flowers." He uses the word order as a technical biological term that biologists use to classify earthly organisms. The Medical Man means that the flowers do not come from any known "family" of present earth flowers that he recognizes. The clear inference is that the Time Traveller can only have gotten them in another location on his time trip. Second, the Time Traveller has said that Weena gave the flowers to him. She thought his pockets were for holding flowers, in fact. They are important symbols of their bond and physical closeness. That he did not just pick them himself but has a coherent, detailed narrative about both their origin and about Weena herself adds further credence to his story.

In Chapter 4 of The Time Machine , how do the Elois' habitat and manners reflect their "lack of interest"?

As the Time Traveller visits where the Eloi live, the setting reflects a "lack of interest." He first sees a "tangled waste" of vegetation and a "long neglected" garden." Entering, he encounters "very badly broken and weather-worn" decorations. Once inside the building, he mentions that "perhaps the thing that struck me most was its dilapidated look. The stained-glass windows, which displayed only a geometrical pattern, were broken in many places, and the curtains that hung across the lower end were thick with dust. And it caught my eye that the corner of the marble table near me was fractured." Furthermore, as the Eloi seat themselves for a meal, "with a pretty absence of ceremony they began to eat the fruit with their hands, flinging peel and stalks, and so forth."

In Chapter 5 of The Time Machine , how does the Time Traveller's resolution to "look ... circumstances fairly in the face" after his anger reinforce his scientific perspective on life?

As the Time Traveller says, "I could reason with myself," he allows the emotions of fear and disappointment—the "wild folly of my frenzy"—to wash over him and away to be replaced by calm, rational thinking. Then he says, "things came clear in my mind." Like a scientist, he starts making hypotheses: "Suppose the machine altogether lost—perhaps destroyed?"—"But probably, the machine had only been taken away." About the world he finds himself in, he decides he will act as any good scientist would: "Learn its ways, watch it, be careful of too hasty guesses at its meaning." He says to himself, "patience," and eventually he is calm enough to laugh aloud at how his own scientific ability in creating the time machine got him into this world in the first place.

In Chapter 1 of The Time Machine , how do the dinner guests reveal their function as stand-ins for readers' questions about the story?

As a group, the overall skepticism and sometimes actual ridicule of the dinner guests allows Wells to reveal and deal with objections to the Time Traveller's story of his journey and the science with which he explains it, objections that anyone reading The Time Machine might reasonably have. By airing these openly and allowing the Time Traveller to address and then rebut them, Wells is implicitly improving the likelihood that the reader will believe the Time Traveller and his explanations in a classic "willing suspension of disbelief," as the English poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge said good readers should exercise. The dinner guests express different approaches based on their professions—the Medical Man, the Psychologist, the Provincial Mayor—so that a number and variety of points of view are presented.

How to Write a Personal Narrative: A Step-by-Step Guide

“As I sat down to write this article, memories flooded back, each one a brushstroke in the painting of my past…”

That could be the beginning of your personal narrative. Writing it lets you turn your memories and experiences into stories that click with others. This type of writing goes beyond school assignments or essays for college applications; it’s a chance to get really good at sharing your life's events in ways that matter. 

In this article, we're going to explore what personal narratives are all about and guide you through a simple seven-step process to create your own. You’ll learn how to pull out moments that make your story stand out and how to tweak your writing until it’s just right. We’ve got practical examples for you to follow along, making sure you have everything you need to tell your story. 

What is a Personal Narrative?

A personal narrative is a way to tell your own story. It's a style of writing that puts your experiences front and center, inviting readers into your world. Teachers often assign personal narratives to encourage free, expressive writing. 

The personal narrative definition is wider than academic settings, though. . These narratives can also show potential employers who you are beyond your resume. At its core, writing a personal narrative is a form of storytelling, using a first-person perspective to bring real-life tales to life. Whether it's for a grade, a job, or just for fun, it's about getting your story out there.

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How to Write a Personal Narrative: Steps

In this section, we'll break down the process into manageable steps, starting with how to zero in on the right topic that speaks about who you are.

Step 1. Choosing a Personal Narrative Topic

The first step in crafting your personal narrative is picking the perfect topic. It should be something meaningful to you, something that has not just happened, but also shaped who you are or has a significant story behind it. Here’s how to frame your personal narrative ideas:

• Story Arc : Your narrative is like a mini-movie. Start with setting the scene, build up to the main event, and wrap up with a reflection. For example, if you’re writing about your first solo travel experience, begin with your initial feelings, describe the challenges you faced, and end with what you learned about yourself.
• Thematic Focus : Instead of moving through time, center your narrative around a central theme. Maybe it’s about resilience, and you could link different times you had to be resilient, ending with a major life challenge.
• A Day to Remember : Sometimes a single day can tell a lot about you. Pick a day that was particularly memorable and unpack it from start to finish. Maybe it was a seemingly ordinary day that brought unexpected lessons or joys.

Step 2. Working on Your Personal Narrative Outline

When putting together your personal narrative, starting with a solid outline can help keep your story on track. Here's how you can lay it all out:

• Introduction: Kick things off with a hook that grabs attention, like an intriguing question or a vivid snapshot of a key moment. Set the scene and introduce the main theme.
• Setting and Characters : Give a good sense of where your story is unfolding and who's involved. Paint a clear picture of the backdrop and the key people.
• Plot Development : Lay out the events in the order they happened, or group them around major themes. Build up to your main event, adding conflicts or challenges as you go.
• Climax : This is the high point of your story, where everything comes to a head. Make it a moment that has the most impact.
• Resolution : Wrap up the main storyline, showing how things settled down after the climax.
• Reflection : Spend some time reflecting on what happened. Share what you learned or how you changed because of the experience.

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Step 3. Writing the First Draft of Your Personal Narrative

Now let’s move on to the fun part! Don't worry about getting everything perfect right away — the first draft’s goal is to let your story flow naturally:

• Start with Your Hook: Revisit the introduction you outlined and flesh it out. Begin with the attention-grabbing sentence that will make readers want to continue.
• Let the Story Unfold: Follow your outline, but allow yourself some flexibility. As you write, new memories or details may come to mind. Embrace them! Think about what you saw, heard, and felt during these moments. Were you sitting in a sunlit room, listening to the hum of a busy street outside? Maybe you felt the chill of an autumn breeze? 
• Stay True to Your Voice: This is your story, so let your unique voice shine through. Whether you're humorous, reflective, or serious, maintain a consistent tone that feels authentically you. Keep the tone conversational and straightforward, as if you’re telling this story to a friend. 

Once the first personal narrative draft is done, set it aside for a bit before revisiting it with fresh eyes.

Step 4. Revising Your Personal Narrative

Once the first personal narrative draft is done, set it aside for a bit before revisiting it with fresh eyes:

• Tighten Up the Story : As you go through your draft, focus on making everything clear and to the point. If you’ve talked about how nervous you were before a big event more than once, try to combine those thoughts into one powerful sentence that really captures how you felt.
• Keep Your Tone Consistent : Make sure your voice stays the same throughout the story. If you start off with a casual, conversational tone, like saying, “I couldn’t shake the nerves before my big test,” stick with that style instead of suddenly becoming formal later on.
• Adjust the Pacing : Pay attention to how smoothly your story flows from one part to the next. When you’re describing a key moment, like meeting someone important or going through a major experience, give it the detail and time it deserves. Let those moments develop naturally without rushing.
• Enhance Your Descriptions : Make your imagery more vivid to help the reader visualize your story. For example, instead of just saying, “The room was noisy,” you could say, “The room buzzed with excited chatter.” These small tweaks can make your story feel more alive and engaging.

Step 5. Adding Personal Touches

As you polish your personal narrative, focus on making it uniquely yours. You can include personal reflections on your experiences. For example, if you’re writing about a challenging project, discuss not just the struggle but how it impacted you personally and professionally.

Besides, add unique details that only you can share. Instead of generic descriptions, use specific anecdotes or sensory details, like how the scent of freshly baked cookies from your grandmother's kitchen made you feel nostalgic.

Last but not least, incorporate dialogues or direct quotes from people involved in your story to add authenticity and depth. For instance, if your mentor gave you advice, include their exact words to capture the moment’s impact. This approach will help you understand how to write a personal narrative that is both engaging and deeply personal.

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Step 6: Editing for Clarity and Style

When you’re editing your personal narratives, the goal is to make sure everything flows smoothly and makes sense. Here’s how to get it just right:

• Clarify Your Message: Check for any parts of your story that might be a bit confusing. If you talked about being excited about a project and then suddenly shifted to its challenges, make sure to connect these thoughts clearly. For instance, you might rephrase it as “I was excited about the project, but I soon faced some unexpected challenges, like tight deadlines.”
• Simplify Complex Sentences: Break down long or complicated sentences. Instead of saying, “My enthusiasm for the project, which was incredibly high despite the difficulties I faced, was the driving force behind my perseverance,” you could simplify it to, “Even though the project was tough, my excitement kept me going.”
• Smooth Transitions: Check how your paragraphs and sections flow together. If you jump from describing a problem to the solution without a clear link, add a transition. For example, “After struggling with the project’s challenges, I realized that asking my mentor for help was the key to overcoming the obstacles.”

Oh, and read your narrative out loud. This can help you spot any awkward phrases or spots where the story might be a bit choppy. It’s a great way to catch any issues and make those final tweaks to get everything just right.

Personal Narrative Prompts

Here are ten personal narrative prompts to get you thinking about different moments in your life:

Need more tips on how to get started? Check out this guide on how to start a narrative essay to kick off your writing with a strong opening.

Personal Narrative Examples

Here are a few personal narrative beginnings to spark your creativity. These snippets are designed to get you started and inspire your own storytelling.

Wrapping Up

As you finish up your story, think about how those moments shaped who you are today. It's not just about what happened, but how it changed you. When learning how to write a personal narrative, it’s important to focus on the moments that truly matter to you and tell them in your own voice. This way, your narrative can really connect with others. 

Remember, the best stories come straight from the heart, so trust yourself and let your experiences shine through!

If you're working on a personal statement, you might want to explore a personal statement service that can help you create a compelling narrative.

Turn Memories into Masterpieces

Let us transform your experiences into a beautifully crafted narrative that stands out and makes an impact.

How to Start a Personal Narrative?

Can a personal narrative be about anything, what is the format of a personal narrative.

Daniel Parker

is a seasoned educational writer focusing on scholarship guidance, research papers, and various forms of academic essays including reflective and narrative essays. His expertise also extends to detailed case studies. A scholar with a background in English Literature and Education, Daniel’s work on EssayPro blog aims to support students in achieving academic excellence and securing scholarships. His hobbies include reading classic literature and participating in academic forums.

is an expert in nursing and healthcare, with a strong background in history, law, and literature. Holding advanced degrees in nursing and public health, his analytical approach and comprehensive knowledge help students navigate complex topics. On EssayPro blog, Adam provides insightful articles on everything from historical analysis to the intricacies of healthcare policies. In his downtime, he enjoys historical documentaries and volunteering at local clinics.

• The New York Times. (2020, January 7). Personal Narrative Essay Winners. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/07/learning/personal-narrative-essay-winners.html

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The Time Machine Essay Topics & Writing Assignments

While this novel is considered a foundational example of the science fiction genre, Wells grounds it in actual science. Interpret the various roles "real" or actual science plays in this narrative, including a discussion of both the scientific issues discussed in the beginning of the novel as well as the scientific understanding of the world the Time Traveler uses in the future and returns to his own time with. Be sure to discuss the specific ways Wells and his characters employ science in the service of fiction.

While this novel is considered a foundational example of the science fiction genre, Wells grounds it in actual science. Interpret the various roles "real" or actual science plays in this narrative, including a discussion of both the scientific issues discussed in the beginning of the novel as well as the scientific understanding of the world the Time Traveler uses in the...

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This AI model lets you generate videos using only your photos

As one of the latest developments in the AI landscape, AI-powered video generators have been growing in popularity. These services work similarly to other generative AI tools: Describe your desired content in a prompt, and the bot responds, hopefully delivering what you want.

Launched in June , Luma Dream Machine is an AI video generator with two capabilities: text-to-video and image-to-video. Luma only creates short videos -- a few seconds in length -- but you can extend a video another five seconds by adding more details to the prompt.

Also: Want to clone yourself? Make a personal AI avatar - here's how

What's more, Luma is now running Dream Machine 1.5, its latest model, which is designed to better understand your prompts and generate more realistic videos more quickly.

Here's how to use Luma Dream Machine's AI to create a short video.

How to use Luma Dream Machine

1. sign into the website.

To start, head to the Dream Machine website . Click the "Try now" button and you'll be prompted to sign in with a Google account.

Luma offers  a variety of plans  based on how many videos you need to generate per month and how you plan to use them. The free plan offers you 30 videos each month with no commercial use allowed, while the Lite plan costs $10 per month for 40 videos. 

The most expensive option is the Premier plan priced at $500 per month, which comes with 2,400 videos each month. 

Text-to-video prompt

2. provide your prompt.

Let's start with Luma's text-to-video generator. In the prompt field, type a description of the video you want. Be specific and include any important details. 

You can also describe the mood or atmosphere you want to create. Make sure the option for "Enhance prompt" is checked, as that helps Dream Machine turn simple descriptions into more detailed scenarios. 

Also: The best AI image generators of 2024: Tested and reviewed

If you want the video to keep looping, check the option for Loop. After you've typed the description, click Create.

3. Review the video

Your video will queue up. Depending on the complexity of the scene, you may have to wait several minutes or longer for the video to appear. Hover your mouse over the video to play it.

4. Rate the video

You can now rate the video by giving it a thumbs up or thumbs down. I asked Dream Machine to create a video of a knight in shining armor battling a dragon breathing fire with both of them in front of a castle. The video looked good, but the fire came out of nowhere instead of the dragon's mouth. For that reason, I gave it a thumbs down.

5. Refine your prompt

If the video doesn't meet your requirements, you can always try again. Revise your original prompt to correct whatever element didn't come out right. In my case, I rewrote the prompt to specifically indicate that the dragon should be shooting fire out of its mouth. 

Also: Meet Stability AI's Stable Video 4D, a nuanced take on AI video generation

With the revised prompt, Dream Machine did a better job. Each video you request appears on the main screen so that you can play or tweak any of them.

6. Extend the video

Next, you can extend the video by five seconds by adding other details to the prompt. To do this, click the Extend button and then elaborate on your prompt with additional instructions. When done, click the up arrow to submit the new details. 

You can then preview the video to see if the new information shows up.

Image-to-video prompt

7. use images to create a video without a text prompt.

Now that we've tried Luma's text-to-video feature, let's move on to its image-to-video generator.

This capability lets you upload images that Luma will use to create a video instead of writing a prompt from scratch. You can then submit your request with or without a description. 

Two images work best here -- the first acts as the starting frame and the second as the ending frame. Dream Machine's job is to create footage in between those two frames. The images must be in JPG, JPEG, or PNG format and ideally have a 16:9 aspect ratio, but Dream Machine can work with other formats as well.

Also: TikTok's parent company launches AI text-to-video generation tool

To try this, click the image icon in the prompt. Select the two images you wish to use. You can switch the position of the two images by clicking the curved arrow between them or swap out one of the images by clicking the X. 

Let's try submitting the request without any prompt to see what Dream Machine cooks up on its own.

8. View the video

Hover over the video to see how it plays. You can extend the video by five seconds by clicking the Extend button and adding another element to the prompt.

In my case, Dream Machine extended a video I had requested based on two photos of the Statue of Liberty. The extra few seconds added a nice touch by lingering on a close up of the statue's iconic torch.

9. Use images with a prompt

To generate a more specific video, add your two images and then type a description of what you want.

10. View the result

Hover over the resulting video to see if it matches your description. If not, you can try again or extend the video by adding more details to the prompt. 

I added two portrait images -- one of Herbert Hoover and another of Franklin D. Roosevelt. I asked Dream Machine to create a video changing Hoover into FDR, and it pulled off an effective morph of the 31st president turning into the 32nd.

Also: Midjourney's AI-image generator website is now free for everyone

I also tried the same two images but without a description. In this case, the results were not quite as satisfying, as Dream Machine failed to add the cool morphing. Even when you take the image route, adding a prompt can help steer the results to better meet your expectations.

11. Download the video

Once you're satisfied with the video, click the Download button to download it as an MP4 file. You can then play it in your default media player or tweak it in your favorite video editor.

Also: How to use ChatGPT to write your resume

Overall, I was pleased with the performance of Dream Machine. I did have to tweak and finesse the prompts to get my desired results, but that's true of any generative AI tool. In some cases, the videos took a long time to generate, so you'll have to be patient. 

To learn more about Dream Machine, check out  Luma's FAQ page .

Artificial Intelligence

Midjourney now lets you edit your ai-generated images. here's how, how i test an ai chatbot's coding ability - and you can, too, my 3 favorite ai chatbot apps for ios - and what you can do with them.

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Since its launch in November 2022, OpenAI’s ChatGPT has captured the imagination of both consumers and enterprise leaders by demonstrating the potential generative AI has to dramatically transform the ways we live and work. As the scope of its impact on society continues to unfold, business and government organizations are still racing to react, creating policies about employee use of the technology or even restricting access to ChatGPT .

The most prudent among them have been assessing the ways in which they can apply AI to their organizations and preparing for a future that is already here. The most advanced among them are shifting their thinking from AI being a bolt-on afterthought, to reimagining critical workflows with AI at the core.

The global generative AI market is approaching an inflection point , with a valuation of USD 8 billion and an estimated CAGR of 34.6% by 2030. With more than 85 million jobs expected to go unfilled by that time , creating more intelligent operations with AI and automation is required to deliver the efficiency, effectiveness and experiences that business leaders and stakeholders expect.

Generative AI presents a compelling opportunity to augment employee efforts and make the enterprise more productive. But as C-Suite leaders research generative AI solutions, they are uncovering more questions: Which use cases will deliver the most value for my business? Which AI technology is best suited for my needs? Is it secure? Is it sustainable? How is it governed? And how do I ensure my AI projects succeed?

Having worked with foundation models for a number of years, IBM Consulting, IBM Technology and IBM Research have developed a grounded point of view on what it takes to derive value from responsibly deploying AI across the enterprise.

As the name suggests, generative AI generates images, music, speech, code, video or text, while it interprets and manipulates pre-existing data. Generative AI is not a new concept: machine-learning techniques behind generative AI have evolved over the past decade. The latest approach is based on a neural network architecture, coined “transformers.” Combining transformer architecture with unsupervised learning, large foundation models emerged that outperform existing benchmarks capable of handling multiple data modalities.

These large models are called foundational models, as they serve as the starting point for the development of more advanced and complex models. By building on top of a foundation model, we can create more specialized and sophisticated models tailored to specific use cases or domains. Early examples of models, like GPT-3, BERT, T5 or DALL-E, have shown what’s possible: input a short prompt and the system generates an entire essay, or a complex image, based on your parameters. 

Large Language Models (LLMs) were explicitly trained on large amounts of text data for NLP tasks and contained a significant number of parameters, usually exceeding 100 million. They facilitate the processing and generation of natural language text for diverse tasks. Each model has its strengths and weaknesses and the choice of which one to use depends on the specific NLP task and the characteristics of the data being analyzed. Choosing the correct LLM to use for a specific job requires expertise in LLMs.

BERT is designed to understand bidirectional relationships between words in a sentence and is primarily used for task classification, question answering and named entity recognition. GPT, on the other hand, is a unidirectional transformer-based model primarily used for text generation tasks such as language translation, summarization, and content creation. T5 is also a transformer-based model, however, it differs from BERT and GPT in that it is trained using a text-to-text approach and can be fine-tuned for various natural language processing tasks such as language translation, summarization and responding to questions.

Being pre-trained on massive amounts of data, these foundation models deliver huge acceleration in the AI development lifecycle, allowing businesses to focus on fine tuning for their specific use cases. As opposed to building custom NLP models for each domain, foundation models are enabling enterprises to shrink the time to value from months to weeks. In client engagements, IBM Consulting is seeing up to 70% reduction in time to value for NLP use cases such as call center transcript summarization, analyzing reviews and more. 

Given the cost to train and maintain foundation models, enterprises will have to make choices on how they incorporate and deploy them for their use cases. There are considerations specific to use cases and decision points around cost, effort, data privacy, intellectual property and security. It is possible to use one or more deployment options within an enterprise trading off against these decision points. 

Foundation models will dramatically accelerate AI adoption in business by reducing labeling requirements, which will make it easier for businesses to experiment with AI, build efficient AI-driven automation and applications, and deploy AI in a wider range of mission-critical situations. The goal for IBM Consulting is to bring the power of foundation models to every enterprise in a frictionless hybrid-cloud environment. 

For more information, see how generative AI can be used to maximize experiences, decision-making and business value , and how IBM Consulting brings a valuable and responsible approach to AI .

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