H. G. Wells tells the story of a Victorian scientist who invents a device that can move through time, using it to glimpse humanity’s distant future. The novella explores the possibilities and perils of technological progress, offering a speculative vision that helped define modern science‑fiction. Its social critique and imaginative world‑building have made it a staple of literary study.
Try these questions
- What are the central themes and recurring motifs in the story, and how do they reflect the author's view of progress?
- How does the Time Traveller's personality and relationships with the other guests reveal his role as a narrator?
- In what ways does the novella reflect the scientific, social, and imperial attitudes of late‑Victorian Britain?
- How does Wells employ narrative structure and descriptive language to create a sense of wonder and critique?
The Time Machine
H. G. Wells