Someday

Do the Bard’s outdated stories have a place in the digitized future? Or are the themes, plot structures, and content of the Bard’s stories truly useless for Niccolo and Paul?

How and why does Niccolo gradually cede to Paul’s interests and wants? What characteristics of both Niccolo and Paul encourage this conflict and resolution?

How do the adults around Niccolo and Paul—Mr. Daugherty, Niccolo’s father, and Paul’s father—affect the boys’ understanding of the world and of themselves?

Does Paul have a genuine academic curiosity, or is he solely opportunistic? Is his excitement to learn about “the squiggles” indicative of a thirst for learning, or is Paul simply behaving the way he’s expected to?

Consider the final lines of the story. What suggests that the Bard has gained, or has always had, consciousness at this point? If the Bard is indeed sentient, what does that resolve regarding the ambiguous ending of the story? What still remains ambiguous?

How does Niccolo and Paul’s interest in letters and numbers tie into each of the themes mentioned in this guide?

What would be the benefits of the computer-reliant society presented in “Someday”? What are the downsides? Could a system like this be implemented without those downsides?

Compare and contrast the Bard to similar Language Learning Models and AIs today. What societal shifts or issues might technology like the Bard inspire?