Class 6: Unit-9A: The City of Tobors

The City of the Tobors by Jan Carew (Summary Only For Reading)

One night, Derf cannot sleep as he thinks about how to get into The Centre. The next morning, as Derf takes a lift to his workshop on the fourth floor of the city, a Tobor is on duty at the door and counts the workers. Derf sees a female Nem holding a baby. The Tobor refuses to let the female Nem take the baby inside. The female Nem argues that the baby will not be trouble her and she will work hard. The Tobor is unmoved and tells her to take the baby to the clinic. 

An angry Derf wants to fight the Tobors but he knows that the only way is by going into The Centre. Derf works at a simple computer. He feeds questions into his computer for it to print out answers, but he can only think about how to get inside The Centre. Then, Derf’s computer makes a new noise as Derf has asked a wrong question. The computer cannot answer a question like that. It tells Derf that it does not understand the question and requests him to ask it in a different way. Derf feels excited as this is the first time he comes across computer ignorance. Derf begins to feed lots of silly questions into his computer. The computer tries hard to find the answers but is unable to do so. Finally, its lights go off, and it prints out its last message that it needed to be repaired. That night, Derf tells his friends, Kram and Nor, what had happened. They feel excited that they have finally found a way to fight back the Tobors. 

The next day, at 14:00 hours, Derf begins to ask one silly question after another to his computer. The computer tries to work it out but is unable to do so. When Derf asks a forbidden question: ‘Who are the Tobors?’, his computer goes berserk and finally prints out ‘Question not allowed!’. Nor and Kram do the same in the next room and their computers also start clicking and flashing. When the other Nems get to know what they had done, they too ask their computers about the Tobors. There is chaos. The Tobors get very worried but unable to do anything as the computers break down, they rush out to go to the Centre. Derf, Kram and Nor follow the Tobors. 

As the Tobors entered the Centre, Derf, Kram and Nor too manage to slip in. The Centre is a large room with many big computers all around it and a giant computer in the middle. Derf runs towards the giant computer and asks who the Tobors were.

A Tobor tries to kill Derf but fails to do so, having lost some of his power due to the computer breakdown. In the fight that follows, Derf makes a hole in the Tobor’s silver uniform. He is surprised to see that the Tobor’s body had wires inside. The Tobor becomes weak and falls to the ground. Derf lets out a cry of victory that the Tobors are only machines and can be broken. The cry goes around the city. The Nems stop working and attack the Tobors. Soon, the city belongs to the Nems. Derf becomes the hero of the city and the people are free. But Derf still wants to know who the Tobors are; where they have come from; and if they will ever come back.  

Before breaking down, the giant computer is able to say that robots are made by men and they should never kill men. Derf realises the truth and explains to the others that they are men and women, and not Nems. With time, the names got mixed up, and the names of women were taken away. And Tobors were robots. Before the war, people had made robots to help them but after the war, the robots had taken over. Derf vows that never again will this happen and machines will not be allowed to become more powerful than humans.

This is an action-packed story with lots of excitement and drama. Through the author’s descriptions, we feel Derf’s anger at the way he and the other Nems are treated and cheer for them when they succeed in their plan. The story is also very important in today’s times as it tells us about the dangers of technology and how we must not let it overtake our lives.

The City of the Tobors by Jan Carew

Background of the Story - The City of the Tobors is a science-fiction story by Jan Carew. The story takes place in a futuristic city controlled by robots called Tobors. It follows Derf and the Nems as they struggle against machine domination and fight for human freedom.

Summary in Points

1. Derf feels angry about the cruel rule of the Tobors.
2. A Tobor refuses to allow a woman to take her baby to work.
3. Derf becomes determined to fight back.
4. He discovers that computers cannot answer certain strange questions.
5. Derf, Kram, and Nor deliberately confuse the computers.
6. The computers begin to break down.
7. Other Nems join in by asking forbidden questions.
8. Chaos spreads throughout the city.
9. The Tobors rush to The Centre to control the situation.
10. Derf and his friends secretly enter The Centre.
11. Derf discovers that the Tobors are actually robots.
12. The Nems attack and defeat the Tobors.
13. The people regain freedom and reclaim their identity as humans.

Flowchart

Tobors control the city

            ↓

Derf discovers computer weakness

            ↓

Forbidden questions asked

            ↓

Computers break down

            ↓

Chaos spreads in the city

            ↓

Derf enters The Centre

            ↓

Truth about Tobors revealed

            ↓

Nems defeat the robots

            ↓

Humans regain freedom

Setting

• Place: A futuristic city controlled by Tobors and The Centre.
• Time: A future era after a great war.

Tone & Mood

Tone - Serious, suspenseful, and adventurous.

Mood - Tense, exciting, rebellious, and hopeful.

Perspective - The story is written from a third-person perspective, mainly focusing on Derf’s thoughts and actions.

Central Idea - The story highlights the dangers of technology becoming too powerful and emphasizes the importance of human freedom and control over machines.

Themes 

1. Technology vs Humanity – Machines become dangerous when they overpower humans.
2. Freedom and Rebellion – The Nems fight bravely against oppression.
3. Power of Knowledge – Discovering the truth helps defeat the Tobors.
4. Identity and Humanity – The people realise they are humans, not merely “Nems.”
5. Courage and Leadership – Derf’s bravery inspires others to fight for freedom.

Message - The story teaches us that technology should serve humans and never control them. Humans must remain wise, alert, and responsible while using machines.

Literary Devices

a) Suspense - The story keeps readers eager to know whether Derf will succeed.

b) Symbolism - The Tobors symbolize uncontrolled technology and oppression.

c) Irony - The machines created to help humans end up ruling them.

d) Imagery - Descriptions of flashing computers and chaotic scenes create vivid pictures.

e) Foreshadowing - The computer’s inability to answer questions hints at its weakness.

Title Justification & Significance

Justification - The title “The City of the Tobors” is suitable because the city is ruled by the Tobors, who control every aspect of life.

Significance - The title reflects the story’s focus on robotic domination and the struggle to regain human freedom.

Motif - The recurring motif in the story is questioning authority and discovering truth.

Characters and Character Traits

Character	Traits
Derf	Brave, intelligent, rebellious, determined
Kram	Supportive, courageous
Nor	Loyal, thoughtful
Tobors	Powerful, controlling, mechanical
Nems	Oppressed, hardworking, united

 HOTS Question (Higher Order Thinking Skills)

Question: Why is asking questions important in defeating the Tobors?

Answer - Asking questions helps Derf discover the weakness of the computers and uncover the truth about the Tobors. It shows that curiosity and critical thinking are powerful tools against oppression.

VBQ (Value-Based Question)

Question: What lesson does the story teach us about the use of technology?

Answer - The story teaches us that technology should remain under human control and be used responsibly. Humans must never allow machines to become more powerful than humanity itself.

Question and Answers

Notes For Only Reading and Revision 

Background: The City of the Tobors is a science-fiction story set in a future city where machines called Tobors control human beings known as Nems. The Tobors use computers and strict rules to keep power over the people. The story shows how humans live under fear and control, and how intelligence and questioning help them fight back and regain freedom.

Summary of the story in points

1. Derf cannot sleep because he wants to find a way to enter The Centre.
2. The next morning, a Tobor stops a female Nem from entering her workplace with her baby.
3. Derf feels angry but knows he must fight the Tobors intelligently, not with force.
4. At work, Derf accidentally asks his computer a wrong question and notices it cannot answer.
5. He becomes excited when the computer shows confusion and finally breaks down.
6. Derf shares this discovery with his friends, Kram and Nor.
7. The next day, they ask silly and forbidden questions to their computers.
8. Other Nems copy them, and many computers stop working.
9. The Tobors panic and rush to The Centre.
10. Derf and his friends secretly enter the Centre with them.
11. Derf fights a Tobor and discovers that it is only a machine.
12. The Nems attack the Tobors and defeat them.
13. The city becomes free, and Derf becomes a hero.

  Setting of the Story

• Place: A futuristic city controlled by machines (Tobors), especially The Centre.

• Time: A future, technologically advanced society.

• Atmosphere: Oppressive and controlled at first, later chaotic and hopeful.

Tone: Serious, thoughtful, and hopeful.

Mood:

• Beginning: Fear and control

• Middle: Tension and confusion

• End: Victory and hope

Perspective (Point of View)

• Third-person narration

• Focuses mainly on Derf’s thoughts and actions.

Characters:

1. Derf: A brave and intelligent Nem who questions the Tobors and leads the rebellion.
2. Tobors: Powerful machine rulers who control and oppress the city.
3. Kram: Derf’s friend who helps him fight against the Tobors.
4. Nor: Another friend of Derf who supports the plan to destroy the Tobors.
5. Nems: Human workers forced to live under Tobor rule.
6. Female Nem with baby: Represents the suffering and injustice faced by the Nems.

Central idea: The story shows how intelligence, questioning authority, and unity can overthrow oppressive systems, even those that seem powerful and invincible. In other words, the story shows that by thinking smartly, questioning power, and standing together, people can defeat even the strongest rulers.

Themes 

• Oppression: The Tobors control and treat the Nems cruelly.

• Power of Knowledge: Thinking and questioning help defeat the Tobors.

• Man vs. Machine: Humans overcome machines using intelligence.

• Freedom: The Nems fight to regain their freedom.

• Courage: Derf dares to challenge the powerful Tobors.

• Abuse of technology: Using technology in a wrong or harmful way to control or harm people. In the story, the Tobors misuse technology to control the Nems and take away their freedom.

Message of the Story:  Blind obedience to authority is dangerous. Questioning, thinking critically, and standing together can defeat even the strongest forms of oppression.

Title Justification: The title “The City of the Tobors” is appropriate because the city is completely ruled by the Tobors, and the entire conflict revolves around their control and eventual downfall.

Literary Devices

1. Symbolism: Tobors → Oppressive authority / misuse of technology
                         The Centre → Power and control
2. Irony: Machines meant to control humans are defeated by human intelligence.
3. Conflict: Man vs. Machine,  Man vs. Authority
4. Imagery: Descriptions of flashing computers and the Centre create tension.

Inversion of Names in the Story (Connected to the theme of control and freedom)

1. Many names in the story are words spelled backward, like Derf (Fred), Tobors (robots), and Nems (men).
2. This shows the society is reversed or controlled, with machines ruling humans.
3. The inverted names make the world seem unnatural and strange.
4. They highlight how the normal order of life has been turned upside down.
5. The names suggest that the situation can be reversed when people regain freedom.

Conclusion: The City of the Tobors is a powerful science-fiction story that warns against the dangers of uncontrolled technology and authoritarian rule. It celebrates human courage, intelligence, and the fight for freedom.