by Ray Bradbury Analysis Notes Author Ray Bradbury Technology Theme Setting Conflict POV ProtagonistAntagonist Warm Up In your Reading Journal Read the following statements and choose the one that you agree with the most Then write a few sentences explainingsupporting your c ID: 379292
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Slide1
There Will Come Soft Rainsby Ray Bradbury
AnalysisSlide2
NotesAuthor: Ray BradburyTechnologyTheme
Setting
Conflict
POV
Protagonist/Antagonist Slide3
Warm Up (In your Reading Journal) Read the following statements and choose the one that you agree with the most. Then, write a few sentences explaining/supporting your choice.Technology will be the salvation
of humankind.
Technology will be the
destruction
of humankind.Slide4
Essential QuestionWhat is the theme of “There Will Come Soft Rains”?Slide5
TechnologyWhat is the main element missing from the story and why is this significant?There are no humans present in the story, only traces, shadows, echoes. Bradbury explores an ironic reflection on the strengths and weaknesses of human nature, while warning against the limits and dangers of technology. The same advancements that enable the people of the future to create this fully automated house are also responsible for the creation of the nuclear weapons that lead to their destruction
.Slide6
ThemeMan’s Relationship with the MachinePeople put too much faith in their technological creationsPeople have the power to create devices that can help them and also those that can destroy them; however, there is no evidence to suggest that mankind enacted any measures to prevent their destructionSlide7
Technology is a tool for humans, not something we should “follow” or “need”House is preoccupied with keeping time, a human construct; despite the absence of any humans, the house continues to be concerned with celebrations of time: “Today is Mr. Featherstone’s birthday. Today is the anniversary of Tilita’s marriage. Insurance is payable, as are the water, gas, and light bills” (1).
Theme –
Man’s Relationship to the MachineSlide8
Theme – Man vs. MachineReligious metaphor – “The house was an altar with ten thousand attendants, big, small, servicing, attending, in choirs. But the gods had gone away, and the ritual of the religion continued senselessly, uselessly” (2). What is the significance of this quote in the story?Slide9
ThemeMachine & NatureDespite the absence of humanity, natural cycles continue in the story (weather, the sun emerges after the rain)The effect of the neglected technology is still present in nature“At night, the ruined city gave off a radioactive glow which could be seen for
miles” (1).
Dawn showed faintly in the east. Among the ruins, one wall stood alone. Within the wall, a last voice said, over and over again and again, even as the sun rose to shine upon the heaper rubble and steam:
"Today is August 5, 2026, today is August 5, 2026, today is
...“ (4) Slide10
SettingThe setting is a unimportant US city that lays in ruins because of humankind’s irresponsibility with technology: “The house stood alone in a city of rubble and ashes. This was the one house left standing” (1). Slide11
Setting cont. A house that runs completely independently would be seen as a terrific accomplishment by many, but probably Bradbury.
Why do you think that the setting for this story is important in thinking about the theme(s)? Slide12
ConflictWhat is the primary (main) conflict of There Will Come Soft Rains?Man (represented by technology; man’s creation) v. Nature "Fire!" screamed a voice. The house lights flashed, water pumps shot water from the
ceilings. But the solvent spread on the linoleum, licking, eating, under the kitchen door, while
the voices
took it up in chorus: "Fire, fire, fire!"
The house tried to save itself. Doors sprang tightly shut, but the windows were broken by
the heat and the wind blew and sucked upon the fire.
The house gave ground as the fire in ten billion angry sparks moved with flaming ease
from room to room and then up the stairs. While scurrying water rats squeaked from the walls,
pistoled their water, and ran for more. And the wall sprays let down showers of mechanical rain.
But too late. Somewhere, sighing, a pump shrugged to a stop. The quenching rain ceased.
The reserve water supply which had filled baths and washed dishes for many quiet days was gone.The fire crackled up the stairs. It fed upon Picassos and Matisses in the upper halls, likedelicacies, baking off the oily flesh, tenderly crisping the canvases into black shavings (3).
Slide13
Conflict cont.
There is a constant idea in the story that sets mankind against the natural world. Bradbury wove this idea in his themes, setting, conflict, and other parts of storytelling.
Are there any other types of conflict in the story? Look at the following types of possible conflict, and inquire if they are part of the narrative?
Man v. Self
Man v. SocietySlide14
Point of View (POV)Who (or what) is telling the story?3rd Person Limited (WHY?) What purpose would Bradbury have to include this type of
POV? Think about the themes and the conflict.
If technology is cold and inhuman, and uncomprehending, does that
make the reader better understand what the author’s purpose is? Slide15
Protagonist/Antagonist Identify the protagonist (main character) and the antagonist (the force that opposes or fights against the protagonist). For help, examine the themes and the
conflict. Remember, this is not an issue of
good and bad, but who or what
the story is about, and what/who
opposes them.