English Works

There will come soft rains by Ray Bradbury

Homework Activities

Classic Short stories by masters, pp 4-7

  1. Why does the author begin with a reference to the clock (as first character) and what is its purpose?
  2. What does this tell us about the role of technology in the story?
  3. The machines come to life.   What  traits do the machines have?
  4. Can you think of examples of technology in our every-day life which is similar ?
  5. The sun, the radioactive glow, suggests that the town has been hit by an atomic bomb.  Find quotes to suggest something sinister has happened.   How does this suggestion give the story a gruesome ambience?
  6. Readers only learn the surname of the McClellan family at the end.   What do we suspect about the residents (from 10.15)?
  7. The house needs control. It shuts out nature and the dog.   How and why is the dog described in this way?
  8. The residents are absent – how is this apparent and why?
  9. The clock reappears at 2 pm.   Describe the robot mice.
  10. 2.35  What conclusions do we draw from the family.   How might these conclusions apply to the world at large?
  11. The safari theme in the nursery relies on natural imagery.  How does the author do this?
  12. How does technology create a better environment for the residents (who are non existent?)
  13. How do the themes in the poem reflect the author’s key concerns?
  14. As the mice fight the fire, it seems that technology still depends upon nature.  Explain the author’s point?   Give examples of the powerful nature of the fire.
  15. The fire outwits the robots and ravages the house.   Give examples of its power over technology.
  16. Give quotes to show how the house reacts to the fire.  Do these actions still matter?
  17. Why does the voice still try to read the poem even though the house is being destroyed? Why does Bradbury insert the poem. How does it reflect the author’s message?
  18. Give a description of the house at the end.  What are possible reasons for its demise? Why is it dead?
  19. Find a quote/description to show that the house is disconnected from reality.
  20. Does the author paint a positive or a negative picture of technology? What is his advice/message?

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