Question

“there will come soft rains”
directions: read the story and annotate the text. underline examples of characterization (direct and indirect). circle and label the parts of the plot diagram. write notes, in the margin, as you read the story. then, answer the questions below.

1. how do we learn the setting?
2. where are the humans? how do you know?
3. based off the description of the breakfast, how many family members live in the house?
4. why is some of the text in italics?
5. identify 5 useful examples of technology.
6. what’s wrong with the dog.
7. explain the irony of the poem within the story.
8. what is the poem about?
9. who is the protagonist?
10. who is the antagonist?
11. what happened to the house?
12. what is the theme of the story?

Explanation:

1. The setting is learned through descriptions of the house and its automated functions, as well as references to the outside environment.
2. The humans are absent. This is known from the automated house continuing its routine without any human - presence cues.
3. By analyzing the breakfast description (number of place - settings, etc.), the number of family members can be inferred.
4. Text in italics may be used for emphasis, to indicate a different voice (like a recorded message), or to denote a poem or a thought.
5. Useful examples of technology could include the automated cooking, cleaning, and time - keeping devices in the house.
6. The dog is emaciated and sick, likely due to the absence of humans to care for it.
7. The irony of the poem within the story lies in the contrast between the peaceful nature described in the poem and the desolate, post - human world of the story.
8. The poem's content would need to be analyzed to determine what it is about, such as nature, peace, etc.
9. The protagonist could be considered the house, as it is the central entity continuing its functions.
10. The antagonist could be seen as the event that caused the humans' disappearance, like a nuclear disaster.
11. The house is eventually destroyed by a fire.
12. The theme could be about the relationship between technology and humanity, the fragility of human existence, or the persistence of technology without humans.

Answer:

1. Through environmental and house - function descriptions.
2. Absent; from lack of human - presence cues.
3. Analyze breakfast details.
4. For emphasis, different voice, etc.
5. Automated cooking, cleaning, time - keeping devices.
6. Emaciated and sick from lack of care.
7. Contrast between poem's peace and story's desolation.
8. Analyze poem content.
9. The house.
10. Event causing human disappearance.
11. Destroyed by fire.
12. Technology - humanity relationship, etc.