Ray Bradbury

 Ray Bradbury: one of the most celebrated Science- Fiction writers.  Best known for Fahrenheit 451 (which you will be reading)  This short story was sparked by new advancements in technology  There are no human characters  Huge statement of IRONY!!! (LOOK FOR IT)

 Texting is eliminating letters and even phone calls  Personal is being taken away from communication  WHAT TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS DO YOU PREDICT BY 2026?

1. Does the Point of View presented in this story fit with your idea of a future world? 2. Compare the house with a human, what important qualities of a human is the house missing? 3. Do you think the future described is possible?

 Atomic boom!

Imprints on the walls

 They were burned.

 Cleaning (Mice)  Cooking  Safety  Reading poetry  Music  Lawn care  Schedule keeper  Alarm

 Ray Bradbury incorporates the poem for two reasons:  First, to imply that the family that lived there was aware of the war and hoped for peace.  Second, to add an ironic element since the words of the poem came true.

What is the theme of the poem?

The theme of the poem is that even if humanity is not around, even though it has drastically affected the world, nature will never remember that it existed.

How does the Poem reveal the Theme of the story?

 The poem is a symbol for what happened:  First, it implies that humanity has been destroyed in a war as Sara Teasdale mentions.  Second, it says that nature will not care, and we see this because all of the natural world has taken dwelling in the remains of the ruined city as if nothing happened.

 Man vs. Nature:  First, a fire caused by a falling tree destroys the house.  The house is paranoid of animals as shown when it closes its blinds as a bird approaches the window.  Lastly, the house refuses to accept that humankind has ceased to exist and has continued its routine unlike the natural world.  Man vs. Fate:  At the end of the story, the house attempts to fight the fire and retained its belief in the existence of humankind even though it did not exist.

 The house in There Will Come Soft Rains had a routine, just as a human would.  The stove gave a hissing sigh.  “In the kitchen the breakfast stove gave a hissing sigh and ejected from its warm interior eight pieces of perfectly browned toast …” *SIGH*

 The house quivered at each sound.  “It quivered at each sound, the house did.”  The mice became angry at the inconvenience of having to pick up mud after the dog.  “Behind it whirred angry mice, angry at having to pick up mud, angry at inconvenience.”

 The setting is the house, and the house has human characteristics.  The house makes breakfast.  “In the kitchen the breakfast stove gave a hissing sigh and ejected from its warm interior eight pieces of perfectly browned toast, eight eggs sunnyside up, sixteen slices of bacon, two coffees, and two cool glasses of milk.”

 The house, compared to a human, is stronger.  The house lasted longer than the humans did.  The house had a routine that it went by, and it continued to go by that routine although the humans were dead.  The technology lasted longer than the humans did.

 What are some examples from the story?  What are some examples from HG?  What are some real life examples?  Group Assignment 1. Think of something that could be better, that could make our lives better. 2. As a group name your new invention. 3. Write a sales pitch answering the following questions:  Description, what void it will fill, how it is better than what we have.