Bellringer: April 30 Answer in YOUR NOTES!!! What do you think? Technology will be the salvation of humankind. Technology will be the destruction of humankind.

KNOWING OUR FATE Technology and Nature in “There Will Come Soft Rains” by Ray Bradbury

Before We Begin Things I need to know about the text Literary terms I need to review

“There Will Come Soft Rains” by Ray Bradbury Things to know about the story before we begin.

SUMMARY This is a science-fiction story that is set in the aftermath of a nuclear holocaust. The futuristic house is the only one remaining in the city and still serves its now absent family, following the same daily routines as it always has. In the end, a fire starts and the house is destroyed.

Let’s take a look at SMART houses… Living Tomorrow: house of the futureLiving Tomorrow: house of the future (4:37)

Permanent Shadow More information on the nuclear blast effects More information on the nuclear blast effects

“There Will Come Soft Rains” by Sara Teasdale There will come soft rains and the smell of the ground, And swallows circling with their shimmering sound; And frogs in the pools singing at night, And wild plum trees in tremulous white; Robins will wear their feathery fire, Whistling their whims on a low fence-wire; And not one will know of the war, not one Will care at last when it is done. Not one would mind, neither bird nor tree, If mankind perished utterly; And Spring herself, when she woke at dawn Would scarcely know that we were gone. How does the poet imagine nature would respond to the eradication of humankind?

Organization “There Will Come Soft Rains” is in chronological order. This, of course, means that the story plays out in order of time. In fact, the house actually keeps a time schedule that should help take the reader through the routine of the day.

“There Will Come Soft Rains” by Ray Bradbury Literary concepts to know about the story before we begin. Science Fiction Characterization Irony Imagery Figurative Language

Characterization Direct Indirect The process of creating a character. Just describing something superficial that can’t be used to identify personality When an author just states a character’s personality ThoughtsSpeech Effect on Others ActionsLooks When an author shows a character’s personality though their

Irony Verbal DramaticSituational characterized by a contrast between what the expectations of a situation are and what is really the case Something merely funny or unfortunate When someone says the opposite of what is meant When the audience knows something a character doesn’t When an actual outcome is a reversal of the expected one

Imagery Adjective and adverb use Verb selection Figurative Language Vivid descriptive language that appeals to the senses An actual picture Using descriptive words to describe things (blue, tall, round) or actions (quickly, sadly) Selecting strong verbs to add extra description (He shuffled vs. He walked) A comparison that isn’t literally true, but emphasizes some similar aspect

Figurative Language Metaphor Simile *Personification* A comparison that isn’t literally true, but emphasizes some similar aspect Just describing something (He is really tall) Comparing two things, usually by saying something is something else or by converting one item into an adjective Comparing two things using like or as Assigning human characteristics to something inhuman

Before reading summary Based on what we just discussed, how might Bradbury use imagery, characterization, and irony? Share with your elbow partner.

During Reading We are going to use PALS to read “There Will Come Soft Rains.” We are going to use the full 32-minute cycle to get as far as we can in one day. See your PALS reference sheet for instructions if you should forget a step.

Step 1: Coach and Read (5 minutes per partner) Partner APartner B Begin reading out loud for 5 minutes. Follow along silently as your partner reads out loud. If partner struggles with words/sentences, help. Start over and read out loud for 5 minutes.

Step 2: Retelling (2 minutes) check Partner APartner B Ask partner: “Tell me about the first part of what we just read.” Tell your partner what happened first. Then ask your partner, “What happened next?” Continue to swap roles until you’re told to stop.

Step 3: Paragraph Shrinking (5 minutes per partner) CheckPartner APartner B For the next five minutes, continue reading from where you both left off, but only read 1 paragraph out loud at a time. Follow along silently. Help your partner if he or she struggles with words/sentences. At the end of each paragraph ask: “Who or what was the paragraph about?” After the answer, ask your partner: “What is the most important thing you have learned about that who or what?” Finally, say, “Tell the main idea in 10 words or fewer.” Count to help your partner keep track. Ask your partner to shrink it if necessary. Switch roles after 5 minutes, and continue until told to stop.

Step 4: Prediction Relay (5 minutes per partner) check Partner APartner B Your job is almost the same as last time. Only now you predict what the next paragraph is about before beginning to read. Your job is almost the same as before. Now the first step is to stop your partner at the end of the paragraph and ask: “How correct was your prediction?” Then ask: “Who or what was the paragraph about?” After the answer, ask your partner: “What is the most important thing you have learned about that who or what?” Finally, say, “Tell the main idea in 10 words or fewer.” Count to help your partner keep track. Ask your partner to shrink it if necessary. Switch roles when told to do so, and continue until you’re told to stop.

Vocabulary Work Here are some words from the text that you should probably learn

Bounded DEFINITION: Walk or run with leaping strides. EXAMPLE: The cheerleaders bounded down the hall. EXAMPLE FROM THE TEXT: “In the nursery the jungle burned. Blue lions roared, purple giraffes bounded off.”

Cavorting DEFINITION: jump or dance around excitedly. EXAMPLE: On graduation day, the grads were cavorting through the street. EXAMPLE FROM THE TEXT: “The nursery walls glowed. Animals took shape: yellow giraffes, blue lions, pink antelopes, lilac panthers cavorting in crystal substance.”

Kneading DEFINITION: the act of pressing or squeezing repeatedly EXAMPLE: The physical therapist spent time kneading my shoulder. DEFINITION FROM THE TEXT: “The rooms were acrawl with the small cleaning animals, all rubber and metal. They thudded against chairs, whirling their mustached runners, kneading the rug nap, sucking gently at hidden dust.”

Sublime DEFINITION: supreme, splendid. EXAMPLE: The 18 layer wedding cake was sublime. I ate most of it myself. EXAMPLE FROM THE TEXT: “And one voice, with sublime disregard for the situation, read poetry aloud in the fiery study, until all the film spools burned, until all the wires withered and the circuits cracked.

Perished DEFINITION: suffer death in a violent, sudden, or untimely way EXAMPLE: The potted plants in the yard perished in the storm. There was little left. EXAMPLE FROM THE TEXT: “’Not one would mind, neither bird nor tree, if mankind perished utterly;’”

After Reading Answer the following: How does Bradbury create his theme about the relationship between technology, humans, and nature? Think About: The outcome of the story The roles of tech, humans, and nature His use of: Personification His use of: Characterization His use of: Irony Remember to use your new words!

HOMEWORK: Complete the response for “There Will Come Soft Rains” and submit it next class.