There Will Come Soft Rains PDF - Ray Bradbury

# Chapter 3: There Will Come Soft Rains - Ray Bradbury ## 1. About the Author - Born on August 22, 1920, in Waukegan, USA. - American writer known for science fiction writings. - Used his works to raise awareness of the dangers of uncontrolled and excessive use of technology. - His first book of s...

# Chapter 3: There Will Come Soft Rains - Ray Bradbury ## 1. About the Author - Born on August 22, 1920, in Waukegan, USA. - American writer known for science fiction writings. - Used his works to raise awareness of the dangers of uncontrolled and excessive use of technology. - His first book of short stories was titled *Dark Carnival* and was published in 1947. - Achieved international fame with the publication *The Martian Chronical*, 1950. The stories were based on ancient Greek and Roman mythology. - *Fahrenheit 451*, published in 1953, is considered his greatest work. - He has written about 600 short stories, more than 30 novels, and numerous poems and plays. - Received the National Medal of Arts in 2004, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and an asteroid named in his honor, 9766 Bradbury. - Received the coveted Pulitzer Prize in 2007. - Died on June 5, 2012. ## 2. About the Story - *There Will Come Soft Rains* focuses on the destructive consequences of an overreliance on technology. - Written five years after the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. - Draw attention to the destruction caused by atomic weapons. - Threatens the existence of humanity. - Set in a time when humans are being replaced by robots and technological devices. - Different from other stories, as the writer fictionalizes these ideas in a unique way. - Details the automatic functioning of technological devices. - There are hardly any human characters in the story. - Takes its title from Sara Teasdale's poem with a related theme. - The poem was written long before the holocaust of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. ## 3. Summary - The story begins in a living room, on August 4, 2026. - The house is filled with gadgets and is empty. - Located in the city of Allendale, California. - The voice clock strikes seven in the morning. - Mentions the birthdays and anniversaries of different characters. - Breakfast is prepared automatically. - All the devices in the house continue functioning, unaware of the absence of the inhabitants. - The garage door opens automatically. - The food prepared by the gadgets is automatically disposed of. - There is a fixed time for cleaning the house. - Robot mice come out of the wall to clean furniture at 9:15. - The house is located in the ruins of a city. - Radioactive glow can be seen at night. - The west side of the house was burned. - Images of a small boy, a girl, and a woman are seen. - Technological devices are installed to ensure the safety of the house. - The house is even cautious about cats and foxes. - A dog enters the house, as the house recognizes its voice. - The dog is covered with sores and dies in the house. - The cleaning devices continue their work. - Routine activities resume despite the death of the dog. - The house is filled with various gadgets and performs different household activities automatically. - The house catches fire due to a tree falling on the kitchen window. - The technological devices are unable to stop the blaze. - The house continues to function until its destruction by flames with the only hope of survival being the 'Dawn showing deeply in the east.' ## 4. Word-Notes and Explanation | Word | Meaning | |---|---| | glided | Moved smoothly | | tread | The sound made while walking | | chimed | Added to the noise | | shrivelled | Shrunk, smaller | | wedge | A small piece of wood | | scraped | Discarded, stop using | | distant | Far away | | twinkling | Shining, light going on and off | | wrecking | Destroying | | ejected | Pushed out with force | | wedge(2) | A piece of wood to keep things apart | | warrens | A group of holes in a wall | | thudded | Sounded dull | | rug nap | The part of a carpet which is seen and walked on | | burrows | Holes in the ground | | rubble | Debris | | whirled up | Moved up in circles | | charred | Burnt black by fire | | silhouette | A sign or object that represents something | | titanic | Huge, gigantic, very big | | paranoia | Obsession | | whirred | Revolved with a sound | | maple syrup | A sweet, sticky substance, eaten with pancakes | | incinerator | A furnace for burning waste material | | patio | Courtyard | | cavorting | Skipping, jumping | | sprockets | Wheels that lock onto a chain | | roaches | Cockroaches | | bumble | Confused sound | | okapi | Giraffe-like animal | | shimmering | Shining in a way as if moving | | solvent | A substance that can dissolve another substance | | linoleum | A strong cloth coated with a hard shiny substance used as a floor covering | | scurrying | Running with short, quick steps | | Picassos and Matisses | Names of painters and artists | | shaving | Thin pieces of hard substances | ## 5. Theme - Nuclear weapons can destroy the entire world. - A big danger to human existence on Earth. - Shows a world without human beings dominated by technology and technological devices. - Devices take over different human functions, making the existence of humans irrelevant. - The life dominated by these devices is mechanical, monotonous, and barren. - The aftermath of the nuclear holocaust. - The hope of life's regeneration after total destruction. - Nuclear weapons may cause destruction, but they cannot extinguish the hope of life taking shape again. - Dawn and rain suggest hope. - Technology can survive even when its creators, human beings, have become victims of their own creations. - The mechanical voice reading a poem on the power of nature is a source of consolation. - The atom bomb is nothing before the elemental powers of fire and wind. - Shows how the human mind can envision the future that awaits humanity and warns against possible dangers. - The world depicted by Bradbury is almost similar to the world we live in today. ## 6. Title - The earlier title of the story was "August 2026. There will come Soft Rain," when it appeared in the collection *The Martian Chronicles*, 1951. - The 1997 edition of the same story changed the title to "August 2057: There will come Soft Rains." - The mention of time is significant to the story. - The wall clock continuously refers to time. - The functions of the house are performed at fixed hours. - The inhabitants are no longer present, but the year in the title shows the futuristic nature of the story. - "Soft Rains" refers to the revival of nature and finer feelings of humanity after the tempestuous winds of the technological world are over. - The ending of the story reflects a lively and vibrant world close to nature. - Nature is expected to reclaim its importance. - The author suggests we will realize the destructive nature of technology. ## 7. Message - The story warns of the dangers that technology poses to human freedom and existence on Earth. - If we continue developing tech devices to assist us, humans will become irrelevant. - We must realize that fine human feelings and nature with its beauty make our existence valuable. - Instead of developing automated devices, we should think of developing humane feelings and a world with vibrant, beautiful, and productive nature. ## 8. Characters - The story is a blend of science fiction and a strange story based on the author's futuristic vision. - Set in a world without human characters, but rather inhabited by technological devices functioning like human beings. - The story takes place in a house run by automated devices, with no human characters. - The mention of the McClellan Family and the information about them are the only elements with a human touch. ### The McClellan Family - The house was destroyed in the nuclear explosion. - The family consisted of two parents and two children. - There is little information about their nature, outlook, and behavior. - It is assumed the family didn't survive the blast. - The only hint about Mrs. McClellan is that she was fond of the poem "There Will Come Soft Rains." - The computer device at their house reads this poem every day before bed. - The story also mentions Mr. Featherstone's birthday and Tilita's marriage anniversary. - These characters are mentioned by the technological devices, showing that their existence has no meaning. - It highlights the fact that dependence on technology will gradually make humans irrelevant. ## 9. Gadgets and the House - The house equipped with automatic devices runs on its own. - The clock tells time and the various activities to be performed at specific times. - The house functions automatically, including preparing food, washing dishes, and cleaning. - The automatic devices continue to work despite the fire engulfing the house. ## 10. Other Figures and Characters ### The Dog - The dog is supposed to be the pet of the McClellan family. - The sensors in the house require a password to allow entry. - The dog is allowed in as the house recognizes its voice. - The dog is negatively affected by radioactive rays. - The dog dies a miserable death. - Stands for faithfulness, trust, and sincerity. - Its death represents that a world without humans is cruel and heartless. ### The Clock - Plays a significant role in the story. - Functions like a conscious time-keeping machine. - Announces the time for each activity. - Works on its own without human intervention. - Represents a future automated world, where human involvement is not required. - Highlights the possibility of a world dominated by technology. ## 11. Text-Based Multiple Choice Questions - **Question 1:** Which of the following is not true? - (a) The eggs were shrivelled by eight-thirty. - (b) The clock cleaned the dirty dishes at 9:30. - (c) Nine fifteen was the time to clean. - (d) The house asks for a password to allow entry. - **Answer: (b)** The clock did not clean the dirty dishes. - **Question 2:** Select the option that correctly lists the functions performed by the clock. - (a) announces the time to get up, announces the death of the dog, tells the time to go to school. - (b) announces the time to have breakfast, tells the time to sleep, tells about the rain. - (c) announces the time to get up, announces the death of the dog, tells the time to sleep, tells the time to go to school, tells about the rain. - (d) announces the time to get up, announces the time to have breakfast, tells the time to go to school, tells about the rain. - **Answer: (d)** - **Question 3:** Choose the option that lists the correct relationship between statement 1 and statement 2. - (a) 1 is the result of 2. - (b) 1 is the cause of 2. - (c) 1 is in contradiction of 2. - (d) 1 is an example of 2. - **Answer: (b)** The aluminium wedge scrapped the eggs and toast into the sink because they were shrivelled and the toast was like stone. - **Question 4:** Out of warrens in the wall, tiny robot mice darted. Then, like mysterious invaders, they popped into the burrows. The movement of the robots here is like that of: - (a) horses - (b) sparrows - (c) humans - (d) worms and insects - **Answer: (d)** The mice are described as mysterious invaders, suggesting they move like worms and insects. - **Question 5:** The voice announced the city as: - (a) Allendale Columbia - (b) Allendale California - (c) Allendale Featherstone - (d) Allendale California - **Answer: (d)** - **Question 6:** Whose birthday was on August 4, 2026? - (a) Tilita - (b) Mr. Featherstone - (c) Mrs. McClellan - (d) Sara Teasdale - **Answer: (b)** - **Question 7:** The house recognized the dog's: - (a) password - (b) face - (c) owner - (d) voice - **Answer: (d)** - **Question 8:** In Sara Teasdale's poem given in this story, what are the frogs doing at night? - (a) jumping - (b) singing - (c) circling with their sound. - (d) wearing feathery fire. - **Answer: (b)** - **Question 9:** That human beings have disappeared from the earth will be noticed by..... complete the above sentence with the correct option. - (a) trees - (b) birds - (c) no one - (d) spring season - **Answer: (c)** - **Question 10:** Which of the following options best describes the hidden message of the story? - (a) full of despair - (b) distant hope - (c) victory of technology - (d) uncertainty about life - **Answer: (b)** There is a sense of hope in the story, despite the dystopian setting. - **Question 11:** Choose the option that lists the sequence of events in the correct order: - (a) 4,2,3,1 - (b) 1,3,2,4 - (c) 4,2,1,3 - (d) 1,4,2,3 - **Answer: (c)** - The correct order of events is: - The breakfast stove gave a hissing sigh. - The weather box says "Rain, rain, go away, umbrellas raincoats for today." - A dog enters the house and dies. - The dirty dishes were dropped into a hot washer. - **Question 12:** Which of the following is not true of the story? - (a) The characters are lifeless and mechanical. - (b) There are different gadgets for different jobs. - (c) The story tells about the life in the past. - (d) The story is set in California. - **Answer: (c)** The story is set in a futuristic setting. - **Question 13:** Choose the option that lists the correct relationship between statement 1 and statement 2: - (a) 1 is an example of 2. - (b) 1 is the cause of 2. - (c) 1 is independent of 2. - (d) 1 is in contradiction of 2. - **Answer: (b)** The eggs were shrivelled because it is August 4, 2026. - **Question 14:** Which of the following options best describes the life depicted in the story? - (a) lively and happy - (b) easy and simple - (c) mechanical and artificial - (d) historical - **Answer: (c)** - **Question 15:** But the fire was clever. It has sent flames outside the house. What is the figure of speech used here? - (a) alliteration - (b) metaphor - (c) allegory - (d) personification - **Answer: (d)** - **Question 16:** The poem by Sara Teasdale has importance for the story as it... - (a) has the same characters. - (b) expresses similar ideas. - (c) uses the same symbols. - (d) criticized technology. - **Answer: (b)** - **Question 17:** The soft rains in Teasdale's poem will bring - (a) smell of the ground - (b) tempest - (c) birds singing at night - (d) dogs and cats - **Answer: (b)** - **Question 18:** Which of the following is not true? - (a) A voice asked Mrs. McClellan what story would you like? - (b) At five o'clock, the bath is filled with hot water. - (c) The house began to die at ten o'clock. - (d) There were shapes of yellow giraffes, blue lions. - **Answer: (a)** - **Question 19:** Select the option that lists the correct statements about the house: - (a) 1,2 - (b) 2,3 - (c) 1,4 - (d) 1,3 - **Answer: (d)** - **Question 20:** What could be seen in the photograph of a woman? - (a) painting a wall - (b) picking flowers - (c) washing dishes - (d) singing songs - **Answer: (b)** - **Question 21:** What was wrong with the dog? - (a) suffering from rabies - (b) covered with sores - (c) was very violent - (d) barked loudly - **Answer: (b)** - **Question 22:** The house stood alone in a city or rubble and ashes. The line suggests that the city: - (a) was covered with red ash. - (b) was ruined and deserted. - (c) was overpopulated. - (d) was full of rubbish. - **Answer: (b)** - **Question 23:** What is not true about the west face of the house? - (a) It was black except at five places. - (b) A small boy's image picking flowers could be seen. - (c) There was an image of a thrown ball. - (d) There was an image of a ball in the air. - **Answer: (d)** - **Question 24:** Where was the incinerator lying? - (a) on the porch. - (b) in the kitchen. - (c) in the cellar - (d) in the backyard. - **Answer: (c)** - **Question 25:** The cleaning devices have been called: - (a) mysterious brooms - (b) mysterious invaders - (c) mysterious sweepers - (d) mysterious saviours - **Answer: (b)** ## 12. Completion of Sentences with Reasons - The clock asked the inmates of the house to come out, but no one came out because there were no human characters in the house. - The story indicates a future setting because it is set in the year 2026. - August 4, 2026 is important for Mr. Featherstone because it is his birthday. - It is clear that the inmates have not paid the bills because a technical device announces that it is time to pay the bills. - The hot dish washer is an effective device because it cleans the dirty dishes very well. - The house shows that the city has been destroyed because the house is lonely and it stood in a city of rubble and ashes. - The house is aloof and oblivious of the outside world because its doors and windows remain shut to the outside world. - There was an odour and scent that filled the house because pancakes were being made by the automatic stove. - A poem was selected for Mrs. McClellan by a device because the device playing it knows it is her favorite poem. - The voice selected the poem by Sara Teasdale because the door recognizes the dog's voice. - The dog is allowed to enter the house because the nuclear explosion had destroyed the city and killed the people. - The beds were warmed at night because the nights were cool at that place. - The dirty dishes were dropped into the hot washer because the hot washer cleans the dishes automatically. - Tiny robot mice came out because they were the cleaning devices and had to come out at the time announced for them to do their job. - The house fails to save itself from the fire because the devices installed in the house to extinguish fire failed to do so. - No one could enter the house because the house was equipped with self-protection devices. - The mice were angry because they had to pick up the mud brought in with the dog. - The voice tells Mrs. McClellan that it will read out the poem on its own because Mrs. McClellan has not expressed her choice. - The fire continued to rage because the devices like the mice and the snakes could do little to stop it. - The fire broke out in the house because of the tree falling in the kitchen window where an inflammable liquid was kept. - The animal shapes appearing on the wall were strange because they were robot animals of strange colors like blue lions. - The tables were silent, and the cards were untouched because there were no human beings or devices that could use them. - There are no human characters in the story because the story is being focused on technical devices only. - The breakfast produced the fixed number of things to eat because the stove preparing them was a programmed device to produce these things only. ## 13. Short Answer Questions - **Question 1: Describe the early morning scene in the house.** - The house echoes with the voice clock, reminding the inhabitants to get up. - The stove prepares breakfast, including browned toast, eight eggs, sixteen slices of bacon, two coffees, and two cold glasses of milk. - The voice announces the date, August 4, 2026, and mentions Mr. Featherstone's birthday and Tilita's marriage anniversary. - The house feels strange and surprising due to the constant voices and automated functions. - **Question 2: What do you find strange but interesting in the house run by automatic devices, particularly from seven to eight thirty in the morning?** - The house is run by technological devices that appear strange but prove very useful. - The gadgets and technological devices perform a number of household functions, including waking up the inhabitants, preparing breakfast, cleaning, and keeping the house tidy. - The clock, breakfast stove, aluminum wedge, and cleaning devices stand out. - The cleaning devices are particularly bizarre, appearing as small mice-like robots that clean and sweep efficiently. - **Question 3: Describe the cleaning devices and their functioning.** - When the clock announces it's time to clean, tiny robot mice dart out of the wall. - They are made of metal and rubber and have a brush-like mustache. - They clean chairs, suck dust from the mats, and press and squeeze the thick coverings on the floor. - They are programmed to function on their own. - **Question 4: Describe the scene at the garden. Why did it need sprinklers?** - The garden is by the side of a charred black wall, with five images visible on the burnt surface. - The sprinkler system moves around, watering the garden and the wall. - The images on the wall depict a woman picking flowers, a man mowing a lawn, a small boy with hands flung open, a thrown ball, and a girl catching a ball. - The scene isn't natural, suggesting the garden was affected by some radioactive fire. - **Question 5: "The house was lively once". How far is this statement true of the house? Give a reasoned answer.** - The house appears deserted and abandoned. - But the gadgets in the house suggest it was once lively, as they were installed by someone. - The images on the wall depict a family enjoying themselves, showing a time when the house was filled with life and activity. - **Question 6: Describe the nursery and its walls.** - The nursery is strange and unlike a normal plant nursery. - The walls shine and display animals of unusual colors, including yellow giraffes, blue lions, pink antelopes, and lilac panthers. - The floor simulates a meadow, with aluminium roaches and iron crickets moving over it. - The sounds of bees, okai feet, and purring lions are created by technical devices. - Instead of real animals, the nursery is run by technology. - **Question 7: What kind of story is "There will come soft Rains" ?** - The story is science fiction, set in a futuristic setting. - It highlights the possibilities of a future world dependent on technology. - The story depicts a world where machines and technical gadgets take over human roles. - It is about the dangers of overdependence on technology. - The story includes non-human characters, gadgets, and technological devices. - **Question 8: Discuss the literary devices used in the story.** - The story is unusual, strange, and wonderful in its structure and setting. - The futuristic setting creates a powerful literary device. - The story is full of interesting and striking literary devices, including the use of gadgets, appliances, and technological devices that replace human characters. - The story relies on the use of personification, giving human qualities to the devices that speak and act like people. - The poetic quality of descriptions and alliteration adds to the charm of the story. - The use of descriptions and unusual, attractive imagery, such as the cleaning devices that look like mice and the fire extinguishers resembling snakes, adds a sense of surprise and amusement. - The title and the ending also play a significant role. - **Question 9: Discuss the role of the narrator in the story "There will come soft Rains."** - The narrator uses a third-person omniscient perspective. - The narrator provides objective details and interesting descriptions of the gadgets and tools that run the house. - There are no human characters in the story, making it difficult for the house or any of the devices to be the narrator. - The third-person perspective allows the narrator to provide a comprehensive overview of the story. - **Question 10: Who do you think is the main character in the story "There will come soft Rains?" Why? Explain on the basis of your reading of the story.** - The main character is the house. - The story focuses on the house and its automated systems. - The information provided about the house and its devices is central to the story. - The house performs all the main functions like cleaning, cooking, and regulating temperatures. - The events that unfold in the story are related to the house and its systems. - Although the house is inanimate, it acts as the main character, driving the narrative and highlighting the story's central theme of technological dependence. - **Question 11: Where was the lonely house standing? Why was it alone?** - The house is alone in a city in California. - The city is deserted, filled with rubble and ashes. - The house is isolated, with no other buildings nearby. - The story reveals that the city was destroyed by a nuclear explosion. - The house stands as a symbol of the destruction caused by technology and the absence of human life. - **Question 12: Describe the confusion caused by the fire in the house.** - The nursery and the jungle, filled with robot animals, burn, creating chaos. - The colors of the animals change, and the lions and giraffes jump. - The artificial devices are out of order, creating a confusing cacophony of sounds and movement. - Different machines work on their own, creating a chaotic atmosphere. - The robot mice sing while cleaning away the ashes, adding to the confusion. - **Question 13: What does the description of the house tell you about the family and their relationship to nature?** - The house is isolated from nature, with the doors and windows shut to the outside world. - The animal world is made up of artificial representations, such as lions and giraffes. - The family members are entirely cut off from nature and their lives are dominated by technology. - The gadgets provide everything, and there is little room for human interaction with the natural world. - **Question 14: Narrate the incident related to the dog.** - The house has a strict policy of only allowing entry with passwords. - A dog that is thin, covered in sores, and barely alive, enters the house after the front door recognizes its voice. - The dog whimpers and barks, looking for someone. - The dog's condition and the way it dies highlight the harshness and emptiness of a world without humans. - **Question 15: Which entertainment activities were arranged for the members of the family by the house's devices?** - The house is equipped with various entertainment features, including a bridge table, a martini dispenser, and a music system. - These features operate automatically, creating a surreal and automated experience. - **Question 16: How did the house catch fire? How did it try to save itself?** - A tree falls through the kitchen window and lands on a bottle containing flammable cleaning solvent. - The house attempts to extinguish the fire using a variety of built-in mechanisms, including water pumps, robot rats, and wall sprays that release chemical fire retardants. - However, these attempts are not effective and ultimately fail. - **Question 17: Suppose you are Ranjit. Your younger bother Mahesh is crazy for new gadgets and depends on technological devices even for minor jobs. After reading the story "There will come soft Rains", you decide to write a letter to Mahesh warning him against the excessive use of technology. Share with him some ideas that strike you from some incidents, situations in the story.** - The story shows how over-reliance on technology can lead to a world where humans are irrelevant. - The house is full of gadgets that perform all the household chores, highlighting the dangers of a world dominated by artificial intelligence. - The story reminds us to appreciate human interaction and the natural world. - **Question 18: You are Kunwardeep. Imagine that you have lived for a day in the house depicted in the story "There will come soft Rains." Describe your experience in the form of a diary entry.** - The house is filled with amazing and mysterious gadgets. - The house functions automatically, with the clock, stove, cleaning robot mice, and the entertainment systems. - It raises concerns about the potential for technology to replace humans and the negative consequences of losing the natural world. - **Question 19: Bring out the significance of the title of the story "There will come Soft Rains".** - The title indicates a future setting destroyed by a nuclear holocaust. - The ending suggests hope for a revived world that is not dominated by technology. - The title also reflects the irony of nature continuing its cycle despite the absence of humans. - "Soft Rains" represent a natural cycle of life and the potential for renewal despite the destruction caused by technology. - **Question 20: "The fire engulfing the house highlights the failure and inefficiency of technological devices. It proves that dependence on technology is destructive" Justify the statement with reference to the story.** - The house has various devices like a clock, a hot dish washer, and cleaning gadgets. - They perform certain functions effectively, such as cleaning and preparing breakfast. - However, when the fire breaks out, these devices prove ineffective in preventing the spread of the fire. - The house is destroyed, highlighting the limitations of technology and the need for human agency to respond to unforeseen situations. - **Question 21: In the story the technology run machines like the "attic brain which directed the pumps was shattered,” “The reserve water supply also failed for it had been spent on washing the dishes automatically.” Keeping this failure of gadgets in mind. Write a paragraph on a situation on which you found yourself helpless due to the failure of some gadget or technology run device.** - The story illustrates that technology can be unreliable and dangerous. - The devices in the house fail to extinguish the fire because they are programmed for specific functions and cannot adapt to unforeseen circumstances. - The characters remind us to not rely solely on technology, as it may prove to be an inadequate solution when the world is threatened by unforeseen circumstances, and may leave us helpless. - **Question 22: Comment on the ending of the story.** - The story ends with a sense of ambiguity and uncertainty. - The repeated mention of the date, "Today is August 5, 2026," emphasizes the cycle of time and the continued existence of the house despite the absence of humans. - The reference to "Dawn showing faintly in the east" hints at a possibility for renewal and a change in the future. - The "soft rains" suggest a natural cycle of life, hinting that even though human beings disappeared, nature continues and there is hope for a renewed world. - **Question 23: Why are there no human characters in the story? Describe some personified characters in the story.** - The story is set in a world where technology has taken over and humans are no longer present. - The use of personified characters, such as the clock, the weather clock, and the house, adds a layer of intrigue to the narrative. - They speak, act, and think like humans, demonstrating the idea that humans are not essential to the functioning of a world dominated by technology. - **Question 24: Discuss the literary devices used in the story.** - The story is unique due to its structure, setting, and the literary devices employed. - The use of futuristic elements, such as technological devices, highlights the story's theme. - The story is also rich in imagery and relies on descriptive language to create a powerful and evocative experience. - The use of personification, alliteration, and repetition enhances the story’s poetic quality and brings out the subtle nuances of the writer's message. - The ending is open-ended and ambiguous, leaving the reader with room for reflection. - **Question 25: Discuss the role of the narrator in the story "There will come soft Rains."** - The narrator is a third-person omniscient voice, providing an objective view of the events and descriptions of the gadgets and tools within the house. - The narrator's objective perspective helps to create a sense of detachment and allows readers to explore the story from an observational point of view. - **Question 26: Who do you think is the main character in the story "There will come Soft Rains"? Why? Explain on the basis of your reading of the story.** - The main character is the house. - It is around the house and its automated systems that the entirety of the story is centered. - The gadgets and devices are integral to the house's function, and information about the house and its devices are central to the story. - Even though the house is inanimate, it acts like the main character, driving the narrative and highlighting the story's theme of overdependence on technology. - **Question 27: Where was the lonely house standing? Why was it alone?** - The house is alone in a deserted city in California. - The city is rubble and ashes, indicating a catastrophic event, likely a nuclear explosion that destroyed the city. - The loneliness of the house highlights the destruction and the absence of human life. - **Question 28: Describe the confusion caused by the fire in the house.** - The fire causes chaos and disruption in the house, with its automated systems malfunctioning. - Robot animals run amok, and the different devices begin to work on their own, creating a confusing and disorienting atmosphere. - **Question 29: What does the description of the house tell you about the family and their relationship to nature?** - The house and its surroundings illustrate the family's detachment from nature. - The house is closed off from the natural world. - The artificial animals, such as lions and giraffes, are more prominent than real fauna and suggest the family's dependence on technology and the artificial world. - **