There Will Come Soft Rains

Use these essay questions as writing and critical thinking exercises for all levels of writers, and to build literary analysis skills by requiring textual references throughout the essay.

Differentiation Suggestion: For English learners or struggling writers, strategies that work well include graphic organizers, sentence frames or starters, group work, or oral responses.

Scaffolded Essay Questions

Student Prompt: Write a short (1-3 paragraph) response using one of the bulleted outlines below. Cite details from the text over the course of your response to provide examples and support.

1. The house’s near-constant cleaning, even after the death of the family, is ultimately in vain.

• How does the constant cleaning represent the theme of Order and Chaos? (topic sentence)
• Identify at least 2 instances in the story where the house is cleaning. Consider how this cleaning juxtaposes with other plot events or literary elements.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, explain how the house’s obsession with cleaning in the face of nature’s onslaught explores the theme of Order and Chaos. Does the house’s attempt to control chaos work?

2. Ray Bradbury uses personification throughout the story, giving the house and fire human qualities. 

• How does personification work to replace human characters in the story? (topic sentence)
• Identify at least 2 instances where Bradbury uses personification. Describe how personification of the house and fire contrast.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, connect the absence of humans to the theme of The Limits of Scientific Progress or Order and Chaos.

3. Ray Bradbury uses imagery throughout his story.

• How does the use of imagery relate to The Limits of Scientific Progress, Order and Chaos, or Death and the Passage of Time? (topic sentence)
• Identify at least 2 passages that feature imagery. Consider focusing on passages that detail important plot events.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, explain how the use of imagery deepens one of the story’s themes.

Full Essay Assignments

Student Prompt: Write a structured and well-developed essay. Include a thesis statement, at least three main points supported by textual details, and a conclusion.

1. Bradbury’s story shows technology that can both be helpful and destructive. How would you describe Bradbury’s attitude toward technology in the work? To support your claim, research the technological advancements that occurred around the time Bradbury wrote the story, as well as Bradbury’s beliefs about technology. Connect your writing to the themes of The Limit of Scientific Progress, Order and Chaos, or Death and the Passage of Time. Write a well-developed essay that includes an introduction with a thesis statement, several body paragraphs, and a clear conclusion. Support your ideas with your research and specific examples from the story. Please remember to cite all direct quotes and paraphrased examples.

2. Bradbury includes the Sara Teasdale poem and even uses the same title for his story. How does the inclusion of the poem influence the reader’s understanding of one of the following themes: The Limits of Scientific Progress, Order and Chaos, Death and the Passage of Time? Write a well-developed essay that includes an introduction with a thesis statement, several body paragraphs, and a clear conclusion. Support your ideas with specific examples from the story and Teasdale’s poem. Please remember to cite all direct quotes and paraphrased examples.

3. The house, and its advanced technology, seem to be at odds with nature. What does the house’s desire for cleanliness explain about humanity’s relationship with nature? Connect your writing to one of the following the themes: The Limits of Scientific Progress, Order and Chaos, Death and the Passage of Time. Write a well-developed essay that includes an introduction with a thesis statement, several body paragraphs, and a clear conclusion. Support your ideas with specific textual examples from the story. Please remember to cite all direct quotes and paraphrased examples.