Figurative Language & Literary Devices in "There Will Come Soft Rains"

Figurative Language & Other Literary Devices

in "There Will Come Soft Rains"

by Jill Zeller

​Grading for This Activity

Multiple choice questions do have correct and incorrect answers. Open-ended questions have incorrect answers, but many potential correct answers.

​

As long as you directly and thoroughly respond to the question being asked and are not incorrect, you will receive partial or full credit for each of the open-ended questions.

​​Please read each question carefully and answer thoughtfully. This assignment is graded.

​

Personification

​the attribution of a personal nature or human characteristics to something non-human, or the representation of an abstract quality in human form

Anthropomorphism

the attribution of human characteristics or behavior to a god, animal, or object.

​What's the difference?

(adapted from https://prowritingaid.com/art/812/anthropomorphism-%26-personification%3A-what-s-the-difference.aspx

​Anthropomorphism is literal, e.g. animals or objects who talk, think, or behave like humans ("humanoid").

​

Personification is figurative, where the author implies or the reader infers that the animal or object behaves, thinks, or feels as a human would.

​Look at the passage from "There Will Come Soft Rains" for questions on the next 3 slides.

Multiple Choice

Which excerpt is an example of anthropomorphism but not personification?

• In the living room the voice-clock sang, "Tick-tock, seven o’clock, time

  to get up, time to get up, seven o’clock!" as if it were afraid nobody

  would.

• In the kitchen the breakfast stove gave a hissing sigh...

• The morning house lay empty.

• “Today is August 4, 2026,” said a second voice from the kitchen

  ceiling, “in the city of Allendale, California.”

Multiple Choice

Which excerpt is an example of personification but not anthropomorphism?

• In the living room the voice-clock sang, "Tick-tock, seven o’clock, time

  to get up, time to get up, seven o’clock!" as if it were afraid nobody

  would.

• In the kitchen the breakfast stove gave a hissing sigh...

• The morning house lay empty.

• “Today is August 4, 2026,” said a second voice from the kitchen

  ceiling, “in the city of Allendale, California.”

Multiple Choice

Which excerpt is an example of anthropomorphism & personification?

• In the living room the voice-clock sang, "Tick-tock, seven o’clock, time

  to get up, time to get up, seven o’clock!" as if it were afraid nobody

  would.

• In the kitchen the breakfast stove gave a hissing sigh...

• The morning house lay empty.

• “Today is August 4, 2026,” said a second voice from the kitchen

  ceiling, “in the city of Allendale, California.”

Open Ended

From the story packet, pages 724-728, choose another example of personification.

Number your response as follows:

1. page number

2. paragraph number

3. excerpt (in quotation marks) that contains personification

4. explanation of how the excerpt is an example of personification (i.e. which inanimate object/animal is acting like a person and in which ways)

Metaphor

comparing two unlike things directly, NOT using "like" or "as"

Simile

comparing two unlike things using "like" or "as"

Multiple Choice

Why do authors use similes and metaphors?

• to help readers envision what is occurring

• to be efficient in word usage

• to help the reader understand an unclear concept by connecting it to something the audience already understands

• all of the above

Multiple Choice

Which sentence from this excerpt (paragraphs 7 & 8 on page 724) contains a metaphor?

• At eight-thirty the eggs were shriveled and the toast was like stone.

• An aluminum wedge scraped them into the sink, where hot water

  whiled them down a metal throat which digested and flushed them

  away to the distant sea.

• The dirty dishes were dropped into a hot

  washer and emerged twinkling dry.

• Nine-fifteen, sang the clock, time to clean.

Open Ended

Look at paragraph 16 on page 725.  Write the phrase that contains a metaphor.  Explain how the 2 compared things are alike.

Open Ended

Look at paragraph 56 on page 728.  Write the phrase that contains a simile.  Explain how the 2 compared things are alike.

Juxtaposition

putting two ideas close to each other, especially for the purpose of comparing and contrasting them

"Juxta" means “next to”; "pos" means "placed."

Multiple Select

Look at paragraphs 30 & 31 on page 725. Which two images are juxtaposed (placed close together to stress contrast)? Choose ALL correct answers.

• bridge tables & patio walls

• playing cards fluttered & cards untouched

• glasses and egg salad sandwiches

• music played & tables were silent

Open Ended

Look at paragraph 35 on pages 725-726. From this paragraph, choose two juxtaposed images. Identify them (using direct quotations from the text) and then explain the effect of the comparison (why you think the author does it).

Situational Irony

​Actions have an effect opposite from the intention, so that the outcome is contrary to what was expected.

Open Ended

Read paragraphs 49-53 on p.727.

Now look at the last sentence in paragraph 51. Explain HOW (in which way) the situation is ironic (expectation vs. result).

Multiple Select

Which figurative devices and literary terms from "There Will Come Soft Rains" does this slideshow include (choose all that apply)?

• hyperbole & allusion

• juxtaposition & situational irony

• metaphor & simile

• personification & anthropomorphism