Parallelism

Parallelism

By Madison Leathers

​Lesson Objective: 



Students will identify and analyze parallel structure in There Will Come Soft Rains and understand how Bradbury’s use of parallelism enhances meaning and tone.

​Bellringer

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Quick write: What do you think of when you hear the word "parallel?" How might this idea connect to literature?

​What is Parallelism?

• ​Parallelism (or parallel structure) is a literary device in which similar grammatical structures are repeated for rhythm, clarity, and emphasis.

• Writers use parallelism to enhance descriptions, create balance, and highlight contrasts. 
  
  

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“I came, I saw, I conquered.”

​Debrief: What is the effect of parallelism (parallel structure) in this example from Julius Ceasar

​Directions: Discuss the following quote with your table.

Debrief: What is the effect of parallelism (parallel structure) in this example from JFKs Inaugural address?

​John F. Kennedy – Inaugural Address
​“Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.”

​​Directions: Discuss the following quote with your table.

Debrief: What is the effect of parallelism (parallel structure) in this example from The Dark Knight?

​The Dark Knight (2008) – The Joker’s Speech
“You see, in their last moments, people show you who they really are. So, in a way, I knew your friends better than you ever did.”

​Directions: Discuss the following quote with your table.

​Shakespeare	​John F. Kennedy	​The Dark Knight (2008)
​Julius Ceasar	Inaugural Address	The Joker’s Speech
​“I came, I saw, I conquered.” (Veni, Vidi, Vici)	​“Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.”	​ “You see, in their last moments, people show you who they really are. So, in a way, I knew your friends better than you ever did.”
​This famous line by Julius Caesar follows a parallel structure with three consecutive verbs, reinforcing his swift victory.	​The mirrored structure of this sentence emphasizes civic responsibility.	​The parallel phrasing contrasts two perspectives, reinforcing the Joker’s eerie logic.

​Parallelism Mini Lesson Debrief

​Examples from: There Will Come Soft Rains

​Example 1	​Example 2
​"Eight-one, tick-tock, eight-one, off to school, off to work, run, run, eight-one!"	​"Five spots of paint—the man, the woman, the children, the ball—remained."
1) Where is the mirrored/parallel structure? 2) What is the effect?	1) Where is the mirrored/parallel structure? 2) What is the effect?

​Directions: Review the two examples from our text. Discuss questions 1 and 2 for each example with your table. Write your answers in your notebook.

​Examples from: There Will Come Soft Rains

​Example 1	​Example 2
​"Eight-one, tick-tock, eight-one, off to school, off to work, run, run, eight-one!"	​"Five spots of paint—the man, the woman, the children, the ball—remained."
​Repetition of time signals and actions creates a rhythmic, robotic tone, reinforcing the mechanical nature of the house.	​The parallel listing of family members and the ball emphasizes what has been lost due to nuclear destruction.

Guided Practice

Directions: Independently review the quote from our text, then write your answer to questions 1 and 2 in your notebook.


Consider this sentence from There Will Come Soft Rains: 
"The house stood alone in a city of rubble and ashes. The house stood alone, silent and empty." 

1) What effect does the repetition of "The house stood alone" have on the reader? 

2) How does parallel structure reinforce the theme of isolation and destruction? 

Multiple Choice

How does Bradbury use parallelism in There Will Come Soft Rains? 

• To show the unpredictable nature of the house’s technology 

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  B. To emphasize the repetitive, mechanical routines of the house 

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  C. To highlight the randomness of the nuclear disaster 

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  D. To suggest that nature and technology work in harmony 

Multiple Choice

Which of the following excerpts from There Will Come Soft Rains best illustrates parallelism? 

• A. “At ten o’clock the house began to die.” 

• B. “The fire crackled up the stairs. It fed upon Picassos and Matisses.”

• 
   
  C. “The house shuddered, oak bone on bone, its bared skeleton cringing from the heat.” 

• D. “Tick-tock, seven o’clock, time to get up, time to get up, seven o’clock!” 

Multiple Choice

What is the best definition of parallelism as it is used in literature? 

• A. The use of similar grammatical structures to create rhythm and emphasis 

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  B. The repetition of a single word to enhance meaning 

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  C. A comparison between two unlike ideas to create contrast 

• D. The use of poetic language to describe emotions 

Multiple Choice

How does the use of parallel structure in There Will Come Soft Rains contribute to its overall message about nuclear war? 

• A. It highlights the resilience of human survivors. 

• B. It reinforces the inevitability and repetition of human destruction. 

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  C. It contrasts the unpredictability of war with the certainty of technology. 

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  D. It suggests that technology will ultimately save humanity. 

Open Ended

How does Bradbury’s use of parallelism help create a contrast between technology and human absence?