There Will Come Soft Rains," Ray Bradbury "The Garden of Stubborn Cats," Italo Calvino Study Guide

1. List five functions the house performs. What unusual qualities and appliances does the house have? 2. What happened to the occupants of the house, and how do you know? 3. Why do you think Bradbury chose to have the house broadcast the poem? 4. Compare the house both in its normal operations and in its final hours- to a human. 5. Explain the storys message. 6. What was the last voice to die saying? 7. What qualities make this story different from others you know that deal with the future? 8. How possible do you think the future described in this story is? 9. What were the five spots of paint of? 10. What are some things the house has been protecting itself from? 11. Why is the dog very thin and covered in sores? 12. What happens to the dogs remains? 13. What can you infer the family usually does at 2:35? 14. What did the children usually do at 4:30? 15. What is the name of the family that lived in the house? 16. What are some things the house does to try to save itself? 17. Describe the final hours of the house.