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प्रश्न
Discuss the absence of human characters in the story, There Will Come Soft Rains. How does this absence contribute to the overall tone and message of the narrative? Answer in 200-250 words.
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उत्तर
In Ray Bradbury's "There Will Come Soft Rains," the complete absence of human characters is a central element that profoundly contributes to the story's dystopian, post-apocalyptic tone. The setting is a futuristic house that continues its daily routines despite the extinction of its human occupants, creating a chilling and poignant atmosphere.
The story portrays a dystopian world where technology has outlasted humanity, emphasizing the mechanical efficiency of the house and its robotic inhabitants. The house performs its tasks with precision—cooking, cleaning, and even reading poetry—yet these actions are devoid of purpose without humans to benefit from them. The robotic mice scurry around cleaning the house, further highlighting the cold, mechanical nature of this world.
The absence of human presence starkly contrasts with the house's sophisticated technology. This lack of warmth and human fallibility underscores the emptiness and futility of a world driven solely by machines. The house's preoccupation with time, adhering strictly to schedules, is particularly ironic given that time is a human construct. Without humans, the meticulous routines become meaningless, accentuating the story's somber message about the consequences of technological advancement devoid of human touch.
Ultimately, nature prevails over technology as the house succumbs to a fire and is destroyed. This conclusion serves as a powerful reminder of nature's enduring strength and the transient nature of human achievements. The story suggests that despite technological advancements, humanity's creations are ultimately ephemeral, and nature will reclaim its dominion.
In summary, the absence of human characters in "There Will Come Soft Rains" amplifies the story's dystopian tone and reinforces its themes. The automated routines of the house, the chilling absence of human warmth, and the eventual triumph of nature over technology collectively convey a poignant commentary on the fragility of human existence and the potential hubris of overreliance on technology.
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संबंधित प्रश्न
Answer these question in a few words or a couple of sentence.
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Thinking about the Text
Here are some headings for paragraphs in the text. Write the number(s) of the
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| (i) | Einstein’s equation 9 |
| (ii) | Einstein meets his future wife |
| (iii) | The making of a violinist |
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| (v) | A letter that launched the arms race |
| (vi) | A desk drawer full of ideas |
| (vii) | Marriage and divorce |
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| knock | wrestle | walk | wrong |
| knee | half | honest | daughter |
| hours | return | hornet | calm |
| could | sign | island | button |
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On the basis of your understanding of the poem, answer the following questions
by ticking the correct choice.
The setting of the poem is ___________.
Notices
Read the following captions
. Change them into active (voice) and explain their meaning.
e.g. All credit cards accepted.
We accept credit cards.
Meaning: The organization accepts credit cards from customers for all their transactions.
1. Domestic help required
_______________________________________
2. All types of computer servicing undertaken.
_______________________________________
3. Using cell phones is not allowed (University Campus)
_______________________________________
4. Spoken English classes conducted.
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He plants cool shade and tender rain,
And seed and bud of days to be,
And years that fade and flush again;
He plants the glory of the plain;
He plants the forest's heritage;
The harvest of a coming age;
The joy that unborn eyes shall see___
These things he plants who plants a tree.
Read the lines given above and answer the question that follow:
What is meant by the phrase ‘days to be’?
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He plants cool shade and tender rain,
And seed and bud of days to be,
And years that fade and flush again;
He plants the glory of the plain;
He plants the forest's heritage;
The harvest of a coming age;
The joy that unborn eyes shall see___
These things he plants who plants a tree.
Read the lines given above and answer the question that follow:
Explain the line, “And years that fade and flush again.”
So please, oh please, we beg, we pray,
Go throw your TV set away,
And in its place you can install
A lovely bookshelf on the wall.
Then fill the shelves with lots of books,
Ignoring all the dirty looks,
The Screams and yells,the bites and kicks,
And children hitting you with sticks-
Fear not, because we promise you
That, in about a week ot two
Of having nothing else to do,
They'll now begin to feel the need
Of having something to read.
And once they start - oh boy, oh boy!
You watch the slowly growing joy
That fills their hearts. They'll grow so keen
They'll wonder what they'd ever seen
In that ridiculous machine,
That nauseating, foul, unclean,
Repulsive television screen!
And later, each and every kid
Will love you more for what you did.
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What does Dahl ask the parents to do?
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Read the extract given below and answer the question that follow.
Explain, ‘I wasn’t too worried about all this. I’d trained, sweated disciplined myself for six years with the game in the mind.
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Describe the various sights that one comes across in the meadows.
Talk to your partner and say whether the following statement is true or false.
Snakes cannot hear, but they can feel vibrations through the ground.
Answer the following question:
An old man won a clock and sold it back to the shopkeeper. How much money did he make?
Why do you think that the spider web hanging on the door was no longer there?
Add im- or in- to each of the following words and use them in place of the italicised words in the sentences given below.
| patient, proper, possible, sensitive, competent |
The project appears very difficult at first sight but it can be completed if we work very hard.
The words helper, companion, partner and accomplice have very similar meanings, but each word is typically used in certain phrases. Can you fill in the blanks below with the most commonly used words? A dictionary may help you.
my ……………. on the journey.
Read the following extract from Robert Browning's poem, “The Patriot” and answer the question that follows.
|
Alack, it was I who leaped at he sun To give it my loving friends to keep! Nought man could do, have I left undone: And you see my harvest, what I reap This very day, now a year is run. |
- What can you conclude of the Patriot's mood from the given lines?
Quote the line from the given extract which tells us that the Patriot did his utmost to satisfy his people? [3] - The last line of the extract suggests that a year has gone by.
How had the speaker been treated a year ago? [3] - How did the situation change a year later? Give details of his present state. [3]
- Why were only a ‘palsied few” onlookers seated at the windows?
‘Where had the other townspeople gone?‘Why had they gone there? [3] - How is the speaker's faith in God revealed at the end of the poem?
Do you think the poem ends on a note of hope or despair? Justify your answer. [4]
