Many authors use a variety of richly developed literary techniques to evoke emotion, and connect with the audience. The purpose of this is to increase the reader's interest in the story and keep his or her attention. A literary device used by many authors is symbolism or, more distinctly, personification. Personification helps the author to establish mood and to build imagery in a piece of writing. In Ray Bradbury's poem, "There Will Come Soft Rains" personification is used to connect the reader with non-human or inanimate objects that are being described in the piece. As with many other literary techniques, there are several examples of personification in "There Will Come Soft Rains" that help to make the text feel more animated and lively, like many aspects of our everyday lives. .
The dramatic story begins with no defined setting. No setup, no back drop, and no background information that shapes the preface of the piece. However, what is presented by Ray Bradbury is an extraordinary situation-a house that talks. The voice(s) of the special house sets the tone for the whole story. As there are no people in the story, the story was told from the house's point of view. In the first paragraph, Bradbury conveys to the reader that the house doesn't realize that it is empty. "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 that nobody would. The morning house lay empty. The clock ticked on, repeating and repeating its sounds into the emptiness. Seven-nine, breakfast time, seven-nine!"(Bradbury). .
The author's use of personification suggests to the reader that the house was afraid that nobody would hear its announcement. But, of course, a house cannot be in fear; however, Bradbury uses the device to make it is easier for the reader to relate to something that is human or possess human traits.
