Cycle 3: Poem-There Will Come Soft Rains, Sara Teasdale

Which line(s) from the poem best supports the theme?

"Not one would mind, neither bird nor tree / If mankind perished utterly"

Which literary devices were used in the poem?

Imagery, personification, and alliteration.

How is Spring personified in the final couplet?

In the final couplet, Spring is personified as a woman rising at dawn and she too will "scarcely know" that mankind has "gone".

What does the use of "s" sounds in the opening couplet suggest?

It suggests the sound of the rain.

In which line does the poem first refer to war?

Line seven.

What is the theme of the poem?

Nature is indifferent to humanity.

What literary device is being used in the following line? "And Spring herself, when she woke at dawn"

Personification

What is the author's conclusion?

The author concludes that nature will neither "care" nor "mind" about the destruction of mankind.

Which picture is depicted by the first three couplets?

The first three couplets give a tranquil picture of nature.

How many rhyming couplets are in the poem?

The poem has 6 rhyming couplets.

What is Sara Teasdale's poem about?

The poem is about how if humanity kills itself, nature will still go on.

What do lines 7-10 suggest about the setting of the poem?

The poem takes place in nature, a short time after humankind has destroyed itself from war.

What is the setting of the poem?

The poem takes place post World War I.