Comparing Themes

Can you ever imagine a science fictional story being related to a free verse poem? I definitely can't. But sure enough, in the science fiction book The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury, there is a story called "There Will Come Soft Rains". This story relates in theme to a free verse poem by Carl Sandburg named "Four Preludes on Playthings of the Wind". The common question is: "How in the world do these 2 pieces of work relate in theme? Shockingly, however, there are many points where theme is related and compared.

In the science fictional story "There Will Come Soft Rains" by Ray Bradbury, Ray describes a house that "[stands] alone in a city of rubble and ashes" (167). It used to be a magnificent city but now, "the ruined city [gives] off a radioactive glow which [could] be seen for miles" (167). The date is August 4, 2026 and the city is Allendale, California. The only living thing in sight is a poor, hungry dog that eventually dies. In the house, mechanical mice, voice-clocks, and about ten thousand more electronic attendants live. Outside of the house, there is a west wall that's totally burned but still standing. Charcoal covers the whole surface except for 5 places. In these 5 places, a silhouette is shown at each location: "a man mowing a lawn, a woman [bending] to pick flowers, a small boy [throwing a ball], a girl [catching a ball], and the ball [itself]" (167). It's plainly seen and understood that these silhouettes were made by the radioactive glow from some kind of explosion. As if this wasn't enough, the house caught on fire from a raging store that had suddenly appeared. The house finally "gave ground as the fire in ten billion angry sparks moved with flaming ease from room to room and then up the stairs" (170). This proves that nothing ever lives forever. The theme of this is no matter in what situation, something will always fall. This house had nothing left of it except one wall that was barely standing. Even a house will eventually face downfall, just like this house experienced from a raging storm.

Similarly speaking, in the free verse poem "Four Preludes on Playthings of the Wind" by Carl Sandburg, a correlation in theme to "There Will Come Soft Rains" is shown. Throughout the poem, one phrase is repeated over and over: "We are the greatest city, the greatest nation, nothing like us ever was". This proves that the city really was a magnificent city with rich possessions. Something caused this glorious city to collapse and fall. Before, "the doors were cedar and the panels