There Will Come Soft Rain Personification

In “There Will Come Soft Rains”, by the poet Sara Teasdale, it deeply describes nature’s response to the end of the human race. She makes it clear that nature would carry on and would have no affect if the humans were extinct because of the war. Teasdale uses personifications, imagery, and rhyme in order to demonstrate the theme.

The theme of the poem is that nature will outlive humans. For example, when the poet explains “Not one would mind, neither bird nor tree, If mankind perished utterly” she is implying that animals, the weather, plants, and everything a part of nature would not change if humans were gone (lines 9-10). Even though humans have been a part of nature for so long, they do not rely on us in order to thrive. Furthermore, when

describing the state of nature, Teasdale explains that “There will come soft rains and the smell of the ground” (line 1). This shows how nature will move on and continue its natural routine. Nature is able to survive because it knows how to work as a system whereas humans think it the solution is war. Truly, the message of the poem would be that natures will survive longer than humans.
One way the poet demonstrates theme is through personification.

This is when something other than a person is described as doing human actions. For instance, she states, “And Spring herself, when she woke at dawn, Would scarcely know that we were gone” (lines 11-12). This demonstrates that spring would still come around when humans are gone. Even though spring can’t literally wake up, it adds more meaning to the poem in order to fully connect the reader. Moreover, there’s also “…frogs in the pools singing at night,” (line 3). This shows that the frogs can’t actually sing but it gives the reader a deeper and positive mood about the poem. Animals will carry on with their daily duties and their behavior will not change if humans were to be gone. Truthfully, the poet added in strong personifications to help support the theme and create an overall profound

meaning.
Another way the poet creates a thoughtful message is by using imagery throughout the poem. Imagery helps the reader image a scene from the words in the poem. For example, in the beginning of the poem it states that “There will come soft rains and the smell of the ground” (line 1). By adding specific details and relating to the sense of smell, it helps the reader image the opening scene. This helps by keeping the reader engage to the poem and fully absorbs what the poet is trying to convey. Additionally, the poet also included “And swallows circling with their shimmering sound” (line 2). The image of birds flying around chirping come to mind when this line is read because the poet uses sensory imagery in order for the reader to image a certain sound. Through descriptive words, the poem is livelier and becomes more intriguing. Overall, imagery is used to create a thoughtful theme that gets the reader’s mind to think.
Finally, the poet uses rhyme in order to enhance the theme.

For example, in the middle of the poem it states that “Robins will wear their feathery fire, Whistling their whims on a low fence-wire”(lines 5-6). This demonstrates again that nature will live on and there is no sympathy for the end of humans. It sticks in the readers mind since the words stick out because of the rhyming. Furthermore, rhyming is also shown through the lines “Not one would mind, neither bird nor tree, If mankind perished utterly;” (lines 9-10). Adding in rhymes helps the poem from straying away from being dull. It also emphasizes the theme by making the statement stick with you even after the poem is

read.
In “There Will Come Soft Rains”, Teasdale clearly displays that nature is stronger and more independent than humans, therefore people will die first. The message of the poem is expressed distinctly by the poet using personification, imagery, and rhyme. Although humans are powerful, since they are so destructive towards each other, nature will outlive us all.