Structure

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Beginning

The short story begins with an exposition which seems to introduce readers to an average day in a house: “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” (p. 1, ll. 1-2). However, the mention that the voice fears nobody would wake up, is the first foreshadowing hint that things are not as they seem. Moreover, the reference to a “voice-clock” hints t…

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Middle

The middle of the story continues to follow the house’s activities, through which the rising action is constructed.

Quite early in the story, a short background on the house gives readers context: “The house stood alone in a city of rubble and ashes. This was the one house left standing. At night the ruined city gave off a radioactive glow which could be seen for miles” (p. 1, ll. 28-30).  This information suggests that a nuclear event took place prior to the events in the story.

As the story continues, the action is paced by the house repeatedly announcing the hour: “Ten-fifteen. The garden sprinklers whirled up in golden founts…” (p. 1, l. 31); “Twelve noon. A dog whined, shivering, on the front porch.”  (p. 2, ll. 9-10)

Though vivid descriptive langu…

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Ending

The falling action continues to describe the demise of the automated house: “Ten more voices died. In the last instant under the fire avalanche, other choruses, oblivious, could be heard announcing the time, playing music, cutting the lawn…” (p. 4, ll. 19-20). Eventually, the fire makes the house collapse: “The crash. The attic smashing into …