Bradbury's "August 2026: There Will Come Soft Rains" and Poe's "Masque of the Red Death": Elements and Techniques to Create and Convey the Theme In a short story an author uses elements and techniques in a story to create and convey his theme. In the short story "August 2026: There Will Come Soft Rains", written by Ray Bradbury, he uses conflict to convey his theme. In the short story "Masque of the Red Death", by Edgar Allen Poe, he uses setting of the seven rooms to convey his theme. In the short story "August 2026: There Will Come Soft Rains