Examination Day and The Star compare plot, setting, characters, language, themes and historical and social context.

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Patrick Brosnan

GCSE English Coursework

Wide-reading assignment

        In both Examination Day and The Star there is a futuristic theme. Both have a view on what the world will be like in the future. The two short stories are, however, written almost a century apart. In my essay I will be comparing how the plots, the settings, the characters, the language used, the themes and ideas and the historical and social contexts are different.

        The Star’s plot revolves around a global threat. Although “The Star” narrowly misses the earth it still causes major destruction. H.G. Wells uses the reaction of the earth and its people to interest the reader. The plot of Examination Day is about Richard Jordan or “Dickie” being too clever for the Government’s liking and therefore they kill him. Henry Slesar uses his characters to attract the reader.

        Both stories have similar themes; the people in both stories cannot control the outcome. The authors are here perhaps trying to show how the public have little power over major world-wide decisions. Also both stories have slow build ups to big endings.

        The short stories also have many differences. In Examination Day the Government have a very tight grip over the world, however in The Star the Government are almost non-existent. There is a great deal more freedom of the public. This difference could be put down the author’s difference of opinion on the future. Another difference is there is a larger view of the world as a whole in The Star. Examination Day just focuses on one family. This shows the ways the authors have planned their stories to appeal to the reader.

        The Star is set all around the world. It centres mainly in Europe and England in the early 20th century. The author, H.G. Wells could be seen as Eurocentric as Europe seems the only place in the world that escapes mass destruction. The rest of the world is only really used to show how much destruction is caused, e.g.” In Manitoba was a thaw and devastating floods.” At the end of the story there is a planet change and the story switches its setting to Mars. The Earth in this story is very recognisable, much like today’s world.

        The setting in Examination Day is extremely diminutive. The main setting is in the Jordan’s home and the only other place is in the Government’s building. There is not even a reference to anywhere else. This shows how the author, Henry Slesar wanted his reader to become familiar to the surroundings. The world in this story is very different to today’s world. It is much more regimented by the Governments.

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         There are not many similarities in the settings of the stories. There is a definite future setting and I think that they are both set in England although there is no reference to a country in Examination Day.

        There is a vast difference in settings. The Star has a global setting although it does centre on Europe and Britain. Conversely Examination Day has a minute setting. This could be to show that although there is a tragic end, it only effects a minority- Mr and Mrs Jordan. The Star’s ending though shows the event effects an immense scale of ...

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