The Ways in Which H G Wells Creates Atmosphere in The War of the Worlds by H G Wells

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Emil Kalaria  10.1                                                                                                    04/07/03

The Ways in Which H G Wells Creates Atmosphere in The War of the Worlds by H G Wells

The war of the worlds was written by H G Wells, in 1898.  The novel may have reflected the feelings of the people at the end of a century.  At the end of a century, people will be having different feelings of hope, fright and wonder, of what is going to happen in the new century, and more importantly, “if the world is going to end”.  These feelings can be compared to how we felt at the end of the 20th century (also a new millennium).  Some, at the new millennium felt like it was going to be the end of the world.

The first extract is about strange alien cylinders that have landed on earth.  Many people are crowding around them, waiting for something to rise out.  There is a very eerie atmosphere, while the alien being described as a slimy, disgusting thing.  The second extract is called “Attack by Heat Ray”.  The aliens have now arisen from their cylinders and have threatened to let off a massive heat-ray that will kill many people, near the River Thames.  The third extract from “The War of the Worlds” is called “Reports of the Martian Invasion”.  The Martian Invasion has reached the Newspapers and media now, and the headline reads: “London in Danger”.  The last extract is called “The Death of the Martian Invaders”.  This extract explains how the Martians’ invasion failed.

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In the first extract, people crowd around large metal cylinders that have fallen to earth.  The people don’t know what the cylinders are, so many thoughts pop into their minds, as they watch a huge tentacle-like arm wriggle out of the cylinder.  One of the ways in which H G Wells creates an atmosphere of alarm is through his description of the physical actions of the crowd before the Martian emerges.  For example, the man who has been pushed onto the cylinder is clearly afraid, which is shown by him trying to “Scramble out of the hole, again”.  The ...

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