The War of the Worlds Questions and Answers
The War of the Worlds
What killed the aliens in The War of the Worlds?
In H.G. Wells' "The War of the Worlds", the Martians were ultimately killed by common Earth microorganisms. Despite their superior technology, the aliens were unprepared for Earth's bacteria, to...
The War of the Worlds
In The War of the Worlds, what does the narrator do when the Martians emerge from the crashed cylinder?
In The War of the Worlds, when the Martians emerge from the crashed cylinder, initially the narrator does not run away like the other people. He stares, petrified, at a horrible-looking creature with...
The War of the Worlds
Themes and Message of The War of the Worlds
The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells explores themes such as the dangers of technology, humanity's vulnerability, and critiques of imperialism. The novel highlights the Martians' advanced technology,...
The War of the Worlds
Main characters and their contextual significance in The War of the Worlds
The main characters in The War of the Worlds are the unnamed narrator, his brother, and the artilleryman. The narrator’s perspective provides an intimate view of the Martian invasion's impact on...
The War of the Worlds
In The War of the Worlds, how does Wells parallel Martians' treatment of Earth and Britain's colonial treatment?
Wells parallels the Martians' treatment of Earth with Britain's colonial practices by highlighting the ruthless destruction both inflict on perceived "inferior" races. In the novel, Wells explicitly...
The War of the Worlds
What is the narrator's reaction to the heat ray in The War of the Worlds?
The narrator's reaction to the heat ray in The War of the Worlds is initially one of astonishment and paralysis. He stands dumbfounded and motionless, unable to comprehend the devastation. As he...
The War of the Worlds
How is Ogilvy's initial reaction to the cylinder movement in The War of the Worlds Chapter 2 ironic?
Ogilvy's initial reaction to the cylinder's movement is ironic because he assumes it contains injured beings needing rescue, reflecting his altruistic intentions. He links the cylinder to flashes on...
The War of the Worlds
What are two traits of the artilleryman in The War of the Worlds?
In H.G. Wells' The War of the Worlds, the artilleryman is characterized as a dreamer with grand schemes of survival and resistance against the Martians. Despite his charismatic and imaginative...
The War of the Worlds
The perspective and point of view in The War of the Worlds
The perspective and point of view in The War of the Worlds is first-person, narrated by an unnamed protagonist. This viewpoint allows readers to experience the Martian invasion and its impact on...
The War of the Worlds
Why are the characters in The War of the Worlds nameless?
The characters in The War of the Worlds are nameless to emphasize the Everyman concept, allowing readers to relate to them universally. This technique also creates immediacy and secrecy, propelling...
The War of the Worlds
The War of the Worlds and Social Darwinism
The War of the Worlds incorporates themes of Social Darwinism by depicting the Martian invasion as a survival of the fittest scenario. The technologically superior Martians treat humans as inferior...
The War of the Worlds
The Curate and his relationship with the narrator in The War of the Worlds
In The War of the Worlds, the Curate's relationship with the narrator is strained and tense. The Curate's erratic behavior and lack of practical survival skills frustrate the narrator, ultimately...
The War of the Worlds
What is the genre of The War of the Worlds?
In its day, The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells was classified as belonging to the “scientific romance” genre for its blend of scientific perspectives and fantastic adventures. Today, it is...
The War of the Worlds
In The War of the Worlds, what examples show the power or dangers of science/technology?
In "The War of the Worlds," the power and dangers of science and technology are exemplified by the Martians' advanced weaponry, including interplanetary travel, heat-rays, and poison gas. These...
The War of the Worlds
In The War of the Worlds, what happens to the men holding the white flag?
In H.G. Wells' The War of the Worlds, the men holding the white flag, including Ogilvy, Henderson, and Stent, attempt to communicate with the Martians by approaching an alien cylinder. However, this...
The War of the Worlds
How does H. G. Wells present conflict in The War of the Worlds in relation to the unnamed narrator?
H. G. Wells presents the conflict between humans and the Martians as physical, intellectual, and technological. The unnamed narrator believes but is not convinced that earthlings can successfully...
The War of the Worlds
Is H. G. Wells the main character in The War of the Worlds?
H.G. Wells is not the main character in The War of the Worlds. The main character is an unnamed first-person narrator, a philosopher, who recounts the alien invasion of Earth. The narrative also...
The War of the Worlds
The influence of the theory of evolution on Wells' depiction of Martians and aliens in The War of the Worlds
The theory of evolution significantly influenced Wells' depiction of Martians and aliens in The War of the Worlds. He portrays them as highly evolved beings, superior in intelligence and technology,...
The War of the Worlds
What are some important quotes in The War of the Worlds?
The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells is a very pessimistic view of humankind, who are judged to be arrogant, complacent and completely ignorant of their true place in the world.
The War of the Worlds
How does the narrator in The War of the Worlds build and sustain his credibility while narrating his brother's...
The narrator builds credibility by demonstrating introspection and intelligence, particularly in understanding and communicating the Martian invasion. His expertise in scientific matters and his...
The War of the Worlds
In The War of the Worlds, what is the physical effect of the Heat-Ray at Horsell Common?
The Heat-Ray at Horsell Common is a deadly Martian weapon that silently emits a beam of light, instantly charring and consuming anything it touches. Initially underestimated due to the Martians' slow...
The War of the Worlds
What are some examples of imagery in The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells?
H.G. Wells uses vivid imagery in The War of the Worlds to depict the Martians and their view of Earth. He describes the "gulf of space" between the planets and the Martians' "envious eyes" as they...
The War of the Worlds
What are two similarities between The War of the Worlds book and radio broadcast, and do they create the same tone?
The book and radio broadcast of "The War of the Worlds" share key similarities: both depict an alien invasion with advanced weaponry like heat rays and poison gas, and both portray the aliens being...
The War of the Worlds
In Chapter 12 of The War of the Worlds, why does the Narrator run toward the attacking Martians?
In Chapter 12, the Narrator runs toward the attacking Martians because he knows their heat ray is deadly over long distances. His strategy is to reach water, where he believes the heat ray might be...
The War of the Worlds
Which detail from paragraph 1 is least important for a summary?
The least important detail from paragraph 1 for a summary is the implication that humans assumed any visitors from Mars might constitute "a missionary enterprise." This detail suggests human...
The War of the Worlds
What Victorian elements are present in H.G Wells' The War of the Worlds?
The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells incorporates Victorian elements such as an infatuation with science, the exploration of evolutionary theories, and anxiety over foreign invasion. During the...
The War of the Worlds
In The War of the Worlds, who first discovered the Martian spacecraft?
The first person to discover the Martian spacecraft is the astronomer Ogilvy. He had been observing Mars during an apparent explosion and, upon finding the spacecraft in a crater, correctly connects...
The War of the Worlds
Could Welles' broadcast duping the public have only happened in the 1930s? Are modern citizens more media savvy?
A broadcast like "The War of the Worlds" could happen at any time, but it is most likely to occur when there is a heightened sense of fear or paranoia in the public. In 1982, director Steven...
The War of the Worlds
In H.G. Wells' The War of the Worlds, where do people jump into the river to escape the Martians' heat ray?
In H.G. Wells' The War of the Worlds, people jump into the river to escape the Martians' heat ray at Weybridge, a town in Surrey, where the Thames and the Wey meet. This occurs in Chapter 12, "What I...
The War of the Worlds
What does the detailed description in the narrative signify about the audience, and its impact on the formality and...
The detailed description in the narrative signifies an attempt to establish credibility and realism for the audience. By mentioning real observatories and astronomers, the narrator, a journalist,...
The War of the Worlds
What could explain the public's reaction to Orson Welles' 1938 "War of the Worlds" broadcast?
The public's panic during Orson Welles' 1938 "War of the Worlds" broadcast stemmed from several factors. Radio was a relatively new medium, and listeners were unaccustomed to dramatic presentations....
The War of the Worlds
How does the crowd at the Common react to the heat ray in The War of the Worlds?
The crowd at the Common initially watches the Martians from a distance, curious but cautious. When the Royal Astronomer leads a deputation to make contact, the Martians deploy a heat ray, turning the...
The War of the Worlds
Where was the message sent first when the Martians began to die in The War of the Worlds?
The first message about the Martians dying was sent from St. Martin's le Grand, where a man set up a telegraph to notify Paris. This news quickly spread worldwide, alerting others to the Martians'...
The War of the Worlds
Which type of 'doom story' in science fiction - alien invasion, natural disaster, or human-caused disaster - would...
The type of "doom story" most likely to frighten people today involves human-caused disasters, particularly those exploiting fears of terrorism or biological threats. Historical events, such as the...