ENG2D1
28 May 2015
Analysis of Setting
novel takes place in 19th century England. The time frame of the novel is the most intriguing aspect
because it was set in the Victorian era. In this era, technology was very limited compared to what we
have today. Due to the lack of technology, the novel shows how unready the world was, and still
may be, for an alien invasion. For example, the only form of communication of a major event or
catastrophe would be through a newspaper or by word of mouth. The narrator's younger brother in
London believed "The Martians... had killed a number of people with a quick-firing gun" (Wells 93),
but the narrator witnessed it to be a heat-ray. Today, if Martians invaded Canada, someone from the
other side of the world could know what was happening within an hour because of our advanced
communication.
Throughout the course of the novel, the countrysides of England transition from peaceful and
quiet to frantic and chaotic. After the chaos settles down, the towns have become empty and run-
down. This shows that England is in a state of war and refuge. The events all take place before
World War I, so England's military was no match against the Martians. Aside from the time and
location, another aspect of setting would be the culture. At the time, bicycles had become very
popular. Today, riding a bike has become common sense, but the narrator was in the process of
learning how to ride a bicycle. At the time, the main forms of transportation were by horse and
carriage or by train. With a major catastrophe like an alien invasion, escaping a town efficiently
would be a challenge.
The setting of the novel was very important because it helped the reader imagine the environment
and events more clearly. It was a very unique setting, so it made for a more interesting take on an
alien invasion because of the location and time period.
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