Most Memorable Moments

Andrew Tanjuakio

12 May 2015

Most Memorable Moment

     In the novel, The War of the Worlds, I was assigned chapters 1 to 11. This section includes life on 

earth before the Martians, the arrival of the Martians, and the beginning of the invasion. In my 

opinion, the most memorable moment would be the arrival of the second cylinder. The reason I 

specifically chose the arrival of the second cylinder was because it proved that the first cylinder was 

not a coincidence and that the threat of the Martians had escalated greatly. "It had a greenish colour, 

and caused a silent brightness like a summer lightning. This was the second cylinder." (Wells 47) 

This line describing the arrival created immense suspense for the reader because it was made clear 

that things were only going to get worse.

     
      The arrival of the second cylinder confirmed that the cylinder's arrivals were not accidents. This 

event also helped progress the plot because it was the first sign of the incoming invasion. After the 

first Martian attacked commoners with the Heat-Ray, it did not seem to scare anyone despite the fact 

that numerous people were killed. It only seemed to attract more people to the pit. The combination 

of the second attack and the arrival of the second cylinder truly escalated the seriousness of the 

events and forced the nearby commoners to escape in panic. The panic and fear especially affected 

the narrator because he was nearly frozen with terror.


      The reason this stuck out in my mind was because I felt extreme suspense and, unlike the people 

in the novel, I realized that the attacks would become more destructive and more often. So far, many 

moments in the novel set tones and moods for the reader and this moment is a clear example.





Jan Carlo Dela Cruz

13 May 2015

Most Memorable Moment

        There were many suspenseful and intensifying events that occurred throughout my section 

(Chapters 12-17) such as the destruction the narrator experienced, the attempted robbery of the 

Elphistones, and the event of the "Thunder Child". The most memorable moment had to be the 

ending of Book 1. The Narrator's brother had been at the dock area of London, River Thames, on a 

paddle steamer to evacuate the area. Suddenly, there was a firing from the south and appeared a 

Martian approaching them. "It was the first Martian my brother had seen, and he stood more amazed 

than terrified..." (Wells 86). This refers to his first impression on the Martians. He was rather 

astonished at seeing the tripod than petrified at their first encounter.  

        

        "Big iron upperworks rose out of this headlong structure, and from that twin funnels projected 

and spat a smoking blast shot with fire. It was the torpedo-ram, Thunder Child, steaming headlong, 

coming to the rescue of the threatened shipping." (Wells 87) The ironclad ram destroyed the 

tripod attempting to destroy the ships allowing the passengers to escape to safety. It was not over 

yet, another tripod approached. With momentum, the Thunder Child struck it and destroyed a

second. At the very end of Book 1 of the novel, the setting turns from bright sun to grey clouds and 

the sky darkened portraying mystery.

        This event determines that there was a major amount of intensifying action throughout this 

novel.  It also creates suspense to the reader while reading the text.  This event of the novel was the 

end to Book 1 and it left the reader with suspense and mystery.





Jonathan Liu

12 May 2015

    
    The section that I had read for the novel, The War Of The Worlds, was within book II chapters 6-

10. The chapters take place after all the incidents with the Martians and the aftermath of the cities as

the narrator walks through the streets struggling for resources. The most memorable part within my

section in my opinion was when the narrator had discovered the death of a dozen Martians. It was 

the resolution within the novel as this was the end of the Martians and hope for the narrator and the 

world as the Martians had died described as "putrefactive and disease bacteria" (Wells 136) which 

had infiltrated their systems. This was a great conclusion to the novel as these Martians were 

described as godly creatures due to their amazing technology that had destroyed many parts of the

world and had set a mood of defeat and suspense for mankind, but these godly creatures were taken

down by a mere disease that mankind would not have been affected in a big way such as death. This 

event was described as "the toll of a billion deaths man has bought his birthright of the earth, and it is

his against all comers." (Wells 136) meaning that the odds were a million to one and in the end this 

victory was at the cost a many lives, but it was seen as the greatest outcome that man could have 

hoped for. This had set a mood of happiness for the narrator as he managed to live through many 

challenges that the Martians had given. In the end, the narrator had concluded with the future 

of the Martians and other planets in the solar system such as Venus where they both united. Also 

concluding with a sad statement of never finding his wife and both assuming that each other were

dead.

Joshua Parayno

13 May 2015                                       Most Memorable Moment

            The most memorable moment so far during section 3 (Book 2 Chapters 1-5) of the book is the death of the curate, and the many moments leading up towards it. Many chapters before the death of the curate build up to the altercation between the curate and narrator, and the curate’s inevitable death. The death “scene” is explained by the narrator very vividly and clearly, providing a great reading experience as it captivates the reader and definitely enhanced my understanding of what it was like, and what the environment was like at the time. For example, when the narrator states that the Martian was “scrutinizing the curate’s head.” And that he “would infer my (his) presence from the mark of the blow I (he) had given him” (Wells 140), it provides insight on what the Martians are like, revealing that they are very observant, making sure to examine everything, and that they are expected by humans to be capable of connecting evidence together to discover something. It also reveals that the Martians are knowledgeable on humans and how they act, as they are expected to be able to piece together a wound with another possible human threat.

            

       The vivid details and explanation of the incident also makes this moment very memorable. The narrator uses many words that help give insight on the emotions that he is feeling, the incredible suspense and tension of the situation. When reading it, I feel as if I am in his position, and can feel the fear and tense environment. For example, when the narrator depicts the event where the curator dies, and the Martians are inspecting the house, possibly looking for another victim. “Once it even touched the heel of my boot. I was on the verge of screaming; I bit my hand” (Wells 140) is a good representation of the tension and fear of the situation, and involves the reader, keeping them on the edge of their seat to see what happens.