The War of the Worlds Lesson Plan

How does the author use weather to underscore a feeling or mirror dramatic moments?

The narrator repeatedly mentions the “hot and close” weather and even takes a cold bath to refresh himself. This kind of weather creates an atmosphere of waiting and suspense because we know a storm is coming. When the powerful thunderstorm does arrive, it mirrors the frenzied excitement caused by the first appearance of the Martian tripods. During the storm, the narrator can only see the tripods during brief flashes of lightning, which creates an atmosphere of horror, confusion, and uncertainty.

The narrator doesn’t just observe and report the events happening around him—he also tries...