War of the Worlds

Essential questions: Is there life on other planets? How do people respond to a crisis? Do we take our planet for granted?

Preview vocabulary (5 minutes) 

Project our Words to Know Vocabulary Slideshow and go through the words and the activity as a class. Highlighted words: cylindrical, glistens, haggard, invulnerable, obliterated, ration, strides, tranquil, tripod, verdant

• Read the “As You Read” box on page 14. Direct students to make notes in the margins as they read about how the characters react to the Martian invasion. 
• Assign parts and read the play aloud as a class.
• Have students discuss the following in groups.

Close-Reading Questions

What do you learn about Henry in Scene 1? Based on the information in that scene, how do you think the author wants you to feel about Henry? (character, author’s craft) Scene 1 shows that Henry feels responsible for the safety of others, that he cares about his wife, that he is brave, and that he is optimistic. The author seems to want the reader to like Henry and to take an interest in his story.

In Scene 2, Henry says, “I am a battleground of fear and curiosity.” What does he mean? (figurative language) Henry means that he’s torn between powerful feelings of fear and curiosity about the Martians. He can’t decide whether to back away from the potential danger or to move toward an amazing opportunity to see something fascinating.

In Scene 3, why does the milkman say that there is “no need to worry” about the Martians? What does this reveal about the milkman? (inference, character) The milkman knows that the human soldiers outnumber the Martians, and he assumes that the Martians—whom he knows nothing about— lack the resources to overpower so many humans. This assumption suggests that the milkman is naive and prideful: It does not occur to him that humans could be the weaker beings or that they might not be as strong as the Martians militarily.

Scene 1 is out of sequence; it is a preview of the danger and excitement that will come later in the play. If you were to move Scene 1 to its chronological place in the play, where should you put it? (sequence of events, text structure) The events of Scene 1 take place between Scenes 3 and 4.

In Scene 6, Joe says, “This isn’t a war, any more than there’s war between man and ants!” What does he mean? (interpreting text) Joe means that there cannot be a real war between humans and Martians because humans pose no threat to Martians. He is saying that Martians can destroy humans as easily as humans can destroy ants.

In Scene 6, why does Joe run out of the house? (character, inference) Joe doesn’t expect to survive the Martian invasion. He thinks that hiding in the house is merely delaying the inevitable, and he can no longer stand the wait. You can tell because he says, “I’ve had enough!” and, “Just let it be over!”

What character traits does Henry display in Scene 6? (character) Answers should be similar to: Henry shows that he is patient and determined (he hides in the house for more than a week), cautious (he warns Joe not to make noise), observant (he watches the Martians to understand their purpose), optimistic (he maintains hope that he and Joe can survive), and practical (he rations the food).

• Ask volunteers to read aloud the captions on the illustrations.
• Pause to discuss the information in each caption.
• Discuss the following critical-thinking questions.

Critical-Thinking Questions

What message does the play send about the importance of hope? The play sends the message that hope is important for survival. Henry and Clara both remain hopeful, and both are among the seemingly small number of humans who survive. Henry’s faith in humans’ ability to beat the aliens and his conviction that he can make it back to find Clara give him the strength he needs to survive the ordeal. When Clara is reunited with Henry, she says, “Everyone said you were dead, but I knew . . . I just knew . . .” This shows that Clara too held on to hope that she and Henry would survive. Joe, who lacks this kind of optimism, does not survive.

Was Henry’s decision to return to Maybury honorable or naive? Answers will vary. Students may say that it was honorable of Henry to return to Maybury; he believed he was safe but was willing to risk his life to help fight the Martians. Others may say that it was naive; Henry saw the Martians’ power. He should have realized that there would be no point in returning to Maybury to fight.

Consider the sidebar “Could a War of the Worlds Really Happen?” If aliens were to come to Earth, what lessons could we take from H.G. Wells’s story? Answers will vary. Students might say that Wells’s story could teach us not to underestimate the aliens.

Break students into groups to complete the activity Cause and Effect. This activity will prepare students to respond to the writing prompt. For alternative culminating tasks, see the boxes below.