The War of the Worlds Lesson Plan

What kind of tone does the author set in the first few paragraphs of the book? How does this tone color your first impression of the narrator? Do you think he’ll be a “reliable” narrator? Why or why not?

The tone is scientific and impartial. The narrator introduces the Martians as just another species trying to survive. They are not evil or immoral. The narrator reminds us “what ruthless and utter destruction our own species has wrought” upon animals and other people. We are not morally superior to the Martians, despite their invasion of Earth. By setting this tone, the narrator lets us know that he’s going to be a reliable narrator. His account will be factual and as...