The War of the Worlds Lesson Plan

The red weed is a mysterious phenomenon. What do you think it represents? How is the red weed used as a literary device?

The red weed is a symbol of the Martian takeover. It transforms Earth into a version of Mars. As the narrator says after he finally emerges from the ruined house, “I found about me the landscape, weird and lurid, of another planet.” The red weed is also, like the Martians, very destructive; it chokes the rivers, diverting the water into swamps. The red weed adds a vivid element to the scene the author is trying to create, but it’s also used for foreshadowing. Just as the weed dies quickly, due to bacteria, so do the Martians.

How would you describe...