Keyword Guide · character-analysis
This guide breaks down the core characters of War of the Worlds and their narrative purposes. It includes actionable study plans for class discussion, quizzes, and essays. Use it to turn vague observations into evidence-based claims.
War of the Worlds centers on a unnamed narrator, his younger brother, and supporting figures like the artilleryman and curate. Each character represents a distinct human response to existential crisis, from rational survival to religious despair. Jot down one character’s core action and its thematic link for your next class note.
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War of the Worlds characters are written as archetypes of human behavior during catastrophe. The unnamed narrator acts as a relatable everyman, while the curate embodies religious breakdown and the artilleryman represents pragmatic, self-serving survival. Secondary figures like the brother highlight the story’s broad, global scope.
Next step: List each major character and label their dominant response to the invasion in your study notebook.
Action: Assign each major character a broad archetype (everyman, fanatic, survivor)
Output: A 1-page chart with character names, archetype labels, and text-based evidence
Action: Connect each character’s actions to one core theme of the novel
Output: A set of 3-4 index cards, each with a character-theme pairing and supporting detail
Action: Use one character-theme pairing to build a 3-paragraph essay outline
Output: A structured outline with a thesis, body topic sentences, and evidence notes
Essay Builder
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Action: Read through your class notes or the novel to list every character with a meaningful role in the plot
Output: A typed or handwritten list of 4-5 core characters, with 1-2 words describing their role
Action: For each character, write down 2-3 specific actions they take, then link each action to a core trait
Output: A two-column chart with actions on one side and corresponding traits on the other
Action: Pair each character’s core traits with one of the novel’s major themes (survival, religion, human nature)
Output: A set of bullet points linking each character to a theme, with a supporting action from the text
Teacher looks for: Clear, evidence-based claims about a character’s core traits, not just surface-level observations
How to meet it: Cite specific character actions from the text, then explain how those actions reveal underlying traits or beliefs
Teacher looks for: A clear connection between a character’s arc and the novel’s broader thematic messages
How to meet it: Explicitly state the theme, then explain how the character’s choices either support, challenge, or exemplify that theme
Teacher looks for: Relevant, specific details from the text to support all character claims
How to meet it: Avoid vague statements like ‘the curate was scared’; instead, reference a specific scene where his fear drives a key action
The unnamed narrator is a middle-class writer who witnesses the invasion’s early stages. His anonymity lets readers project their own fears and survival instincts onto his journey. Use this before class discussion to frame a question about how his background shapes his choices.
The curate is a clergyman who joins the narrator in hiding. His rigid religious beliefs fail to provide comfort, leading to a mental collapse that endangers both men. Jot down one specific moment of his breakdown to reference in your next essay outline.
The artilleryman is a soldier who abandons his post to survive. He develops a detailed plan to build a hidden, underground society after the invasion, prioritizing his own safety over collective action. Compare his plan to the narrator’s choices for a strong discussion point.
The narrator’s brother is a medical student in London, whose storyline follows the invasion’s spread across the country. His escape to Europe shows the disaster’s global scale, not just the narrator’s local experience. Use his arc to expand your essay’s scope beyond individual survival.
Minor figures like the maid and the refugee family highlight the chaos of the invasion from multiple angles. Their brief appearances reinforce the novel’s focus on universal human reactions to crisis. Note one minor character’s action and its thematic link for a unique exam answer.
Each major character represents a distinct archetype, making it easier for Wells to explore multiple facets of human nature in crisis. The narrator is the everyman, the curate is the disillusioned believer, and the artilleryman is the self-serving survivor. Label each character’s archetype in your study notes to simplify thematic analysis.
The narrator’s anonymity lets readers project their own fears and survival instincts onto his journey, making the story’s focus on universal human response more impactful. Write this reason down in your character analysis notes.
The curate embodies the failure of rigid religious dogma to provide guidance during unforeseen catastrophe. His gradual mental collapse challenges the idea that faith can offer comfort in extreme crisis. Link his arc to the novel’s critique of organized religion for your next essay.
The artilleryman represents a cynical, self-serving form of survival. He abandons his military post and develops a plan to build a hidden, underground society, prioritizing his own safety over helping others. Contrast his choices with the narrator’s for a strong discussion point.
The brother’s storyline expands the novel’s scope beyond the narrator’s local, personal experience. His journey from London to Europe shows the invasion’s global impact, highlighting that the crisis is not limited to one small town. Use his arc to support a thesis about the novel’s broad, thematic focus.
Editorial note: This page is independently written for educational support. Verify specifics with assigned class materials and the original text.
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