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Characters

• The War of the Worlds is narrated in the first person
• The narrator gives an eyewitness account of his experience.
• He also reports events witnessed by others, including his brother (e.g. London chapters in Book One.)
• Most of the characters are unnamed and many appear briefly.
• Some named characters in Book One are killed off in IV/V/VI

• Age early 30s
• Character: Intelligent, calm. Often expresses fear and even panic but always thinks logically.
• Like Wells author has some science training and lives in Woking.
• Narrator’s views broadly reflect those of Wells at that time.
• Wells/Narrator prone to class snobbery e.g. ‘Few of the common people in England had anything but the vaguest astronomical ideas in those days.’

• The Narrator’s wife (unnamed

• Seen entirely from narrator’s perspective but does offer a different angle on events.
• More nervous than the narrator but senses danger more clearly.
• Disappears for a large section of the novel but finding her remains the narrator’s quest

• Astronomer and one of the first people to observe a Martian
• Tries a peaceful negotiation with invaders no spoilers but does not end well!

• Joins Ogilvy to return to the pit
• In ‘white flag’ delegation to negotiate with the Martians, along with Stent (Chief Scientist) - see above!

• A priest whose faith has been shaken by the Martians.
• Contrasts with narrator’s practical approach.
• Loses his sanity endangering the Narrator

• Soldier and fellow refugee
• Enters narrator’s garden in Book One
• The two men initially travel together
• Reunited in Book Two but character but now has romantic notions of rebuilding humanity.
• Ultimately the Artilleryman revealed as a fantasist.