Discussion Questions on The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells, up through Book II, Ch. II

1. What does extraterrestrial mean, and why does the term have "no meaning for most of the onlookers" (18)?

2. Which differences between Earth and Mars will, in the mind of the narrator, make the Martians physically weaker or stronger than humans?

3. What does it take to kill a Martian, and why is it so hard (58)?

4. Which danger threatens Mrs. Elphinstone and her sister-in-law when the narrator's brother first encounters them (83-85)?

5. Why do the Martians refrain from killing all of the humans rapidly as they invade England?