Cambridge IGCSE English Literature
Cambridge IGCSE English Literature The War of the Worlds Exam Questions
Free Cambridge IGCSE English Literature practice questions for The War of the Worlds. Covers h G Wells's novel of the martian invasion of england, fear, survival, human arrogance, science and civilisation.
The War of the Worlds practice questions
1 pack of exam-style practice questions for The War of the Worlds. Plan and write as many answers as you can under timed conditions, then compare them with the guidance on this page and your notes.
About Cambridge IGCSE English Literature The War of the Worlds
H G Wells's The War of the Worlds is a prose set text for Cambridge IGCSE Paper 1: Poetry and Prose. Published in 1898, it is narrated by an unnamed man who witnesses the Martians land near Woking, attack with the Heat-Ray and black smoke, and overrun London, before they are destroyed by bacteria. A parallel strand follows the narrator's brother escaping London. Cambridge questions either print a passage and ask how Wells creates terror, tension or wonder, or set an essay on a character or theme. Examiners reward close analysis of Wells's realistic, journalistic style and its effects.
Key themes, characters and context
- The narrator A thoughtful, often frightened observer whose detailed account makes the fantastic seem real. He tells the story after the events.
- The Martians Described with horror as cold, intelligent beings in fighting-machines. Their treatment of humans mirrors how humans treat other species.
- The curate and the artilleryman The curate's despair and the artilleryman's grand but empty plans show different human responses to catastrophe.
- The brother's escape His flight from London with the Elphinstones shows mass panic and the breakdown of order. The ironclad Thunder Child's fight is a heroic moment.
- Human arrogance The famous opening, 'No one would have believed in the last years of the nineteenth century', sets up humanity's complacency. Wells links this to empire.
- Science and nature The red weed and the Martians' death from bacteria show nature, not human weapons, defeats the invaders.
Common mistakes in The War of the Worlds
- Giving the narrator a name; he is never named, which helps him stand for ordinary people.
- Claiming humans defeat the Martians by force; they are killed by earthly bacteria.
- Mixing up the narrator's experiences with his brother's; check whose strand a passage comes from.
- Retelling the action without analysing how Wells builds tension through detail, pace and reaction.
- Overlooking Wells's critique of human superiority and empire, which gives the novel depth.
Try three The War of the Worlds practice questions
1. Read the passage describing the first use of the Heat-Ray on Horsell Common. How does Wells make this such a terrifying moment? (25 marks)
Show what a strong answer includes
A strong answer would analyse the sudden, silent violence; contrast curious onlookers with the horror that follows; examine the narrator's confused perspective and sensory detail; and comment on the realistic, reportage-like style.
2. How does Wells strikingly portray the panic in London? (25 marks)
Show what a strong answer includes
A strong answer would use the brother's strand, including crowds fleeing, the breakdown of order and violence among refugees; analyse vivid description and pace; and explore what Wells suggests about civilisation under pressure.
3. Explore the ways in which Wells presents the narrator's relationship with the curate. (25 marks)
Show what a strong answer includes
A strong answer would examine their time trapped in the ruined house; contrast the narrator's practicality with the curate's despair; analyse growing tension; discuss the narrator's guilt; and reflect on what this reveals about survival.
The War of the Worlds FAQs
What does Cambridge IGCSE English Literature The War of the Worlds cover?
It covers Wells's novel, including the invasion, the narrator and his brother, key characters, themes of fear and human arrogance, and Wells's style.
Which paper is The War of the Worlds examined in?
It is a prose set text on Cambridge IGCSE Paper 1: Poetry and Prose.
What should I focus on when revising The War of the Worlds?
Know the main episodes in order, the differences between the narrator's and brother's strands, the curate and artilleryman, and the ending, and practise analysing descriptive passages.
