theme

I think the theme of the story is that you shouldn't underestimate things. The martians at first seem to be frigile and weak. They also moved very slow. The people right than had a chance kill them before they could build their machines. When they started building there machines and using there ray the people started to run for thier lives and fearing them. I think thats the theme because there if they would have been causious and studied the martians may be they could have avoided the whole invasion in the first place.

conflict

The major conflict in the book ( WAR OF THE WORLDS) is that the martines want to take over the earth. The conflict starts when the cylinder first comes to earth. The martines come out and start building there weapons and start killing people. The Narrator who is the main character of the story flees from his home with his family to look for a safe place. The conflict is resolved when the aliens get a disease which they have obtained on earth. They try to cure them selves but they evantually die. I think it is realistic and believable because they came here not knowing about our planets atmosphere or diseases or anything.