Loading…
GCSE English Literature · key term
The organised life of a society, including its institutions, shared knowledge, culture and ways of living together.
Used by OCR and Eduqas
Paper 1
Revise: Civilisation and the breakdown of orderIn The War of the Worlds, civilisation includes the routines, institutions and relationships that make ordinary life possible: trains run, newspapers circulate information, police protect people, property is respected and neighbours help one another. Wells tests what happens when those arrangements face a threat they cannot control.
Component 2
Build an argument about what civilisation depends on, rather than simply listing scenes of panic.
Create a free account to keep every note you open and track your progress.
An organised society sustained by institutions, shared rules, practical services and cultural activity.
In The War of the Worlds, civilisation depends on connections between people: trains carry passengers and supplies, newspapers communicate information, police maintain order, and laws protect property. It also includes less visible things, such as trust, kindness and the expectation that tomorrow will resemble today. Wells explores how quickly these connections can fail when an overwhelming threat interrupts ordinary life.
