Theme: tension
The War of the Worlds / Battlefield Contrast
Everyone stood arrested by the sudden stir of battle, near us and yet invisible to us. Nothing was to be seen save flat meadows, cows feeding unconcer...
Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea / Nature vs Humanity
But we cannot prevent equilibrium from producing its effects. We may brave human laws, but we cannot resist natural ones.” Captain Nemo had chosen a s...
Frankenstein / Freedom and Accountability
Kirwin’s to give an account of yourself.” “Who is Mr. Is not this a free country?” “Ay, sir, free enough for honest folks.
Around the World in Eighty Days / Journeys Threshold
Allahabad was now only twelve miles to the north-east. They stopped under a clump of bananas, the fruit of which, as healthy as bread and as succulent...
Dracula / Strategic Forethought
As usual Van Helsing had thought ahead of everyone else, and was prepared with an exact ordering of our work. “It is perhaps well,” he said, “that at ...
The War of the Worlds / Conflict and Isolation
Instead of keeping close to me and trying to oust me from the slit, the curate had gone back into the scullery. I snatched in the darkness, and my fin...
Dracula / Defiance and Authority
Then he went and made open the shutters in front and walk out and in through the door, before the very eyes of the police. Then he have an auction in ...
Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea / Stealthy Departure
The crew had just finished loading the sodium, and the _Nautilus_ could have left that instant. Did he wish to wait until night, and leave the submari...
The War of the Worlds / Visceral Recognition
Nearer, I distinguished the green slime of ditches mixing with the pale drab of dried clay and shiny, coaly patches. His black hair fell over his eyes...
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes / Moral Ambiguity
Ryder stood glaring with a drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. He’s not got blood enough to go in for felony with impunity. What a...
Around the World in Eighty Days / Mormon Missionary Encounter
This personage, who had taken the train at Elko, was tall and dark, with black moustache, black stockings, a black silk hat, a black waistcoat, black ...
A Journey to the Centre of the Earth / Natures Anomaly
If my astonishment increased, my patience was well-nigh exhausted. What natural force could possibly have produced such abnormal and extraordinary pla...
Around the World in Eighty Days / Calm Amidst Chaos
But this man of nerve manifested neither impatience nor annoyance; it seemed as if the storm were a part of his programme, and had been foreseen. Aoud...
Dracula / Madness and Memory
He grew very grave; and, after thinking the matter over for a while asked me to take him to Renfield. As we came to the door we heard the lunatic with...
Dracula / Tension and Desire
He did not, however, betray himself; he nodded slightly and said: “Go on,” in a low voice. Renfield proceeded:-- “He came up to the window in the mist...
The War of the Worlds / Sound of Conflict
He would probably have remained longer had it not been for the sound of guns that began about that hour in the south. As if in answer, the ironclad se...
A Journey to the Centre of the Earth / Resignation and Fate
In a mood of stolid and sullen resignation, I was about to take my accustomed place on the raft when my uncle placed his hand upon my shoulder. "There...
The War of the Worlds / Fear and Avoidance
He made a wide curve to avoid me, as though he feared I might prove a fresh competitor. As the yelping died away down the silent road, the wailing sou...
Pride and Prejudice / Social Dynamics Revealed
Mary’s powers were by no means fitted for such a display; her voice was weak, and her manner affected. She looked at Jane to see how she bore it; but ...
Pride and Prejudice / Inheritance Dynamics
And so, I suppose, they often talk of having Longbourn when your father is dead. They look upon it quite as their own, I dare say, whenever that happe...