It's actually a deception from the Martians, who entrap the humans and kill them in the night. In this story, the Third Expedition from Earth has arrived on Mars to find what appears to be a replica of their home, complete with long-lost friends and family. “Grandpa and Grandma Lustig were there, weeping, their faces shifting like wax, shimmering as all things shimmer on a hot day.” ('The Third Expedition')

This dramatic simile is foreshadowing the hostile interactions of the humans with the Martians, as well as providing an image of how the Martians view the invading Earthlings: as a mysterious and imposing force of nature. This simile is describing the Third Expedition's ship: it is 'a thing of beauty and strength,' but one with great powers of destruction despite its beauty. “It had moved in the midnight waters of space like a pale sea leviathan it had passed the ancient moon and thrown itself onward into one nothingness following another.” ('The Third Expedition') Confused, the captain is compared to a child staring at an empty Christmas tree – he expected great celebration on this monumental day, but instead he doesn't even get an audience. The captain has just attempted to tell someone that they have arrived from Earth, but the reply was far from expected and much too cavalier. In this story, the second expedition from Earth has landed on Mars, but unbeknownst to them, they have entered a Martian mental asylum, where the authorities are used to hearing nonsensical stories.

He looked like a child staring at an empty Christmas tree. '“Well,' said the captain, reluctant to go. A Child Staring at an Empty Christmas Tree This simile, 'like a dark wine poured to the ceiling,' is especially apt since the conversation has intoxicated her husband with visions of killing these intruders, leading to his foolish and reckless murder of Nathaniel York and his human companion. “Slowly, slowly the night came in to fill the room, swallowing the pillars and both of them, like a dark wine poured to the ceiling.' ('Ylla')įollowing a dispute between Yll and Ylla, a Martian husband and wife, over Ylla's dreams of the arrival of humans, night falls and fills the room. We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make your own. These notes were contributed by members of the GradeSaver community.

Nathaniel york the martian chronicles