Critcal Essay
Critcal Essay
English 9a U4 L10 22 November 2014 Everyone in life faces challenges, everyone knows in order to accomplish anything we face challenges and move on. Todays world is an every changing world, the computer you got for Christmas last year will be nomatch for the ones coming out on black Friday this year. Technology is changing on a daily bases. I am going to compare two stories that use the role of technology, (science) and how this technology is affecting everyone.” The Sound of Thunder” by Ray Bradbury is about a skilled hunter who wants to travel back in time to kill a T-Rex. “Nethergrave”, by Gloria Skurzynski is about a boy who cant findsatisfaction in the real world around him; he uses his computer to become someone he is not. Based on the use of technology, the differences in the setting and theme of the stories, The Sound of Thunder is a better science fiction short story. The Sound of Thunder and Nethergrave are both short stores about using technology to change peoples lives. When The Sound of Thunder starts, technology starts with a time machine. The story is about using a time machine.”1999! 1997! Gone! The machine roared…” (page. 289). Bradbury helps you visualize this be telling us the year 2055, and letting us read about the Time Safari sign. This lets you know the people are in a time machine. The characters will be traveling back in time to shot a T-Rex, with harsh consequences if rules are not followed to the T. While reading The Sound of Thunder you will get the feeling that something is going to go wrong, by the way the Safari team talked in
detail about everything in the past. Usually when that much talking happens, something goes wrong. In contrast,Nethergrave uses a boy that hates the life he is living, so he invents one to please himself and all his online friends. Skurzynski talked about bullying, Jeremys father was never in his life, so his father just gave him a new computer for his birthday yearly. “Two techno brains would carry in a brand new computer….”(Skurzynski pg.316). What the boy lacked from his father figure he gained with his new computers. The way that Skurzynski uses technology is less effective because jumpinginto a computer screen is less realistic than being able to feel the movement and sound of a time machine. Overall, both stories used technology, Bradburys use of sensory technology helps the readerto identify with what the technology is about in the story,consequences. The development of the setting in The Sound of Thunder puts the reader right in the story, helpingus to feel and vividly see all the author is trying to imply to us. In the Sound of Thunder, Bradbury throughout the story teaches us the importance of our environment around us. He describes in detailthe surrounding. “It came on great oiled, resilient, striding legs. It towered thirty feet above half thetrees; a great evil God,folding its great watch maker claws close to its oily reptilian chest”.(Bradbury pg.294) “Birds cries blew on wind and the smell of tar and old sea salt, moist grasses and flowers thecolor of blood”.(Bradbury pg.291) As the examples explain, Bradbury gave great illustrates to our five senses. Conversely, Skurzynski in Nethergrave, does not use the five senses to put you right in the story.“When he clicked on his own line name, Xtermin8r, the screen split and went into chat mode so he and all other on-liners could see each other.” (Skurzynski pg.317) Skurzynski does not develop the story with senses so the story is not as entertaining. In general, Bradburys story keeps you on the edge of your seat, wanting to read on to see what happens, while Skurzynski story just puts you to sleep.