Essay and feedback

At the start of the extract, the writer establishes a dark and ominous tone to immediately signal to the reader the severity of the occurrences in Midwich. This introduction creates a worrying mood as with each set of personnel sent in to tackle the situation is dispatched "nothing is heard of them" as if they have been captured by an unprecedented force and thus became a part of the Midwich conundrum. Furthermore, the writer employs a shift in focus zooming out of Midwich and instead describing the stark contrast to neighbouring town "oppley". The expected activities of daily life are seen to be abundantly in oppley through the stopping of ringing alarm clocks or the symphony of "ringing birds" however with Midwich lifelessness is seen to be prominent through the abundances ringing themselves to sleep and the omission that no birds sang. Slowing down the pace of inducing angst however, the paragraph is summarised. "For Midwich lay entranced" this declarative immediately heightens the disturbing mood created by the writer as it foreshadows a supernatural force or power might indeed be controlling Midwich. This is reinforced at the end of the extract where from the perspective of a messenger the reader witnesses a "driver quietly fold up" and drop to the ground without warning. At this point the feeling of disturbing mood switches to danger as it is now confirmed Midwich is under control by a powerful force "swiftly and without warning" and stopping it might prove impossible.