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Literary Techniques Used In The Martian By Andy Weir

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‘The Martian’ by Andy Weir discusses major topics, such as the ability for an individual to fight and survive despite encountering challenging circumstances. Furthermore, for one to be able to withstand things such as extreme isolation and abandonment all while remaining positive shows the readers and viewers, how strong the character really is. In this case, Mark Watney is trapped on Mars with no way home, everyone thinks he's dead but surprisingly he is alive and well, as well as he can be for someone who is stuck on Mars that is!

Watney’s stay on Mars wasn’t as easy as one may think, he had to deal with surviving the challenges that were put forth, these challenges included being away from all types of civilization, rationing his food and being able to use his technical engineering skills to produce a way to get to Schiaparelli so he can return back home to …show more content…

For instance, on page 8 of The Martian, Mark states, “We were six days in when all hell broke loose, so that leaves enough food to last six people for fifty days. I’m just one guy so it will last me three hundred days.” This quote is an example of foreshadowing because it is not known that he is going to be the sole person left on the Mars for such an elongated period of time and so this statement gives a hint that in the future he will be on the red planet fighting for his survival. Weir also uses the setting to represent Marks challenges, for example when the Hab blew up all his crops died because of the harsh weather conditions on Mars. The use of symbolism was also noticeable when it came to the Habm it was a symbol of humanity to Watney because it was a representation of safety and it was where all his resources were. The Hab was used to grow his food, produce air and water, it was almost like a small man made Earth on Mars. When he leaves the Hab he is abandoning his safe space for the unknown martian

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Kelcie Smith Jerrine McCaffrey Film 101 December 15, 2016 Themes in The Martian and The Revenant The Martian is a pretty intense movie in its own right. Stranded on Mars without a hope of rescue any time soon, Mark Watney is stuck and has to figure out how to survive. He is forced to face the constant possibility of equipment failure or sudden disaster, which he faces every now and then. That is why I think the main theme here is fear.

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Flannery O’Connor is an American Southern Gothic author who is well known for her novels and short stories. As an American Southern Gothic writer Flannery O’Connor often includes physiognomy, which is the art of judging character based on physical characteristics, within her works. Two of her short stories in particular, “The Life You Save May Be Your Own” and “Good Country People,” use physiognomy to further their respective themes. Although both Flannery O’Connor’s “The Life You Save May Be Your Own” and “Good Country People” exhibit physiognomy to further their overall themes, the usage in “The Life You Save May Be Your Own” is far more effective for a variety of reasons at proving its theme of things are as they seem to be.

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He’s left to survive on his own. He faces many problems and almost dies many times. Some themes from this book are isolation, science, and man versus nature. Andy Weir is funny and a good writer using science fiction and suspense as well as incorporating his own interests to make a better story.

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In the novel, Louie Zamperini experiences times of unhappiness based on his environment but in the end it makes him a better person. Some of the most emotionally draining environments experienced in life inevitably make people better people. The harshest environments experienced end

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“The Most Dangerous Game” written by Richard Connell uses the element of foreshadowing. Foreshadowing is a literary device used by the author to give the reader a clue at what will happen next in the story to create suspense and intrigue the reader. Richard Connell uses foreshadowing when the characters are on the yacht in “The Most Dangerous Game” to create a feeling of fear and curiosity. This quote uses foreshadowing. “Sailors have a curious dread

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In his short story, “The Martian,” Andy Weir shows us survival at it’s finest, and how even in our darkest times we can always find a way to laugh. In the very beginning we meet our main protagonist, Mark Watney, whom we quickly discover has been stranded on Mars and is “That’s my considered opinion… Fucked.” We learn that Watney was part of the Ares 3 mission for collection of data, and when a ferocious sandstorm hit he was jabbed by an antenna, being carried away with the storm. With no sign of Mark and the lives of the other 4 crewmates in jeopardy, his leading commander, Commander Lewis, was forced to abandon the Mars mission and Watney with it.

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Symbolism is used when one thing is meant to represent something else. In Ray Bradbury's short story, "The Fog Horn", it takes place in the Lonesome Bay from a lighthouse that is near the “mysteries of the sea”. The two protagonists that are followed in the novel are Johnny and McDunn. The antagonist that is going against the protagonists is the sea monster. According to the author of “The Fog Horn”, he’s bringing up the anticipation as it was progressing to the resolution.

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For example, Washington Irving says, “...his horse was no longer seen tied at the palings on Sunday nights, and a deadly feud gradually arose between him and the preceptor of Sleepy Hollow” (31). Here, author says that Ichabod’s mood and behavior drastically changed after he was rejected by Katrina Van Tassel which will lead to an unfortunate event. When the author says this it foreshadows a deadly incident for Ichabod. Another way foreshadowing is used in the novel is “Ichabod did not make his appearance at breakfast--dinner hour came, but no Ichabod. The boys assembled at the schoolhouse, and strolled idly about the banks of the brook; but no schoolmaster” (63).

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Look around you. That old lady buying papayas at Whole Foods? She’s an evil, blood-sucking alien. Nice Mr. Jenkins next store? A heartless murderer from Mars.

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