1. Simile: "The heat of the day had been excessive, and the glare of the sun upon the sand was blinding. The sky was a blazing blue, and the sand glared back again like a white-hot furnace."
* Explanation: This example compares the sand's reflection to a "white-hot furnace" using the word "like". Similes use "like" or "as" to create a comparison.
2. Metaphor: "The Martians were no longer the clumsy, blundering giants I had seen stumbling through the heather."
* Explanation: This statement directly compares the Martians to giants without using "like" or "as". This is a metaphor, directly equating one thing to another.
3. Personification: "The wind, which had fallen since morning, rose again and began to whistle shrilly."
* Explanation: The author gives human qualities to the wind by stating it "whistles shrilly". This is personification, giving human characteristics to inanimate objects or abstract concepts.
4. Hyperbole: "A vast, shapeless, pulsating mass of something white and quivering--a monstrous and loathsome thing--lay stretched across the road and the path, and pulsated slowly."
* Explanation: This sentence uses exaggeration to describe the alien creature. "Monstrous" and "loathsome" are extreme words, painting a picture of fear and disgust. This is a classic example of hyperbole.
These examples showcase the power of figurative language in *War of the Worlds*. It helps to build vivid imagery, enhance the descriptions, and evoke strong emotions in the reader, contributing to the book's powerful impact.