The Elements Of Science In A Sound Of Thunder By Ray Bradbury

The stories “A Sound of Thunder” by “Ray Bradbury” and “Nethergrave” by “Gloria Skurzynski” were both very interesting to read. However one story had more of the sci-fi elements to it than the other. “A Sound of Thunder” by “Ray Bradbury” is a better example of a science fiction story than “Nethergrave” by “Gloria Skurzynski” because it is more focused on the technology in the story. The setting in “A Sound of Thunder” is more based on the future. The last reason “A Sound of Thunder” is a better example of a science fiction is that the characters are using more types of science for example time travel from the future going to pre historic times of when there were dinosaurs.

"Nethergrave" and "A Sound Of Thunder" are both short stories both written in Third person limited point of view. These stories are both considered Science Fiction and have a setting of alternating life. Nethergrave was set in present day and A sound of thunder was set in the past as well as the future. Both stories use great sensory details to thoroughly explain the story and feel as if you were in the story.

The stories, “A Sound of Thunder,” by Ray Bradbury, and “Nethergrave,” by Gloria Skurzynski, were both great stories that had illustrious examples of a science fiction. Both of the stories characters were using different types of science, and technology. There is the use of time travel where a person was able to travel from the future, and go back to pre- historic times. The other was a better example of a science fiction story focused on the use of technology in the story.

Science is a complex and integrated system and much of today’s society lacks the means and resources to understand it. However, many of the greatest discoveries and issues of the 21st century our happening in the world of science. By using the work of fiction, Allegra Goodman discusses the issues that frequently arise in the world of science in her book, Intuition. Goodman uses this work of fiction to explore issues raised in the world of science through the use of descriptive text, character relations and the use of emotions. This adds value to science issues as it allows the reader to relate to the characters, story and science in a unique perspective.

The Sound of Thunder by Ray Bradbury is a futuristic science fiction short story about a hunter named Eckles, he visits the Time Safari, a company that sends you to the past. Eckles travels back in time with a group of three to shoot and kill a prehistoric dinosaur. Nethergrave is about a young boy named Jeremy, who plays sports, and has a group of internet friends. Later, Jeremy is faced with a decision whether to stay in the real world, or leave it for the virtual introduced by a great being. This critical response will be comparing, and contrasting both stories by making points such as, how the stories fit into the science fiction genre, the characterization between Eckles and Jeremy, the theme/message of the stories, dialogue, and writing style.

"Does this safari guarantee I come back alive?" The quote I chose came from the beginning of A Sound of Thunder. It sets the tone of the story by putting danger and excitement in the reader's eyes. When I read this quote I automatically thought that what I was about to read was going to get me on the edge of my seat. I think Ray Bradbury put that line in the beginning of his story to excite them and have the thinking what's going to happen next all throughout the A Sound of Thunder.

The setting in “being prey” was about crocodiles. The setting in “a sound of thunder” is about dinosaurs. They’re both similar because there both about animals. The animals in both stories attacked a human. The stories both involve in the wilderness.

The theme of Ray Bradbury's "A Sound of Thunder" is enhanced by his use of foreshadowing throughout the story. The story follows a man named Eckles on his journey to the past on a hunt for a real dinosaur. As the events in the past unfold, Eckles ultimately alters the future forever by taking a small step off the Path. The path is there to make sure the time travelers do not affect the future. Unfortunately, Eckles learns the true consequences of his actions when he returns to a changed future. After reading the story, the reader gains insight on the interconnectedness of our present and our future. The choices we make can have a great impact on the destiny of the world. Through foreshadowing, Bradbury makes this theme clear to the reader.

In a passage from The Great Influenza, author John M. Barry writes about what it is like to be a scientist. He describes scientists as pioneers and uses that to get across his idea. The author states that being a scientist is brave and uses metaphor, the motif of an explorer, and logos to prove his point.

In an excerpt from The Great Influenza by John M. Barry, many rhetorical devices are used to fully represent the process of a scientist. Some of the most commonly used devices are metaphors, anaphoras, and imagery, these three devices help the reader understand the main ideas of the story. The metaphors allow the reader to perceive the process of a scientist in more simplistic ideas such as science being an undiscovered wilderness. The anaphora used in the beginning of the passage emphasises that the world of science is full of uncertainty and is constantly changing, this drives the idea into the mind of the reader. The imagery is used alongside the metaphors to assist the reader in grasping the foreign ideas. These three devices work in tandem, aiding the reader while they learn about the scientific process.

Although both Michael Crichton, author of Jurassic Park, and Ray Bradbury, author of A Sound of Thunder, use foreshadowing, A Sound of Thunder creates more suspense for readers. Both are excellent, but Bradbury uses outstanding diction to emphasize the importance of certain events in the plot. While the pair of stories are equally well written, A Sound of Thunder uses it's foreshadowing to allure readers into continuing the short story.

Thesis Statement: In “A Sound of Thunder,” by Ray Bradbury, the setting, situational irony and internal conflict depict that little things in your present life can make a very big difference in the future.

Gloria Skurzynski’s background to writing “Nethergrave” was because of science fiction. Gloria says, “In fantasy, the cause is magic. In science fiction, the role of magic is replaced by advanced technology.”

“He heard Travis breathe loud in the room; he heard Travis shift his rifle, click the safety catch, and raise the weapon. There was a sound of thunder.” (Bradbury 44) This ends the short story “A Sound of Thunder” by Ray Bradbury. “A Sound of Thunder” takes place somewhere in America during the year 2055, a group of hunters then travel back to the prehistoric dinosaur age. “A Sound of Thunder” uses different time periods, pretentious and deliberate characters, a suspenseful and thrilling plot, and various forms of conflicts to convey the Butterfly Effect and show how consequences for your actions can be immeasurable.

In “A Sound of Thunder” Ray Bradbury uses the motif of metal in order to emphasize the idea that appearances are deceiving. At the beginning of the story all of the characters are in the room with the time machine. When they are walking toward the time machine, “They moved silently across the room, taking their guns with them, toward the Machine, toward the silver metal and the roaring light” (Bradbury 684). The hunters thought the time machine would be a fun idea or way to spend their time, while it actually is a way to get them killed or ruin the future. Later in the story, when they are getting off the time machine Tavis tells the group that they have to stay on the path: “He indicated a metal path that struck off into green wilderness,