Comparing London And London's Destruction Of San Francisco Earthquake In 1865 And 1906

Both Twain and London explain two dreadful San Francisco earthquakes that took place in 1865 and 1906. However, they target different aspects of the destruction the earthquakes caused. As Twain’s focus’ on the destruction of the people during the 1865 earthquake, London focus’ on the destruction of the city in the 1906 earthquake. All throughout London’s essay, one sees that he focus’ on the destruction of the city in the 1906 earthquake. He defines the city as, “wiped out” and “all gone” which gives his essay a fearful and defeated tone at the beginning. London goes on to define the city as it is alive, “half the heart of the city was gone”. In paragraph five he again explains the city to be alive, “Wednesday night saw the destruction of

Twain explains his experience during the earthquake. He starts off his essay by saying, “While I was in San Francisco, I enjoyed my first earthquake.” He goes on to explain what was going on before this earthquake occurred. He explains that, “It was just after noon, on a bright October day. I was coming down Third street. The only objects in motion anywhere in sight in that thickly built and populous quarter, where a man in a buggy behind me, and a streetcar wending slowly up in the cross street.” Twain brings up different people while writing this essay, while in London’s essay her only brings up people once. While reading Twain’s essay he has a very serene tone. He says, “Before I could turn and seek the door, there came a really terrific shock; the ground seemed to roll under me in waves,” Twain does not seem like he is very frightened and startled by the ground shaking, almost like he knew it was going to happen. It seemed as if Twain was prepared for the situation. In paragraph one Twain says, “The entire front of a tall four-story brick building in Third street sprung outward like a door of smoke!” As he goes on after this sentence, he does not seem to be frightened from the building falling in front of him as if, once again, he knew it was going to happen. Twain talks about what the people saw and what he saw through his own eyes during the occurrence of the earthquake. Twain also uses similes such