What Is The Similes In The San Francisco Earthquake

The San Francisco Earthquakes Jack London and Mark Twain wrote stories on the sights of two different earthquakes that happened in San Francisco. Although the stories were on two different earthquakes, they share similar stylistic elements such as similes/metaphors, intense word choice, and mood. Twain uses a series of similes to describe what he witnessed during the earthquake. Although Twain is mostly criticizing the actions of people, he describes the city briefly. For example, Twain says, “...and then drop the end of a brick on the floor like a tooth.” and “...meeting earth like a slender grave.” Twain uses these similes to add a sense of horror and imagery for the reader. It emphasizes the destruction of the city and the intensity of the earthquake. Twain's’ similes are not subtle rather they are very intense to truly help the reader see the destruction and really understand why he is connecting it what he is comparing it to. The similes make sense, they may be simple, but the context

Twain uses words such as vomiting, squirming, grinding, terrific, disgusted, and foolishness. Although the context surrounding each word is different, the words are there simply show the reader how intense the earthquake was or how ridiculous people acted when facing a frightening situation. The words are in place to not only add the emphasis on the earthquake, but they do it for the people and their actions, for the things that took place, and for what he witnessed in general. Just as Twain used words that intensify his writing, London's words are more violent rather than sweet and short, but they have the same intention. London uses words like, smashed, piled, humped, burst, twitching, and thrown. His words are more violent because London is trying to really emphasize the destruction rather than the actions of people. London's’ word choice adds more imagery for the reader and it adds more interest and