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Grace Period Short Story

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While some may believe that it is possible to survive a nuclear bomb, a simple bomb shelter will not suffice. In a nuclear attack, the only chance of survival will mainly depend on the blast radius of the explosion. The short story “Grace Period” reminds people of how frightening a nuclear explosion can actually be. It starts with a bright fluctuation of light that is followed by a series of events that will ultimately lead to death and destruction. In the article “Nuclear Weapon Effects”, the author describes the detrimental effects of a nuclear explosion. For instance, the effects of an explosion could be demonstrated through the altitude, radius, and location of the blast. The events of “Grace Period” can be understood through the hints in the story; along with the scientific explanation in the article, “Nuclear Weapon Effects”. …show more content…
Visible contractions of air, odd behavior from the dogs and birds creates an uncomfortable atmosphere of impending devastation. A jet flies by and hints the audience that something is coming. While there is a slight scientific explanation for this, it is inferred that the bombs have been dropped; and the contractions of air came from the initial explosions. Shortly after the strange behavior, the main character notices “a fluctuation of light, a tiny pulse, coming from behind the hills” (Baker, 1989, p. 7). This confirms that the bombs have been dropped, and the destruction lies ahead. Judging how the author describes the air contractions and light pulses, the main character seems to be quite far from the detonation. The type of explosion, however, could either be a surface burst, or a high altitude burst; it is hard to

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