The War of the Worlds Chapter 4
Hello everybody!
I am reading Chapter 4 of The War of the Worlds, a science fiction novel by English author H. G. Wells. I have some problems understanding it. I think you could help me out with this/it. So, here is the question :
What is the meaning of:
1) “pitch onto”
“Somebody blundered against me, and I narrowly missed being pitched onto the top of the screw.”
2) “I had the sunset in my eyes.”
“I stuck my elbow into the person behind me... For a moment that circular cavity seemed perfectly black. I had the sunset in my eyes.”
4) “writhing middle”
Then something resembling a little grey snake, about the thickness of a walking stick, coiled up out of the writhing middle, and wriggled in the air towards me - - and then another.
5) “cylinder still”
I half turned, keeping my eyes fixed upon the cylinder still, from which other tentacles were now projecting, and began pushing my way back from the edge of the pit.

Question

The War of the Worlds Chapter 4
Hello everybody! 
I am reading Chapter 4 of The War of the Worlds, a science fiction novel by English author H. G. Wells. I have some problems understanding it. I think you could help me out with this/it. So, here is the question :
What is the meaning of: 
1) “pitch onto”
“Somebody blundered against me, and I narrowly missed being pitched onto the top of the screw.”
2) “I had the sunset in my eyes.”
 “I stuck my elbow into the person behind me... For a moment that circular cavity seemed perfectly black. I had the sunset in my eyes.”
4) “writhing middle”
Then something resembling a little grey snake, about the thickness of a walking stick, coiled up out of the writhing middle, and wriggled in the air towards me - - and then another.
5) “cylinder still”
I half turned, keeping my eyes fixed upon the cylinder still, from which other tentacles were now projecting, and began pushing my way back from the edge of the pit.

Answer

6) “catch the light”
A big greyish rounded bulk, the size, perhaps, of a bear, was rising slowly and painfully out of the cylinder. As it bulged up and caught the light, it glistened like wet leather.
THis means that the light strikes the object and is reflected.

7) “The common round”
The common round the sand pits was dotted with people, standing like myself in a half-fascinated terror, staring at these creatures, or rather at the heaped gravel at the edge of the pit in which they lay.
A common is a large patch of grass usually in a village where people used to gather for events in summer.
The people are gathered in that area.

Answer

1) “pitch onto”
“Somebody blundered against me, and I narrowly missed being pitched onto the top of the screw.”
This means to fall on top of someone
2) “I had the sunset in my eyes.”
“I stuck my elbow into the person behind me... For a moment that circular cavity seemed perfectly black. I had the sunset in my eyes.” I think it means the effect of the sunlight superimposed on the blackness.

4) “writhing middle”
Then something resembling a little grey snake, about the thickness of a walking stick, coiled up out of the writhing middle, and wriggled in the air towards me - - and then another.
Writhe means to twist and turn as a snake does. 
5) “cylinder still”
I half turned, keeping my eyes fixed upon the cylinder still, from which other tentacles were now projecting, and began pushing my way back from the edge of the pit.
Cylinder is a long round shape. He continues to look at it as the tentacles come out of it.

Answer

6) “catch the light”
A big greyish rounded bulk, the size, perhaps, of a bear, was rising slowly and painfully out of the cylinder. As it bulged up and caught the light, it glistened like wet leather.
7) “The common round”
The common round the sand pits was dotted with people, standing like myself in a half-fascinated terror, staring at these creatures, or rather at the heaped gravel at the edge of the pit in which they lay.
P.S.: The 7th is the most important for me, so if you are reluctant to answer the previous questions I would  be super glad to receive the answer to the 7th.

Thank you very much!