Writing Prompts - Week 3

Remember: think deep, reflect, explain clearly and thoroughly. You need to only copy and paste the boldface capitol letters--not the entire prompt. Choose TWO of the following as your writing prompts this week:

1. STORY vs. ESSAY - Rather than simply state: "Men die unexpectedly in war," or "People in authority often find themselves isolated and disconnected from society and sometimes, even people who would be their friends," the author of The Things They Carried makes it more interesting and memorable and less didactic by creating a story in which he SHOWS this happening. Because he is a master storyteller, we connect with Jimmy Cross and better understand what he feels and what O'Brien means for us to see. What movie can you think of that deliberately revealed a truth about life? What was the truth it revealed and HOW was it shown?

2. IRONY - In "The Things They Carried," there is tremendous tension developed when the narrator begins to describe the tunnels that men like Lee Strunk must explore alone. When he emerges, there is celebration cut short by Lavendar's sudden death. The author has created irony by having the reader prepared for one man's death, but it is another man who is killed. We experience irony every day, of a milder sort. Relate an experience when you were prepared for one circumstance but encountered its opposite. If you would rather relate a literary irony or an experience of someone else's, that would be fine. REMEMBER to SHOW the experience; don't just TELL.

3. INTERVIEW - Find a thoughtful, older person who remembers the Vietnam War. If(s)he doesn't mind discussing his/her remembrance with you, ask him/her about the controversial nature of the war. What does he remember about the Vietnam conflict that set it apart from other wars? Did he/she know anyone directly involved in the war? Were their any lasting effects of the war? Write your response to this prompt AFTER you have had the discussion, along with your perception of the person you spoke to--did he/she seem effected?

4. THE HEART IN CONFLICT - Tim O'Brien, the author, has said that he writes about the heart in conflict and that he often uses war because it naturally and automatically puts the heart under pressure. What book, story, or movie have your read or seen in which the protagonist underwent the same thing? Discuss briefly.