The Book as a Whole

1. Consider the development of Tim O'Brien, the narrator/soldier in TTTC. How does the reader reconcile the frightened draftee in "On The Rainy River" with the sadistic, revengeful narrator/character in "The Ghost Soldiers"?
--"On The Rainy River"
--"The Man I Killed"
--"Ambush"
--"Field Trip"
--"The Ghost Soldiers"

2. Explain the use of metafiction in the novel.How does the concept of truth become incorporated with metafiction as well? (Look for phrases that deal with telling or writing a story.)
--"How To Tell a True War Story"
--"Notes"
--"Good Form"
--"The Lives of the Dead"

3. Discuss the importance of Kiowa to the novel as a whole.
--"The Things They Carried"
--"The Man I Killed"
--"Speaking of Courage"
--"The Lives of the Dead"
--"Field Trip"

4. In addition to the major characters, there are significant MINOR characters. What valuable role does each of the following characters play
in the novel:
--Azar
--Rat Kiley
--Mitchell Sanders
--Norman Bowker
--Henry Dobbins

5. Identify the elements of magical realism in the novel--what is the purpose of each?
--"How to Tell . . ."
--"The Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong"
--MORE . . .what about "The Man I Killed" and "Style"

6. Since you've finished the novel, look back at the author's dedication. Why do you think he chose these men to dedicate the book to? Why not the entire company?

Topics Essay #2 - FINAL DRAFT DUE: SECOND DAY OF CLASS THE WEEK OF FEB. 22nd

Choose ONE of the following for your second essay; make sure you use specific details/evidence/examples from "On the Rainy River," "Spin," "Enemies," "Friends," "How to Tell a True War Story" and "The Dentist," to support your thesis statement. Make sure your thesis statement is explicit and in the first paragaph. Your title should anticipate your topic, but remember: the title alone is not a thesis. Regarding length: minimum of three pages with clearly related, logically organized and fully explained details/evidence/examples.

1. There is a continuing emphasis on truth as this novel progresses, but "truth" begins to take on a more complex meaning. Discuss the difference between the importance of the "story-truth" and the "happening-truth" in relevance to O'Brien's stories and how he uses fiction to reveal truth in these episodes. How does O'Brien (the author) use autobiographical elements (as in "On the Rainy River")as well as observed incidents among soldiers ("Spin," "Enemies," "Friends," and "The Dentist") and even magical realism to convey emotional truth in his novel? In what way does O'Brien seem to prove that fiction can become a greater truth than reality?

2. Through the stories listed above, Tim O'Brien, the author, continues to depict paradoxical situations (two circumstances that are opposite which should not exist at the same time, but do). Explain the most profound paradoxes--the character O'Brien's situation at the conclusion of "On the Rainy River," the relationship between Lee Strunk and Dave Jensen, Azar's innocent cruelty, and the beauty of life, death and war to the narrator in "How to Tell a True War Story." What is O'Brien's point in using these paradoxes? In what way is truth itself, at least in O'Brien's work, an ironic paradox?

3. From "How to Tell a True War Story," choose four specific qualities the narrator O'Brien insists a war story must possess in order to be considered "true." Use specific examples and evidence from each of the stories studied in this section (and listed above), to confirm that the novel is, indeed, a "true war story." In the course of the conclusion, explain why a storyteller like Mitchell Sanders or Tim O'Brien would change fundamental facts of the story to get to make the story "true."

Last Set of Writing Prompts for The Things They Carried

Please note that all citations are from the 1998 trade paperback edition.
YOU MUST RESPOND TO THOSE PROMPTS PRECEDED WITH AN ASTERISK (*) and any three you choose for a total of five. In order not to overload you with the writing prompts and the last two essays, I will check the writing prompts and your blogs over spring break.


*1. In order for a literary work to succeed, the reader must willingly suspend his/her disbelief. By accepting a work of fiction as fiction, the reader makes a silent pact with the author, agreeing to “go along” with the story, though it not be true. This compact occurs again and again with movie-goers and play-goers, even t.v. viewers. The audience agrees [silently] that the story they are about to see is not real, though it may be “based on a true story.” The Soloist and The Blind Side are two such recent movies. Think of one of those OR another movie you may have seen that is “based on a true story.” Identify a movie of your choosing that falls into the category, “based on a true story.” Summarize the movie in one or two sentences. In another couple of sentences, relate your opinion of the movie. Finally, explain whether or not the words “based on a true story” enhanced your viewing or detracted from the experience. Why?

2. How would you explain the semi-truths told in The Things They Carried to a student about to begin a second session class? What would you tell him/her to look for as he/she read the book? What would you say were the most important aspects to “be sure to pick up on”?

3. We encounter paradoxical truths daily. As one student explained in the first set of writing prompts, cell phones enable us to be connected locally and globally. We can be reached almost anywhere, at almost any time—as long as our phones have the signal strength. The negative side is that we can be reached almost anywhere, at almost any time. Ironically, the more simplified our lives become, the more complex they become as well. Explain at least three additional paradoxes that most of us encounter. (Key word: explain – explain both sides of the paradoxical coin.) How is understanding paradox important in understanding this novel?

4. Which story in The Things They Carried was your favorite? Why? Which was your LEAST favorite? Why? Whether you loved or hated the whole book, you must choose one of each for this prompt. Which of the men do you most identify or sympathize with? Why? Was there a character you just didn’t like? Why?

5. Do you agree or disagree with the narrator when he says, “ . . . this too is true: stories can save us” (223). What does O’Brien, the author AND the narrator, mean when he says, “I want you to know why story-truth is truer sometimes than happening-truth” (179). Explain the last story in this novel, “The Lives of the Dead,” in relation to the book as a whole. What does the story of Linda have to do with a novel about a group of men in the Vietnam war?

*6. Draw at least three valid inferences, supported by evidence, about the narrator of “On the Rainy River.” Draw at least three valid inferences, supported by evidence, about the narrator of “The Ghost Soldiers.” Account for the differences in the narrator. – Note that this could become an excellent topic for an essay topic over the novel, though it would be phrased more like ‘Trace the development of the narrator/soldier Tim O’Brien.’

7. After reading this novel, do you come away with any new thoughts about “truth”? Based on the author’s own criteria, is this novel a “true war story”? Would you recommend this novel to a friend, whether he/she was in English 1102 or not? Why or why not?

ANNOUNCEMENTS & ASSIGNMENTS

PLEASE FINISH READING THE BOOK BY FEB.15TH. ANTICIPATE QUESTIONS ON THE 15TH AS WELL.

Ahem! Could I have your attention please?

The title of this post is my way of hoping you will notice an observation and point I'd like to make. I've noticed something in ALL of my 1102 classes.

1. I'm almost positive that just about everyone in all classes has read the book we're studying. How do I know this? It's the way you respond in class, whether out loud or even silently. It's the alertness in you eyes, whether you say anything or not - unless you're hiding behind a laptop, with a ballcap or hoodie pulled down over your eyes OR you're reading a book or texting behind your coat that you've put over your books. (Nah . . . I'd NEVER suspect that. Riiiight.) At any rate, I DO appreciate your interaction in class. It makes the class better for everyone.

2. I've noticed that even though you've read the book and you have thoughts and observations, that when I ask you a direct question that requires evidence from the novel, that often you stare at me blankly. It's a silent, "What?" or "Duh . . . I don't know. You tell me; you're the teacher." And let's hope I do know the answer. ;-) BUT . . . what you need to be doing is LOOKING IN YOUR BOOK FOR THE EVIDENCE. I don't expect you to know it off the cuff, but I DO expect to to find the page and paragraph--or at least make the effort.

Random Questions, Terms, Considerations of "How to Tell a True War Story" and "The Dentist"

Among the terms we need to discuss in "How to Tell . . .":

Metafiction - defined previously, this story focuses on storytelling from the title and throughout

Magical Realism - new term; somewhat indicative of writing that is fantasy or obviously impossible in regard to reality; however, the author chooses to write about it as if it were as "real" and concrete as, in this novel, the jungle of Vietnam; magical realism becomes more important in stories to come, including "The Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong"

Paradox - mentioned previously, one key point the narrator/soldier Tim O'Brien makes is that truth is often paradoxical; two contradictory elements often do exist simultaneously

Consider the following components of this story that O'Brien continues to allude to in this novel:
*truth
* memory
*love
* the heart under pressure

What does the narrator have in common with Rat Kiley--in thinking of this, consider the circularity of the story. What connection is there between the beginning of the story and the end of the story?

Consider the first line of this story. What is your initial reaction to it? Why? AS THE WRITER, why do you think O'Brien had his narrator open with this statement?

Finally, does it matter whether a "true war story" is true? Explain.