Monday, March 14, 2011

The Ghost Soldiers - title

Explore the significance of the title.

Ghost Soldiers - Azar

What is the signficance about the fact that no one except Azar will help O"Brien with his plan for revenge?

What is the signficance of O'Brien describing Azar's holding his rifle "like a teddy bear"?

Ghost Soliders - parallels

Compare and contrast the actions of O'Brien in this chapter with Curt Lemon in "The Dentist." What motivates both of these characters to respond this way?

Ghost Soldiers - Character development

What does O'Brien's desire to hurt Jorgenson reveal about his development as a character? Use specific quotes from the text to support your response.

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Ghost Soldier - anger

Why is O'Brien angry with Jorgenson?  Think both in the short and the long term.

Field Trip - Norman Bowker and Tim O'Brien

Compare and contrast Norman's Bowker's lake episode in "Speaking of Courage" with O'Brien's in "Field Trip."

Field Trip - The Field

O'Brien compares what the field once was with what it is now, both literally and metaphorically. Discuss the similarities and differences below.

Field Trip - title

Do you like the title of this chapter? Is it clever? Is it not serious enough or is it perfect? Explain why O'Brien titled the chapter "Field Trip." In your explanation, remember to consider the pun on the world "field."

Field Trip - Business

"Our time was short, however, and choices had to be made, and in the end I decided to take her to this piece of ground where my friend Kiowa had died. And, besides, I had business here."

Explain O'Brien's business - both literally and metaphorically.

Good Form: Title

Why do you think this chapter is titled "Good Form"? Support your explanation with specific details from the text. If you could, what would you rename this chapter and why?

Good Form: Happening truth vs. story truth

In "Good Form," O'Brien makes the distinction between happening-truth and story truth. Explain this distinction. Be sure to mention the examples he uses to illustrate this distinction.