The Things They Carried

Introduction

This is a webquest to help students learn about the Vietnam War throughout many stories told by Tim O'Brien, the author of the book, 'The Things They Carried.'

Class Discussion Question: Do you know anything about the Vietnam War?

Slideshow: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1zARlbxfbdpjlCbNKSgGh7K83NOhD4klU-B_WPmBqliY/edit

Task

Today, you will be answering thirty questions pertaining to the novel, 'The Things They Carried.

Audio Version: https://www.brillianceaudio.com/product?i=4935

PDF: http://savanna.auhsd.us/view/26051.pdf

Process

The website URL above the questions will pertain the answers to the following questions

http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/thingscarried/section9.rhtml

1. What does Henry Dobbins carry around his neck as a memory from back home?

2. What is ironic about this item?

http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/thingscarried/section2.rhtml

3. Where does Tim O'Brien live after the war?

4. Whose death did Jimmy Cross regret?

http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/thingscarried/section7.rhtml

5. Who is the story about, and what month is it occurring in?

6. Why did he get a perfectly fine tooth pulled?

http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/thingscarried/section10.rhtml

7. What does the abandoned pagoda function as?

8. Why does Dobbins say he will join the church?

9. Why does Kiowa not see himself as a preacher, even though he carries a bible around wherever he goes?

http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/thingscarried/section17.rhtml

10. What difference in truths does O'Brien tell?

11. What does O'Brien say makes a true story?

http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/thingscarried/section6.rhtml

12. What does Kiley call the sister?

13. (T/F) Is a true war story moral?

http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/thingscarried/themes.html

14. What role does Kathleen play in the novel?

15. How does the role of death play a part in the novel?

http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/thingscarried/section1.rhtml

16. What are four things that soldiers carried throughout the war?

17. List all the common things that the different men are carrying.

18. What does Jimmy Cross burn the morning after Lavender's death?

http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/thingscarried/section20.rhtml

19. What does the platoon do when they are reached with a note of possible danger?

20. What is Jensen's reaction to the situation?

21. What does the 'night life' mean?

http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/thingscarried/section21.rhtml

22. How long has O'Brien been at war when the platoon is first fired upon?

23. What year was Tim in love with a nine year old Linda?

24. Why does Jimmy Cross feel guilty?

http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/thingscarried/section12.rhtml

25. Who is O'Brien teamed up with in the ambush?

26. What does Kathleen ask her father in the beginning of the chapter?

27. How does O'Brien explain the situation to his daughter?

http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/thingscarried/section4.rhtml

28. Who has O'Brien told this story to?

29. What are O'Brien's honors from college?

30. What college did he attend?

Evaluation

Conclusion

Evaluation -

The assignment will be graded on complete accuracy, not just if it is just to completion. To every answer that is incorrect, I will be taking off 2 points, so you are already guaranteed the score of a 40.

Credits

Summary

I expect all the students to learn about the intricate and dense interior of the Vietnam War, and these stories told by Tim O'Brien pass the message across that not much is known about the Vietnam War already.