The Things They Carried Questions on “Speaking of Courage” & “Notes”
1. Describe both settings of the story – the one in which Norman Bowker finds himself on July 4th and the scene he keeps remembering from Vietnam.
2. What does Norman want to tell his father and convince him of?
3. List the things Norman has learned as a result of the war.
4. According to Norman, why don’t people want to hear about the war?
5. What does Norman wish he had done in Vietnam?
6. Explain why it is so difficult to for Norman and his father to speak.
7. Analyze the symbolic meaning of the repeated circular actions in the story, the repeated references to time, the lake, the mud/mud hens, the stalled motor boat
8. What is ironic about the date on which the story takes place and the language of the A&W drive-in?
9. What purpose do the conversations about God on pages 138-139 serve?
10. Like the other characters Bowker develops an active fantasy life. Why do these characters develop these fantasy roles? What do they get from telling these fantasy stories about themselves?
11. Analyze what Tim O’Brien says about story telling in “Notes” and his conversations with Bowker. What does this tell you about O’Brien’s understanding of the way fiction relates to real life?
12. What becomes of Norman Bowker? What was your reaction to this? Was Norman Bowker too hard on himself? Was he courageous?
The Things They Carried Questions on “Speaking of Courage” & “Notes”
1. Describe both settings of the story – the one in which Norman Bowker finds himself on July 4th and the scene he keeps remembering from Vietnam.
2. What does Norman want to tell his father and convince him of?
3. List the things Norman has learned as a result of the war.
4. According to Norman, why don’t people want to hear about the war?
5. What does Norman wish he had done in Vietnam?
6. Explain why it is so difficult to for Norman and his father to speak.
7. Analyze the symbolic meaning of the repeated circular actions in the story, the repeated references to time, the lake, the mud/mud hens, the stalled motor boat
8. What is ironic about the date on which the story takes place and the language of the A&W drive-in?
9. What purpose do the conversations about God on pages 138-139 serve?
10. Like the other characters Bowker develops an active fantasy life. Why do these characters develop these fantasy roles? What do they get from telling these fantasy stories about themselves?
11. Analyze what Tim O’Brien says about story telling in “Notes” and his conversations with Bowker. What does this tell you about O’Brien’s understanding of the way fiction relates to real life?
12. What becomes of Norman Bowker? What was your reaction to this? Was Norman Bowker too hard on himself? Was he courageous?