English 3
Morgan
“Why Soldiers Won’t Talk”
John Steinbeck
1. Why does Steinbeck say soldiers don’t talk?
2. List at least 5 specific reasons he gives to answer this question.
3. Can you relate to the following quote? Have you experienced this in your life in
any way?
“You laugh at things which are not ordinarily funny and you become
enraged at trifles.”
4. To what does Steinbeck compare combat? How is this a beautiful example of
juxtaposition?
5. Identify the tone of this essay. ___________________
6. Identify the mood this essay creates for you. ________________
7. Write a theme statement for this essay.
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English 3
Morgan
“Ambush”
Tim O’Brien
In Class Writing Assignment – Reflection – Writing to Learn
Help students connect this story to their own experiences. Ask them if they have ever
reacted to a situation automatically and then later wondered why they responded as
they did.
 Was it helpful or hurtful that they were able to respond automatically?
 Did they regret their actions, or did they feel relieved?
Students who have been trained to respond a certain way in a given situation – for
example, as a lifeguard – will be able to share their experiences and insights.
Discussion:
1. How does this story illustrate the “alienation of the individual” that is
characteristic of post-modern literature?
2. Identify the tone: ______________________
3. Identify the mood: _____________________
4. Write a theme statement for the essay.
5. What is O’Brien’s style?
6. Even though this is a fictional piece of literature, he writes it as non-fiction. Do
you think this is effective or ineffective for this particular work?
Comparison: How are the essay and the story similar? (List several examples)
Complement: How do these two pieces of literature complement each other?
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