Syllabus—The Things They Carried
Name_______________
May 7-11, 2012
Monday:
 Things Tangible and Intangible + Surreal Pix.
 Take a deep breath. Horse around a little, said Holden.
 Finish IRA sign up. Set up pairings for IRA Performances.
 Sign up for conferences.
Homework: Finish your bildungsroman essay. The essays are due on Tuesday.
Tuesday: Due: Bildungsroman essay.
In class:
 Discuss the opening apparatus of The Things They Carried.
 Read the following stories; note their relationship to surrealism and existentialism:
o "The Things They Carried"—p. 1-26
o "On the Rainy River"—p. 39-61
Homework: Finish the above reading. Be sure to take notes on the worksheet.
Wednesday:
Due: Worksheet on “Things” and “Rainy”
Peer Review--bildungsroman essay
Homework:
 Read “How to Tell a True War Story”—p. 67-85. This part of the book is a poetic; we
will compare O’Brien’s poetic to Aristotle’s Poetics.
 As you read “How to Tell a True War Story,” note the number of tales O’Brien actually
tells. Be sure, too, to track the tale of Curt Lemon, which is retold several times and in
several ways. (How DO you tell a true war story?)
 Review your Portable Aristotle
 Then take notes on the half of the text that you are responsible for (see the handout).
 Here’s the question: What is Tim O’Brien’s main point in this chapter?
Thursday: In class:
 Preliminary discussion of “How to Tell a True War Story”
 Finish reading “How to Tell a True War Story”
 We will be operating, for the most part, in the realm of deduction: finding principles and
looking for examples that support those principles.
Homework: Get caught up on your reading. Finish your notes.
Friday: In class: Finish discussion of “How to Tell a True War Story”
Homework: Read these three linked stories (see below) + take notes on the worksheet. Notes
will be due on Monday. As you read these stories, ask yourself this question: Does Tim O’Brien
successfully follow the principles he sets out in his poetic?
 "The Man I Killed"—p.124
 "Ambush"—p. 131
 "Good Form"—p. 179
May 14-18, 2012
Conferences this week—Be sure not to miss your conference!
Monday: Due: Notes on “Man I Killed Sequence.”
In class: Briefly discuss “The Man I Killed” sequence
Homework: Read these linked stories (see below) + respond to the questions on the worksheet.
As you read these stories, ask this question: How does O’Brien use post-modern techniques in
his writing?
 “Speaking of Courage”—p. 137
 “Notes”—p. 155
 “In the Field”—p. 162
 “Field Trip”—p. 179
Tuesday: Due: Notes on “Speaking of Courage” sequence.
In class: Briefly discuss “Speaking of Courage.” Play “Waist-deep in the Big Muddy.”
Homework: Get caught up on your reading. Plan on Wednesday Study Hall if you have not
turned in some of your homework.
Wednesday:
Begin preparation for Seminar Discussion on The Things They Carried. Discuss postmodernism.
***Last day to turn in late work for the semester—4:00, at the end of Wednesday Study Hall.
Homework: Attack your bildungsroman revision. The revision is due on Friday, May 18, 2012.
Thursday-Friday: Seminar Discussion on The Things They Carried.
***Due Friday: Bildungsroman revision.
Homework: Finish IRA Performance work.
May 21-25, 2012
Monday-Tuesday: IRA Performances
Wednesday-Thursday: Review for Final Exam
Friday: Final Exam, 10:20-11:50. Location TBA.
Last day to turn in late work for the semester: Wednesday, May 16,
2012, at 4:00, the end of Wednesday Study Hall.
Have a lovely, lovely summer!!! ‘See you next fall!!!