USL  The Things They Carried  “On the Rainy River”
There’s Too Much Confusion, I Can’t Get No Relief
Creating a Found Poem (1)
A found poem is a poem that is “found” in another text by pulling out key ideas, phrases, and
sentences and rearranging them to create a poem that has a unity of purpose (makes sense) and
conveys an important idea, emotion, or point. A found poem should be true in purpose to the
original text (if the original text is making a point about the topic, the found poem should make the
same point, but in a different way.
Read the assigned selections aloud as a group. Answer these questions as a group:
What are the main points being made in these selections?
What are some words or phrases that stick out to you after reading?
Is there one common thread that each selection addresses? If so, what is it?
If there is not one common thread, what are the different ideas apparent in the selections?
Reread the selections and highlight key ideas, words, phrases, and images that seem important
to the overall meaning of the text.
Pull out these words and phrases and rearrange them as a poem.
Consider which words or phrases should be repeated throughout the poem. If you do use
repetition, how will you repeat these words or phrases? Will they be repeated all at once? Will
they be repeated structurally throughout the poem? What order will you put the
lines/phrases/words in? What is the overall meaning and effect you are trying to create? How
does the arrangement serve this purpose?
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USL  The Things They Carried  “On the Rainy River”
A Box of Rain Will Ease the Pain
Creating a Collage (2)
A collage (from the French: coller, to glue) is a work of formal art, primarily in the visual arts, made
from an assemblage of different forms, thus creating a new whole. A collage may include
newspaper clippings, ribbons, bits of colored or hand-made papers, portions of other artwork,
photographs, a piece of moss or even a dead mole and other found objects, glued to a piece of
paper or canvas.
Your group will be given a full copy of your selection and an envelope with the text cut into
sentences.
Read the assigned selections aloud as a group.
Choose the lines from the text that you want to include on your collage. Select the lines from the
envelope that you will include on the collage.
Find images, clippings, objects, etc. that you want to include in the collage.
Create the collage by arranging and gluing the text, images, clippings, objects, etc. on the poster.
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USL  The Things They Carried  “On the Rainy River”
Wake Up to Find That You Are the Eyes of the World
Close Reading/Analysis (3)
Concept Cards—Bravery and Courage
Approaching this story from an analytical perspective, it can be argued that Elroy Berdahl is God
and provides O’Brien with the spiritual guidance during his time of crisis. Selections from the text
that can be used to support this interpretation have been selected for you. Your job is to do a close
reading of the selections and select the passages that best support this argument and explain how
the passages help make the argument solid.
Passage Identification
Read through the text carefully, and underline or highlight specific passages and words that would
support this interpretation.
Close Reading
In the blank spaces, explain how the passages support the interpretation. Pay attention to specific
words and the meaning they carry to help make your point. Be sure to thoroughly explain the
connection that you want to make.
Concept Cards
After completing the analysis, look through the story for any quotes that connect to the concepts of
bravery and courage. Copy these quotes onto grey cards and post them on the concept card.
Then add images that correspond with the ideas in the quotes to the collage on the concept card.
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USL  The Things They Carried  “On the Rainy River”
Trouble Ahead, Trouble Behind…
Creating a Mobile (4)
mo·bile \ˈmō-ˌbēl a construction or sculpture frequently of wire and sheet metal shapes with
parts that can be set in motion by air currents; also : a similar structure (as of paper or plastic)
suspended so that it moves in a current of air
Your group will be given a full copy of your selection and an envelope with the text cut into
sentences.
Read the full copy of the assigned selections aloud as a group and answer these questions:
What is accomplished by listing all these people, past and present, on the banks of the river?
Why does O’Brien do this?
How does this connect to storytelling? Why does he choose this strategy?
Create a mobile card for each person/thing that is mentioned in the selection by gluing the text
(cut up) to a card.
Write an explanation on the back of the card that explains the importance of the person/thing that
is mentioned.
Create or find a visual for each person/thing card (consider some symbolic interpretations) and
attach it to the back of the card.
Attach all the cards together to create a mobile.
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USL  The Things They Carried  “On the Rainy River”
What a Long, Strange Trip It’s Been…
Visualizing Setting (5)
setting the time and place of the action of a literary, dramatic, or cinematic work.
Read the selection that describes the setting as O’Brien’s drives through northern Minnesota and
arrives at the Tip Top Lodge. Underline or highlight important sections that establish the setting.
Identify colors and images that should be included in the visual.
Create a visual representation of the setting. You may choose to draw the setting, create the
setting with pictures cut out from magazines, or do a combination of drawing and cutting and
pasting.
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USL  The Things They Carried  “On the Rainy River”
A Closer Look Reveals the Human Race…
Visualizing Elroy (6)
char·ac·ter \ˈker-ik-tər, ˈka-rik-\ 2 a : one of the attributes or features that make up and
distinguish an individual 7 a : a person marked by notable or conspicuous traits b : one of
the persons of a drama or novel
Read the selection that describes Elroy Berdahl. Using this text and your understanding of the
character based on your reading (including both physical traits and personality), draw a visual of
the character.
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USL  The Things They Carried  “On the Rainy River”
One Man Gathers What Another Man Spills…
Script/Performance (7)
script \ˈskript\ 2 : the written text of a stage play, screenplay, or broadcast; specifically :
the one used in production or performance
per·for·mance \pə(r)-ˈfȯr-mən(t)s\ 3 a : the action of representing a character in a play b : a
public presentation or exhibition
Your group will be given selections that show the interactions and conversations of Elroy Berdahl
and Tim O’Brien, as well as the description of his summer job in the meat packing plant.
Read over the selections assigned to you.
Create a script by pulling out the lines of dialogue as well as other lines of text that can either be
changed to dialogue or used for narration.
Mark the stage directions on the script (how lines will be delivered, etc)
Practice the script.
Perform for the class.
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USL  The Things They Carried  “On the Rainy River”
Say Your Peace and Get Out…
Letter Writing (8)
Read the selections provided.
Write the letter O’Brien
mentions in the selection.
Use the information provided
in this selection, the
supplemental selection, and
what you know from the
story. As you write the
letter, incorporate some
quotes from the story with
your own language.
Dear Mom and Dad,
Love,
Tim
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USL  The Things They Carried  “On the Rainy River”
Got Some Things To Talk About…
Monologue Performance (9)
mono·logue also mono·log \ˈmä-nə-ˌlȯg, -ˌläg\ 1 a : soliloquy 2 b : a dramatic sketch
performed by one actor 2 : a literary composition written in the form of a soliloquy
Read the selections provided.
Script the text into a monologue by choosing the important lines that should be included. Feel
free to cut sections from lines as necessary.
Practice the monologue.
Perform the monologue.
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USL  The Things They Carried  “On the Rainy River”
Red and White, Blue Suede Shoes…
Found Poem (10)
A found poem is a poem that is “found” in another text by pulling out key ideas, phrases, and
sentences and rearranging them to create a poem that has a unity of purpose (makes sense) and
conveys an important idea, emotion, or point. A found poem should be true in purpose to the
original text (if the original text is making a point about the topic, the found poem should make the
same point, but in a different way.
Read the assigned selections aloud as a group. Answer these questions as a group:
What are the main points being made in these selections?
What are some words or phrases that stick out to you after reading?
Is there one common thread that each selection addresses? If so, what is it?
If there is not one common thread, what are the different ideas apparent in the selections?
Reread the selections and highlight key ideas, words, phrases, and images that seem important
to the overall meaning of the text.
Pull out these words and phrases and rearrange them as a poem.
Consider which words or phrases should be repeated throughout the poem. If you do use
repetition, how will you repeat these words or phrases? Will they be repeated all at once? Will
they be repeated structurally throughout the poem? What order will you put the
lines/phrases/words in? What is the overall meaning and effect you are trying to create? How
does the arrangement serve this purpose?
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