Ch 8 And 9 Ttc Reading Questions

Murphy Name:
AP Lit Date: Pd:
The Things They Carried – Reading Questions – “The Dentist” and “Sweetheart of Song Tra Bong” (86-116)
Directions: Answer the following questions during or after your reading of the text. Questions are (mostly) in order of appearance of the information. In order to receive full credit, all questions must be answered in complete sentences, using at least one piece of concrete evidence (include page numbers).

“The Dentist”
Characterize Curt Lemon and why he behaves the way he does:

What does it make you think about the way he acts in the previous chapter (“…War Story”)?

What is the purpose of placing this chapter directly after “How to Tell a True War Story”?

“Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong”
In "Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong," what transforms Mary Anne into a predatory killer?

Does it matter that Mary Anne is a woman? Why/Why not?

What does the story tell us about the nature of humanity and the Vietnam War?

The story Rat tells in "Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong" is highly fantastical. Does its lack of believability make it any less compelling? Do you believe it? Does it fit O'Brien's criteria for a true war story? Why?