Tim O'Brien's hauntingly beautiful novel about the Vietnam War depicts the cyclical nature of violence, the aftermath of war, and the long-term cost of failing to follow your own convictions when they differ from societal expectations. The novel presents as if it is a memoir and has a non-linear structure that mirrors the chaos of warfare. It is the PERFECT novel for teaching students about how the structure of a work can reflect its content. While the work is engaging and high interest, it lends itself well to teaching analysis of rhetorical strategies, a major component of the Advanced Placement Language and Composition curriculum. More importantly, it is a beautiful story about the importance of following your personal convictions.
About my class
Tim O'Brien's hauntingly beautiful novel about the Vietnam War depicts the cyclical nature of violence, the aftermath of war, and the long-term cost of failing to follow your own convictions when they differ from societal expectations. The novel presents as if it is a memoir and has a non-linear structure that mirrors the chaos of warfare. It is the PERFECT novel for teaching students about how the structure of a work can reflect its content. While the work is engaging and high interest, it lends itself well to teaching analysis of rhetorical strategies, a major component of the Advanced Placement Language and Composition curriculum. More importantly, it is a beautiful story about the importance of following your personal convictions.