Creedence Clearwater Revival: Run Through The Jungle
Run Through The Jungle has been used in the soundtrack of films such as Platoon and Forrest Gump. The imagery of running through the jungle does seem to mirror the setting of the Vietnam War.
In pairs, discuss how you might imagine a soldier feels running through the jungle. Describe his state of mind, his alertness to danger, does he feel angry? Scared? Hyper-vigilant?
Tim O'Brien: The Man I Killed
1. Define the point-of-view in the story
2. The first 12 lines describe the dead man. What do we learn about his appearance?
3. After describing his appearance, Tim goes on to imagine the life of his victim, and continues this description several times in the story. Describe what kind of person Tim imagines him to have been.
4. Why do you think Tim would go the trouble of imagining his victim’s life?
5. Does the fact that does so make the situation easier or harder for him to deal with. Give reasons for your answer.
6. Describe the change in focus when the story switches from Tim’s angle to the dialogue between Kiowa and Azar.
7. With whom does Tim’s sympathy lie?
8. What does the dialogue say about the way the in which soldiers deal with the ordeal of being at war.
9. Shredded Wheat, Oatmeal, Rice Krispies: what do these terms refer to usually, and what do they refer to in the story?
10. Why do the soldiers have a need to describe a murdered enemy in this way?
11. How does Kiowa reason with Tim when they talk about the victim?
12. Does he get through to Tim?
13. In war, there are rules of engagement, which are guidelines telling the soldiers what they may or may not do, whom they may or may not attack. If Tim, as an enlisted soldier, is just following orders, then should he still feel guilty for killing an armed enemy?
14. In this situation, how would you feel and what would you do?
