UNIT 6 Independent Learning • Ambush Grade 11 My Perspective

1. Reading:
Reading:
Ambush
Ambush
By: Tim O’Brien
By: Tim O’Brien

2. Brainstorming
Questions:
1- What is something in your life that makes you really
regretful?
Maybe it hurt you or someone else....
2- What if you haven’t done that thing?
3- How do/did you come to terms with it?

3. Whatarethemajor
themesormessages
fromastorylikethis?

4. PossibleAnswers
1- This is an anti war story
2- This story explains the COST of war. It isn’t only about the people who
died but it is also about the people who kill in war, ones who have to live
and come to terms with their life decisions.

5. 1- Rising Action: It builds as the narrator recounts the events leading up
to the pivotal moment of the ambush.
2- Climax: Occurs when the narrator, upon seeing a young enemy
soldier, hesitates and throws a grenade, resulting in the soldier's death.
3- Resolution: comes as the narrator grapples with the aftermath of
the ambush, particularly his feelings of guilt and the burden of the
memory.
ThePlot:

6. POV:
1st Person Point of View: Makes the story compelling
by allowing readers to experience the narrator's
internal conflict and emotional turmoil firsthand.

7. Setting:
The Vietnam War in a dense jungle.

8. Meaning:
Meaning: Post-traumatic stress disorder occurring under
Post-traumatic stress disorder occurring under
wartime conditions (as combat) that cause intense stress
wartime conditions (as combat) that cause intense stress
Syn:
Syn: Dazed,
Dazed, bewildered, confused,
bewildered, confused, stunned
stunned
Ant:
Ant: Rested, relaxed
Rested, relaxed
Sentence:
Sentence: Many of the refugees were suffering from what
Many of the refugees were suffering from what
the humans referred to as
the humans referred to as shell shock.
shell shock.
Vocabulary Words
Vocabulary Words
Shell shock
Shell shock

9. Vocabulary Words
Vocabulary Words
Ambush
Ambush
Meaning:
Meaning: The act of hiding and making a surprise attack.
The act of hiding and making a surprise attack.
Syn:
Syn: Trap, attack, surprise, assault
Trap, attack, surprise, assault
Ant:
Ant: Rescue
Rescue
Sentence:
Sentence: The Howards ambushed three friends of the
The Howards ambushed three friends of the
Turners—the Cawoods—killing all of them.
Turners—the Cawoods—killing all of them.

10. Vocabulary Words
Vocabulary Words
Platoon
Platoon
Meaning:
Meaning: A military unit.
A military unit.
Syn:
Syn: Batch, squad
Batch, squad
Ant:
Ant: X
X
Sentence:
Sentence: An entire platoon of soldiers broke in through the
An entire platoon of soldiers broke in through the
front door.
front door.

11. Meaning:
Meaning: Projectiles to be fired from a gun.
Projectiles to be fired from a gun.
Syn:
Syn: Bullets, missiles
Bullets, missiles
Ant:
Ant: X
X
Sentence:
Sentence: Large quantities of ammunition and supplies
Large quantities of ammunition and supplies
had been stockpiled before the war started.
had been stockpiled before the war started.
Vocabulary Words
Vocabulary Words
Ammunition
Ammunition

12. Meaning:
Meaning: A state of danger involving risk.
A state of danger involving risk.
Syn:
Syn: Danger, risk, hazard
Danger, risk, hazard
Ant:
Ant: Safety, security
Safety, security
Sentence:
Sentence: People are unaware of the peril these miners
People are unaware of the peril these miners
face each day
face each day
Vocabulary Words
Vocabulary Words
Peril
Peril

13. A flashback is a literary device that interrupts the chronological sequence of a
A flashback is a literary device that interrupts the chronological sequence of a
narrative to provide information about events that occurred earlier.
narrative to provide information about events that occurred earlier.
The entire story is structured as a flashback, with the narrator reflecting on his
The entire story is structured as a flashback, with the narrator reflecting on his
experience in the Vietnam War.
experience in the Vietnam War.
In "Ambush" by Tim O'Brien, the entire story is structured as a flashback. The
In "Ambush" by Tim O'Brien, the entire story is structured as a flashback. The
narrator, reflecting on his experience in the Vietnam War, recounts the events
narrator, reflecting on his experience in the Vietnam War, recounts the events
of a specific ambush he participated in.
of a specific ambush he participated in.
Here's an example of a flashback from "Ambush":
Here's an example of a flashback from "Ambush":
"In late afternoon we'd set up our ambush along the trail, and when the sun
"In late afternoon we'd set up our ambush along the trail, and when the sun
went down we'd opened fire."
went down we'd opened fire."
Literary Devices
Literary Devices
Flashback
Flashback

14. Characters
Characters
The Narrator:
The Narrator: The protagonist and narrator of the story, a soldier who
The protagonist and narrator of the story, a soldier who
reflects on his experience in the Vietnam War.
reflects on his experience in the Vietnam War.
The Narrator's Daughter:
The Narrator's Daughter: Although not present in the main narrative, the
Although not present in the main narrative, the
narrator's daughter is mentioned in the story. Her question about whether
narrator's daughter is mentioned in the story. Her question about whether
her father has ever killed anyone serves as a framing device for the
her father has ever killed anyone serves as a framing device for the
narrator's recollection of the ambush.
narrator's recollection of the ambush.
Kiowa:
Kiowa: A fellow soldier who appears briefly in the narrator's recollection of
A fellow soldier who appears briefly in the narrator's recollection of
the ambush. He is mentioned as having warned the narrator before the
the ambush. He is mentioned as having warned the narrator before the
ambush took place.
ambush took place.

15. Physical and Emotional Burdens:
Physical and Emotional Burdens:
The “[t]hings” of the title that O’Brien’s characters carry are both literal and
The “[t]hings” of the title that O’Brien’s characters carry are both literal and
figurative. While they all carry heavy physical loads, they also all carry heavy
figurative. While they all carry heavy physical loads, they also all carry heavy
emotional loads, composed of grief, terror, love, and longing.
emotional loads, composed of grief, terror, love, and longing.
The Pointlessness of War:
The Pointlessness of War:
The story delves into the moral dilemmas faced by soldiers during wartime,
The story delves into the moral dilemmas faced by soldiers during wartime,
particularly the guilt and trauma associated with taking another person's
particularly the guilt and trauma associated with taking another person's
life.
life.
Themes
Themes

16. Foreshadowing is used to hint at the events that will unfold later in the story.
Foreshadowing is used to hint at the events that will unfold later in the story.
One example of foreshadowing occurs early in the story when the narrator's
One example of foreshadowing occurs early in the story when the narrator's
daughter asks him if he has ever killed anyone. This conversation foreshadows
daughter asks him if he has ever killed anyone. This conversation foreshadows
the narrator's later admission that he killed a man during the Vietnam War:
the narrator's later admission that he killed a man during the Vietnam War:
"I remember the smell, that's all. I remember the smell, and then the taste of it
"I remember the smell, that's all. I remember the smell, and then the taste of it
in my throat, and I remember the noises—the moaning, and the way the man
in my throat, and I remember the noises—the moaning, and the way the man
looked when he died, and how I retched afterward, holding myself tight until it
looked when he died, and how I retched afterward, holding myself tight until it
went away, the sickness. I remember Kiowa already beginning to warn me, but
went away, the sickness. I remember Kiowa already beginning to warn me, but
it was too late. The man was dead, and the others were dead, and the rain kept
it was too late. The man was dead, and the others were dead, and the rain kept
coming."
coming."
This passage foreshadows the narrator's
This passage foreshadows the narrator's traumatic
traumatic experience of killing a man,
experience of killing a man,
as well as his
as well as his struggle
struggle with
with guilt
guilt and
and remorse
remorse. It suggests that the memory of
. It suggests that the memory of
this event continues to
this event continues to haunt
haunt him, even after many years.
him, even after many years.
Literary Devices
Literary Devices
Imagery
Imagery

17. Movies that share similar themes to the text:
Movies that share similar themes to the text:

18. Comprehension Questions
Comprehension Questions
What war did the author fight in?
What war did the author fight in?
What question did Kathleen ask her father?
What question did Kathleen ask her father?
What was all ready to throw?
What was all ready to throw?
What is the weather like?
What is the weather like?
Who was the narrator's friend who tells him war
Who was the narrator's friend who tells him war
is war and get over it
is war and get over it
What war did the author fight in?
What war did the author fight in?

19. Comprehension Questions Answer key
Comprehension Questions Answer key
The Vietnam War If he ever killed anyone
The Vietnam War If he ever killed anyone
If he ever killed anyone
If he ever killed anyone
Grenades
Grenades
Foggy
Foggy
Kiowa
Kiowa

20. The sentences are straightforward and brief.
The sentences are straightforward and brief.
This method writing highlights the severe
This method writing highlights the severe
mental and physical struggle he was going
mental and physical struggle he was going
through. It also allows the readers to visualize
through. It also allows the readers to visualize
the scene better.
the scene better.
To relate with him, you don't have to be a solider but it is just to think
To relate with him, you don't have to be a solider but it is just to think
about how hard it is to be in his position.
about how hard it is to be in his position.

21. This addition shows that the solider was
This addition shows that the solider was
part of the indeginous population.
part of the indeginous population.

22. Him not hating the man highlights the fact that
Him not hating the man highlights the fact that
he is regretful of his decision.
he is regretful of his decision.
Teaches also that we have to live in life with
Teaches also that we have to live in life with
decisions we picked when we were young.
decisions we picked when we were young.
The mind will continue to resurrect the
The mind will continue to resurrect the
uncomfortable decisions we take in life again
uncomfortable decisions we take in life again
and again and again.
and again and again.