I_Lahana_Feminist

Irene Lahana Ackerman Honors American Lit: 3 Summary Response

[|**__Masculinity & American Militarism__**] [|**__Richard Nixon: Vietnam War Speech__**]
 * Other Sources:**

Marlene Nadle writes about how the perspective of war and being involved in the war change between women and men. She challenges the idea of "manhood", or what drives men to feel superior in battle.
 * Summary:**

This article references multiple wars, their cause and effect, and how women were involved with them. In comparison to Tim O'Brien's //The Things They Carried//, in the male mind, women should play specific roles during a time of war. O'Brien's character, Mary Ann Bell, was seen as a sweet all-American girl, a fragile and helpless creature. However, during her time in Vietnam with her boyfriend that opinion changed when she decided she wanted to get the full experience of the war. Her trip to Vietnam was the idea of her boyfriend, a soldier who wanted to have her there for merely the companionship and "show appeal". Although, despite her boyfriend's best efforts, Bell changed from a sex symbol to a fatigue-wearing, hardened soldier. Nadle's article relates to this idea by illustrated how during war, women are expected to "stay in their place." The male soldiers are expected to prove their manhood to the women back home by returning as a war hero, the epitome of male superiority. By Mary Ann visiting Vietnam and changing her outer appeal as well as her mindset, O'Brien's characterization is able to challenge the stereotypical woman during war.
 * Response:**

Nadle, Marlene. "Women on War." __Tikkun__. 18.5 (September-October 2003): p75. __Literature Resource Center__. Gale. ARAPAHOE HIGH SCHOOL. 6 May 2008 <[|http://go.galegroup.com/ps /start.do?p=LitRC&u=litt24484]>.
 * Works Cited:**

1. What is the importance in Mary Ann's change? How does this challenge the idea os the stereotypical female? 2. How is "love" portrayed in this novel? Think back to chapter two... 3. Kiowa's death is retold through multiple chapters, why is this important to the plot? How does this affect the other characters? 4. How does O'Brien's mental argument with himself over saying "yes" and "no" to Kathleen affirm our idea that the "truth" changes from person to person? 5. What is the importance of Cross blaming himself for another death (Kiowa)? How will this affect the rest of the story, O'Brien's retelling of the "truth", or affect Cross as an individual? 6. How do the chapters "flow" to create a sort of "create your own story" (coming to your own conclusions about the truth, reality, and lies)?
 * Questions:**

Compare these two pictures. How are they similar? How are they diffe rent? What does the Vietnamese woman portray? What about the American propaganda poster from WWII?
 * Opening Activity:**