1. How
many times does Norman drive around the lake?
2. What’s
the name of Bawker’s girlfriend in high school?
3. How
many medals did Bawker win?
4. Internal
commentary lets the reader know what emotion Bawker feels, what is it?
5. What
does the poop field represent?
6. Why
does Kiowa’s death trouble him so much?
A. He
hated Kiowa.
B. The
company is mad at him.
C. He
feels guilty for leaving Kiowa.
D. He
didn’t kill the VC that killed Kiowa.
7. Why
do you think it is hard for Bawker to accept his father’s admiration?
A. He
views the medals as meaningless.
B. He
wants to commit suicide.
C. He
thinks Kiowa deserved them.
D. His
dad hates him.
8. Why
does Bawker abandon Kiowa?
A. Because
he is ordered to.
B. He
gets wounded as well.
C. He
decides to try and take out the VC firing mortars.
D. He
can’t tolerate the smell anymore.
9. What
did Bawker pull to bring Kiowa out of the muck?
10. What
medal did Bawker almost win?
11. What
kind of vehicle is Bawker driving?
12. What
village were they camped outside of when they were attacked?
From How to Read Literature Like a Professor
"It's More Than Just Rain Or Snow" plays a key role in the chapter "Speaking of Courage". In the story Norman Bawker is telling, he mentions one critical deatil, rain. The rain causes the squad great misery, challenging them, more specifically Bawker, physically and emotionally. It is here Kiowa gets hit and starts sinking in the mud, and then Bawker tries to bring him back up, but fails to do so. It also causes Bawker to have a moral dilemma, he has a hard time deciding whether to help Kiowa or leave him, and witness the non-hero emerge from inside Bawker. It also makes the atmosphere more isolating because it turned the field they were resting for the night into slop, not allowing them to proceed further.
"Geography Matters" is also chapter that can be applied to "Speaking of Courage". The story takes place in the jungle, already creating a sense of confusion and danger. Nobody feels safe because, they are fighting on foreign soil and against people who utilize Guerilla tactics. The feces field they stay at for a night is unpleasant because of the rain that is constantly pouring and the smell.
From Stephen King On Writing
King said novels consist of narration, dialogue and description."Speaking of Courage" utilizes all of these elements, but mostly description and narration to create the atmosphere in the jungle and show the internal dilemma Bawker is having. However, narration makes up the bulk of the chapter allowing the reader to gain insight to Bawker’s emotions.
Key details
When Kiowa is sinking, he decides to leave him to die because he can no longer tolerate the feces.
He wants to talk to Sally, who is a girl he had dated, but she is married so he decides not to.
His friend Arnold drowned in the lake he keeps driving around.
He has seven medals, and almost won the Silver Star. He doesn't think there is anything special about the medals he has already.
