The Sorrow of War: A Novel of North Vietnam

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

From 1955-1975, the Southeast Asian country of Vietnam was the site of a proxy war between the capitalist US and communist Soviet Union forces. What were some of the repercussions of this conflict? How did war violence affect soldiers and civilians who lived in the region?

Teaching Suggestion: Ninh’s text focuses on the latter half of the Vietnam War as he explores the repercussions of the Soviet-American-Sino influence on the Southeast Asian region. Ninh writes from the perspective of Kien, a soldier in the North; the author removes the political ideologies from war and instead focuses on the atrocities and accompanying sorrow, sadness and loss that are common for all who are involved. Overall, the war in Vietnam had devastating effects on local populations, with mass casualties, destruction of infrastructure, and the beginnings of a “domino effect” of subsequent refugee flows from the region and conflict in neighboring Cambodia. Students with background knowledge of this conflict may be able to connect what they have already learned; those with limited knowledge regarding the Vietnam War might be coached to think more generally about other historical conflicts and list likely repercussions for those who experience war. These and similar resources may help to provide additional context on the topic.

• History explores “6 Events That Laid the Groundwork for the Vietnam War.”
• The University of North Carolina shares a variety of artistic depictions on the subject of the Vietnam War. (Content Warning: Some photographs include graphic images.)
• The Pritzker Military Museum and Library breaks down the difference between the different “Armed Forces of the Vietnam War.”
• This teacher-facing resource from Asia-Pacific Curriculum explores “Vietnam After the War.”

Differentiation Suggestion: Depending on individual background experiences, some students may prefer a task that does not require reflection on the impact of war violence. These students might take notes on the first resource above instead and relay the salient points to the class or on a visual aid.  

Short Activity

Ninh’s narrative is an example of a novel that shows the impact of the trauma of war. Working in small groups, research another memoir or novel that exposes the difficulties of war. In a brief presentation, share a content summary of the work, a brief author biography, and the ways in which themes such as Memory and Art are intertwined into the narrative.

Teaching Suggestion: This Short Activity invites students to explore the motifs of war and trauma in literature. Students might share related visuals, videos, and other resources in their presentation related to the author and work. Students might also comment on the reception of their chosen book upon its publication.

• Students can investigate a variety of book lists online to find a memoir or novel to research; for example, Pan MacMillan offers “30 of the Best War Novels of All Time.”

Differentiation Suggestion: For an approach that involves additional literary analysis as well as visual learning and use of artistic skills, students might include an original sketch that conveys a message or theme associated with the researched work. Providing rationale for artistic choices might be a brief inclusion in the group presentation.  

Personal Connection Prompt

This prompt can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before reading the text.

Consider the relationship between memory and loss. How might memory perpetuate trauma? How can memory also help us reconcile difficult situations? Your discussion can include personal examples, examples you have witnessed or learned about, or examples from history or literature.

Teaching Suggestion: This Personal Connection Prompt invites students to consider the way in which Memory may function as both a positive and negative form of association. In the novel, memory is a complex concept for Kien, as his positive memories of his pre-war days in Hanoi blend into his traumatic experiences during the Vietnam War. Kien attempts to reconcile these differences through Art, specifically writing, in a collection of stream-of-consciousness pieces of literature related to his life and war. Due to the potentially sensitive nature of the question, a private response in writing may be the most appropriate approach.