Texts about the Vietnam War
Short stories
The story hints at the Vietnam War and the May 1968 protests held by students in France. The students, together with many other protesters around Europe and the US, also protested against the Vietnam War.
The message of the short story relates to the horrors of the war in Vietnam and explains to readers how the soldiers involved in the war felt. Implicitly, the story criticizes the American government for sending young men into Vietnam.
Songs and memoirs
The memoir “A Rumor of War” deals with the Vietnam War, especially with the way in which the author’s platoon dealt with fighting the Viet Cong members in a village called Ha Na.
“Eve of Destruction” was released in 1965. It is a protest song against the Vietnam War and deals with the themes of war, racism, and injustice.
Other texts
Below are further suggestions for texts or movies that may be relevant when working with the Vietnam War. We do not currently have study guides for these texts, but maybe you can be inspired to look for some of these titles yourself.
- Brown, Larry - Dirty Work (1989 novel)
- Broyles Jr., William - Goodbye Vietnam (2013 memoir)
- Chimino, Michael - The Deer Hunter (1978 movie)
- Coppola, Francis Ford - Apocalypse Now (1979 movie)
- Davis, Peter - Hearts and Minds (1974 documentary)
- Greene, Graham - The Quiet American (1955 novel)
- Kubrick, Stanley - Full Metal Jacket (1987 movie)
- Levinson, Barry - Good Morning, Vietnam (1987 movie)
- Mason, Robert - Chickenhawk (autobiography)
- Stone, Oliver - Platoon (1986 movie)
- Stone, Robert - Dog Soldiers (1974 novel)