The War Correspondent Study Questions & Topics for Discussion

The War Correspondent Topics for Further Study

•  Research the Charge of the Light Brigade and make a class presentation explaining what happened and why. Why was the order to charge given? What did the Light Brigade do? Was the charge a classic military blunder or did it accomplish something?

•  Read “The Indian Mutiny,” by Carson, in Breaking News. Like “The War Correspondent,” it is based on a report by William Howard Russell. Research and describe the historical event that gave rise to the poem. Does “The Indian Mutiny” resemble any of the poems that make up “The War Correspondent?” How are the themes similar? Write an essay in which you explain your findings.

•  Take any newspaper or magazine article that describes conditions in Baghdad, Iraq, or Kabul, Afghanistan, or any other place in the world where there is a current or recent conflict. Following Carson’s example in “The War Correspondent,” write a poem based on...
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