Saving Private Ryan – Mini Tasks

Starter What do you know about D-Day? When was it? Where did it happen? Why did it happen? Who was involved?

Starter What do you know about D-Day? When was it? June Where did it happen? Normandy, France Why did it happen? To defeat Hitler and the German army that had invaded and overrun most of Europe. Who was involved? The allied armies, mostly the UK & USA. Saving Private Ryan – Mini Tasks

Chapter 1 P1. 1.What do you think are the 2 key images on this page ? 2. What makes them important to you? 3.Select a four words from the sections you have chosen that help give these images impact. 4.Explain why you have chosen them.

Saving Private Ryan – Mini Tasks Chapter 1 P1. 1.What do you think are the 2 key images on this page ? Grandpa falling to his knees. The endless crosses in the cemetery. The Family hug. 2. What makes the important to you? 3.Select a few words from the sections you have chosen that help give these images impact. 4.Explain why you have chosen them. Character Study What are your thought and feelings about Grandpa and how he reacts to the graves he sees.

Saving Private Ryan – Mini Tasks Chapter 1 Character Study What are your thought and feelings about Grandpa and how he reacts to the graves he sees.

Saving Private Ryan – Mini Tasks Chapter 2 P3 1. What do you notice about the way the characters are introduced? 2.Why do you think the writer introduces his characters in this way? P4. 1.What surprises or shocks you on this page ? 2.Identify two key words that create this shocking impact?

Saving Private Ryan – Mini Tasks Chapter 2 P3 1. What do you notice about the way the characters are introduced? We are told the name of their home town/city and state as well as their name and rank. 2.Why do you think the writer introduces his characters in this way? To show that the soldiers came form all over America as well as to give their character a little more depth. P4. 1.What surprises or shocks you on this page ? The next boat suddenly exploding and then showering the soldiers with body parts. 2. What are the key words that create this shocking impact? References to body parts.

Saving Private Ryan – Mini Tasks Chapter 2 P5 1.What surprises you about what Briggs says ? 2.What effect do Brigg's words have on the other soldiers 3.How Does Cpt. Miller restore the Men’s confidence? P6 1. What surprises Cpt. Miller when he looks at the beach? 2.What had he trained his men to do? 3.What did Cpt. Miller feel was important about the ‘accidental’ silence that occurred.

Saving Private Ryan – Mini Tasks Chapter 2 P5 1.What surprises you about what Briggs says ? --- He is an officer, a Lieutenant and should be trying to motivate his men. 2.What effect do Brigg's words have on the other soldiers ? Made them more uncomfortable than ever 3.How does Miller restore the Men’s confidence? Tells them they are hearing the sound of Germans dying. P6 1.What surprises Miller when he looks at the beach? It has not been cleared of mined crosses and was not full of shell holes. 2.What had he trained his men to do? Move between the shell holes using them for cover. 3.What did Miller feel was important about the ‘accidental’ silence that occurred. It was the only break his ‘kids’ would get.

Saving Private Ryan – Mini Tasks Chapter 2 P7 1. What choices does Cpt. Miller feel he has once the boat stops? 2.How are the soldiers on the boat described? 3.What word used earlier does this echo? 4.What is the effect of using these words to describe the soldiers? 5.20 seconds did what? 6.There is a significant change in terminology at this point. What is the change and why is it significant. Character study. Describe Cpt. Miller and explain what kind of leader you think he is.

Saving Private Ryan – Mini Tasks Chapter 2 P7 1. What choices does Cpt. Miller feel he he he has once the boat stops? Stay and be killed by mortar fire. Go and be killed by machine gun fire. 2.How are the soldiers on the boat described? Boys 3.What word used earlier does this echo? Kids 4.What is the effect of using these words to describe the soldiers? It emphasises how young and ‘innocent’ they were seconds did what? Killed two thirds of his men. 6.There is a significant change in terminology at this point. What is the change and why is it significant. The boys are now described as ‘men’. Fought as boys, died as men and those who survived this ordeal could no longer be considered boys.

Saving Private Ryan – Mini Tasks Chapter 2 Character study. Describe Cpt. Miller and explain what kind of leader you think he is.

Saving Private Ryan – Mini Tasks Chapter 3 P8 1.What is the simile in the first paragraph? 2.What does Miller do to his equipment? 3.What does this reaction remind you of? 4.Where have they landed?

Saving Private Ryan – Mini Tasks Chapter 3 P8 1.What is the simile in the first paragraph? Like a rock. 2.What does Miller do to his equipment? Drop his backpack but keep his rifle. 3.Does this reaction remind you of something? Ishmael Chambers did the same sort of thing to survive in Snow Falling on Cedars! 4.Where have they landed? Omaha Beach.

Saving Private Ryan – Mini Tasks Chapter 3 P9 1.What does Miller do with Pvt. Delancey? 2.What effect doe this have on Miller? 3.What does he see when he looks at his face? P10 1.Why had the battle suddenly become quiet? 2.Why are the soldiers shouting at Miller?

Saving Private Ryan – Mini Tasks Chapter 3 P9 1.What does Miller do with Pvt. Delancey. Uses his dead body as a shield so he can advance up the beach. 2.What effect doe this have on him. He thinks he might go mad 3.What does he see when he looks at his face? Not a soldier or a captain but a man ready to die. P10 1.Why had the battle suddenly become quiet? The exploding shell had deafened him. 2.Why are the soldiers shouting at Miller? They need orders to tell them what to do next.

Saving Private Ryan – Mini Tasks Chapter 3 P11 1.What do you consider to be the key phrase on P11? 2.Explain why you think this phrase is important 3.Select one section of this page which you feel is an effective description of war and explain: why you think it is effective what words are key to making it effective.

Saving Private Ryan – Mini Tasks Chapter 3 P11 1.What do you consider to be the key phrase on P11? For me it is ‘Boys became men as they crossed the killing zone.’ 2.Explain why you think this phrase is important. It reflects the theme established on P7 where the soldiers land as boys but die or survive as men. 3.Select one section of this page which you feel is an effective description of war and explain: Select two words that are key to making it effective. Explain why you think this section is effective

Saving Private Ryan – Mini Tasks Chapter 3 P12 1. Why had the ‘men’ become ‘boys’ again? 2.What is Miller really afraid of? 3.What is Miller not afraid of? Character Study What have we learned about Miller that has helped to develop his character in this chapter?

Saving Private Ryan – Mini Tasks Chapter 3 P12 1. Why had the ‘men’ become ‘boys’ again? Fear, uncertainty and the need for someone to give orders. 2.What is Miller really afraid of? The responsibility of commanding a group of men he does not know under incredibly difficult conditions. 3.What is Miller not afraid of? Fighting the enemy. Character Study What have we learned about Miller that has helped to develop his character in this chapter? Brave, resourceful, feels fear but not overwhelmed by it, retains his sense of humour, maintains his discipline and professionalism. He is a good soldier and commanding officer.