Learning Activities:(The items with * are homework )
Internet Activity: What is post war syndrome? Read the site
on Gulf
War Syndrome. Do a research on other post wars' syndrome.
Study Guide:
1. Why doe Jim believe that Chris will come back?
2. What changes have taken place between Joe and Kate?
3. Why doesn't Joe feel he needs to be forgiven? Do you agree with
him?
*Write a diary entry from Joe's point of view after Kate asks him
to ask forgiveness from Chris, his son.
4. To Joe, what comes first in his life? To Chris?
Journal Writing
Imagine you are in a situation where your responsibilities for your
family are contradictory to those for your country, what would you do?
Explain.
5. What impelled Ann to tell the truth that Larry is dead to Kate?
*Write a diary entry from Chris's point of view describing what
he went through when he drove away after he had found out his father was
guilty.
6. After Chris comes back, what decision has he made? What does he
say he will do to his father ,Joe? Why will he not send his father to jail?
7. Why can't Chris forgive Joe for what he did ? What does he mean
by saying ," I never saw you as a man. I saw you as my father"?
8.What effect does Larry's last letter have on Joe and Kate?
From their reactions to the "shocking" news, who turns out to be the stronger
person ?
9. After Chris read Larry's letter, what does he decide to do to his
father?
10. How does Mr. Keller's last line in this play heighlight the title
and the theme of the play? Respond to the line in your journal.
11. Some critics believe that all this time the reason why Kate insists
on believing that Larry is still alive is to protect Joe, her husband.
Do you agree? Defend your argument.
12. Comment on the ending of the play. What caused Joe to commit suicide?
13. Why does Kate say to Chris,"Don't dear. Don't take on yourself.
Forget now. Live" ?
Enrichment:
1.Read some poems from this Modern
Poetry Page and recommend to the class at least one poem from this
page that is related to the theme of this play, All My Sons.
2. Choose a poem from Wilfred
Owen's War Poetry page that best describes what Chris experienced during
the war.
3. From reading war poetry, what conclusions can you draw about what
war could do to people and the world?