First Part:
You must choose one of three characters from the film, and write a letter home to someone special, either a family member, best friend, or loved one (1-2 pages, double-spaced, 12pt Times New Roman font). Depending on which character you choose, certain information must be contained within your letter. The list of characters (and their respective criteria) are as follows:
Captain John Miller (played by Tom Hanks): If you are writing as this character, the letter you are writing would come directly after Wade (the medic) died, and you finally opened up and told your men about who you were before the war. Hint: you would want to include the DDay invasion and attack, parts of the mission and your thoughts about it, and explanation why you finally opened up.
Private Richard Reiben (played by Edward
Burns): If you are writing as this character, the letter you are writing
would come directly after the death of Captain Miller (after the close
of the Battle of Ramelle Bridge). Hint: You would want to include how
the mission has changed you and the way you feel about the war and about
death, as well as you feeling towards being the only survivor of your
group of Rangers (Cpt Miller, Pvt.'s Carparzo, Mellish, Jackson, and
Wade the medic).
Corporal Timothy Upham (played by Jeremy Davies):
If you are writing as this character, the letter you are writing would
come directly after the death of Captain Miller also (after the close of
the
Battle of Ramelle Bridge). Hint: You would want to include you
feelings and experiences in combat, and how it measured up to the
Emerson quote, and also about the German that you fought to set free and
eventually 'finishing what you stopped'.
Part Two:
Choose
two of the four questions that I asked you to answer while watching the
film, and type your answers at the end of your letter. Each answer must be at least 3-4 complete sentences. Points will be taken off for insufficient amount of sentences. The questions are as follows (choose two to answer):
1. Why does Cpt. Miller not reveal his pre-war identity to anyone until absolutely necessary?
2. What does the character of Cpl. Upham symbolize in the film?
3. What does the Pvt. Ryan, and the mission to get him out of the war, symbolize for Cpt. Miller and his men?
4. What is the main theme/message/purpose of this film?
