Hiroshima

Hersey was a pioneer of New Journalism, a style of writing that integrated the reporter’s subjective experiences into their reportage and employed various novelistic techniques to relay the facts of the event. How does this narrative style influence the book’s overall message? Consider these points as you reflect on the text to answer the question.

• Does Hersey’s style influence his relationship to the survivors and events? Does it make his report more objective or less?
• Are there moments where Hersey might hint at his own personal beliefs or opinions? Where in the book might this happen?
• How do you think the book’s influence might have changed if the book took the form of a more traditional work of nonfiction?
• In what ways does the book’s style connect to its themes?

Teaching Suggestion: Consider reminding students of the characteristics of New Journalism prior to beginning the discussion. Remind them that the publication of Hersey’s reportage was the first time an audience had been able to learn about the destruction of the city of Hiroshima in a participatory, humanistic way, as opposed to the large-scale images of mushroom clouds that were available from newsreels and other media.  

Differentiation Suggestion: For students who need support with organization, consider providing a guiding note template for students to record their thoughts as they prepare for the discussion.