TTTC Group Project: Analysis Questions

Period 3

Directions: Listen to each group’s presentation and then answer the following questions. Each
response should be at least 2-3 formal sentences. Please write your responses in blue.

Group 1: Chapter 7, “How to Tell a True War Story”

1. What part of war stories stay the same even when details are augmented or fictionalized?

There is no purpose to the meaning of war. There is no meaning, there is no moral. War is
absolutely fruitless and vain when the soldiers have no clear idea of what to do, what is right or
wrong. One man can jump into a grenade to protect his teammates, only for them to pass on
anyway. When asked why he would risk such a thing, he does not give a simple answer of “I
wished to serve my country” or “In order to protect the friends and allies I care for,” he blankly
retorts with, “Story of my life, man” (O’Brien 80). Even though the question itself, “what’s the
moral,” not even a soldier can answer the query because all he hits back with is, “Forget it” (74).
Just from both men’s responses, the reader can already distinguish the pitiful lack of depth in
war. No sentiment, no deeper meaning, no abstract storytelling that will make someone cry tears
of joy and understanding---nothing. What do all war stories have in common? Simple. They are
only stories, and they remain as sole chronicles. Their principle, ‘heroic’ purpose is to serve as
the memories of the past and the only lesson is that mindless combat, such as war, cannot be
justified in any sort of manner by the means of useless ‘justice’ or ‘unison,’ it is fighting with no
goal in mind of peace and togetherness, it is violence. Brutal; savagery.

2. Is there a definite truth in storytelling or is it up to the reader to determine what parts are true?
Explain your answer:

Out of the two, it is up to the reader to determine the genuine aspects of a story. In order for a
reader to establish even a simple understanding of what O’Brien’s stories, or any story in that
matter, represents, they have to keep “patiently, adding and subtracting” key notions within the
story in order “to get at the real truth” (81). With the buffalo calf suffering in pain and agony
from gunshots, the one team member jumping into a grenade for the rest of his team only for
them to die alongside with him, or a sister never writing back to a deceased brother’s letter
written by his mourning friend, Tim O’Brien has many chances to elaborate more on the topics,
enlightening us of the truth and significance of each event, but guess what? He never does. Why
is that? Because he cannot take that initial interpretation away from the reader when they read it
the first time. When a storyteller does not make the effort to let their audience know of their own
opinion first off in the form of text, there lies an even larger-schemed value behind that forces the
readers to establish their own original perspective of the situation without the influence of his
own so that there are no chances of correction, also known as, a set answer. Even when he
mentions himself that every story he speaks of occurs sometime within the past, he also affirms
that there lies no confirmation, even his own. That we cannot trust even the teller because not
even he knows of the truth behind these narratives. When they are told, they are simply retold.
What we read is simply what our eyes perceive, however, the aftermath of our minds is our fault.
It is our liability, it is our countenance. Our minds work as they do, and Tim O’Brien simply
encourages the ‘train of thought’ so that we may interpret his stories as we see fit, but shall never
motivate a correct answer to those contemplations because, in the light of war, there are no
crystal clear answers that will ever satisfy the confusion of our questions.

3. Why does O’Brien utilize meta-writing in this chapter and how does it help us determine what
is true and what is false?

Since ‘meta-writing’ refers to a piece of writing within a text, I believe that he attempts to hint
and aid the reader to a better understanding through its mysterious properties. As I mentioned for
the previous question, he includes short stories within this chapter, seemingly placing them
within random orders. In a sense, this could be one reason he implements them, in order to give
off the illusion that their sudden and seemingly random inclusion is also a sign of the arbitrary
objective of the unknown battle that is notoriously remembered as the Vietnam War. But in order
to achieve the concrete sense of, “Why?”, we must acknowledge the longevity of each short
story. In a physical sense of textual length, O’Brien includes only a select few narratives
incorporated with detailed shorts and information that guides the reader through the whole
experience, but, just as I formerly mentioned, O’Brien’s war chronicles are simply recited
without excess commentary. So, a realization comes into light as we recognize that he may be
‘portraying’ a detailed tale that, in truth, possesses false actions and purposeful exaggerations.
Although not for sure, it is predicted that he uses meta-writing in order to further emphasize an
unfavorable character’s personality as well as the never-ending, torturous natures of combat that
continue to haunt the current life of Tim O’Brien while he records his own novel on the case.

Group 2: Chapter 7, “How to Tell a True War Story”

1. According to O’Brien, what is the purpose of exaggerating a war story?

The purpose lies within the perspective of how one experiences the situation, whatever it may be
with the inconsistent events of combat. O’Brien adds on his own viewpoint of war’s value as he
seemingly characterizes a certain select number of passages to really go in-depth about with
personal commentary and explicit details. And with the particular case of the buffalo calf, it just
shows O’Brien stressing the idea of death as war’s real sole continuation. Although serious and
fearful just by the thought of ending another’s life through the material of violence, it is
traumatizing for an average person, nevertheless, Rat Riley sees no consequence in it as he
aimlessly and continuously tortures an innocent animal, an infant no less, so that it takes time for
it to suffer through gunshots, which are also believed to be quick and conclusive. The
overwhelming emotions of loss blind a person from the morality they were raised upon and
rather coerces them to believe in the therapy of pain and torment. He explicitly tells his
teammates he wishes for the calf to feel the pain he does, but also realizes that it cannot because
it is an animal and it cannot reciprocate this same suffering if the only thing that causes it such
pain are physical gunshots impaling its body endlessly. The idea of a child’s play and virtue is
cast aside as death now becomes the versatile subject of an internal battle and the one remedy to
somewhat cure the battle. They look towards the ending and conclusion for comfort, further and
further away from luminous light and brightness of joy and merry. Even if they are surely aware
of their own actions, the soldiers continue to seek out the teachings of death in order to mask
themselves away from the pain and sadness so that their illusioned disguises of pride and
manliness may continue for the sake of not themselves, but for their sanity in order to continue
the war.

2. Explain the purpose of O’Brien’s allusion to the Garden of Evil.

The general idea revolves around a revised title of the Garden of Eden. As portrayed within the
Bible, Eve’s consumption of the apple from the Tree of Knowledge is humanity’s original sin,
just as Nam, Vietnam is described as. The American soldiers, although supposed-to perceive the
Vietnam War as a strategy of masculinity, and therefore their ‘natural habitat,’ it is in truth, their
prison. In O’Brien’s version of it, ‘Eden,’ as in a source of paradise and peace, is replaced with,
‘Evil,’ the summarized epiphany of immorality and wickedness of humanity. With a religious
symbol caught in an obscured web of ominosity and darkness, it unveils the absence of God’s
grace as there is sin surrounds every aspect of these soldiers. Prostitution, drinking, sexual
intercourse, MURDER, chaos, the use of materials to succeed harm to an enemy---there lies no
purity ANYWHERE insight. As God ensures Adam and Eve protection and harmony within the
garden, these soldiers were secured fame and glory with their ‘participation’ in the war. Heedless
of their own judgment and choice in the matter, all the soldiers, Adam and Eve, they never
considered the thought of the truth, which is, I admit, a general topic. For Adam and Eve, it is the
fact that Adam assumed Eve would never try to disobey God in any sort of way. With the
soldiers, it is the neglected idea of true misery and affliction through bloodshed and massacre.
All were fooled into the idea of safety, not knowing the steps and sacrifices necessary in order to
achieve such goals of serenity and concord.

3. How does the use of several fluctuating tones help alter the interpretation of Curt Lemon’s
death?

O’Brien tries to put some distance between the seriousness of death and Curt Lemon as he was
the joyful member of the team and O’Brien does not wish to tarnish that man’s spirit even in
death. Although grave and mournful, Lemon’s character defies that logic as his bright innocent
spirit in his surname, ‘Lemon,’ exude. He was a playful mind with no interest in cheerless
subjects such as the burdens of hiking and fighting. He found the fun within both, as he and Rat
Riley ‘played’ with each other, just as tiny children with large imaginations and animation. In the
sense of, ‘animation,’ a term delineating the unrealistic characteristics of a story, O’Brien
purposefully plays Lemon’s death off on a casual note, with only one person truly mourning him.
His presence throughout his teammates’ owns opinions of him were so disconnected from reality
that they did not believe his death to be real. In their eyes, Curt Lemon was not a genuine
individual of war. He was a simple illustration of what the soldiers needed for moral, and with
his death, everything became silent and reality again.

Group 3: Chapter 9, “Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong”

1. Determine the two themes from this chapter and explain how they contribute to the impact war
has on people in the war and those back home.
 1. Allow a story to be interpreted by the however way the reader sees fit, as they will not
understand the story unless they utilize their own comprehension of the text to their
personal style of contemplation.
2. The traumas of war tremendously transform even the average civilians as its quick-paced
actions of unknowingness can easily disfigure the common mindset with its endless
goings against the criteria.

2. Explain the symbolism of Mary-Anne’s eyes changing from blue to green.

Blue, a color representation aligned with the American flag, and green, the combined effort of
yellow and blue. With the Vietnamese flag sporting a large yellow star within the middle of it
and the primary background behind the American flag’s white stars, it symbolizes the
combination of Americanism and Vietnamese identity as Mary-Anne’s American background
intertwines with her obsession with the Vietnamese culture and the desire to become one with it.
Also, the green emphasis grants the interpretation of nature and plants as her disappearance into
the jungle only aligns with the pigment as well. With the particular term, ‘jungle,’ used by Rat
Riley, he delineates the transpired, animalistic characteristics of Mary-Anne, as she forgoes her
human state with her surrounding butchered animals and human tongues evidently around her
neck as a standard necklace, rather than the bloodiest organs of her fellow species. Combat has
transformed her for the worse, psychologically transpiring her into a depraved, murderous
creature with a ravenous ‘hunger’ to experience the treacheries of Vietnam more than she already
has.

3. Identify TWO Global Issues within this chapter and provide a brief explanation and a direct
quote for each.

1. Identity and Culture = Mary-Anne is introduced into a new and exotic culture very
different from the ways of the Americans, and although that by itself is not concerning,
the fact that she, in summary, relinquishes her own relationship with her significant other,
Mitchell Sanders, and even paves a way towards secrets and alarming rates of suspicion.
She throws away her own humanity as she carelessly walks out into the sunlight with a
ring of human tongues wrapped around her neck. An absolutely horrifying sight by itself,
but, it does not stop there as she chants within the Vietnamese language, singing for a
group of men she befriends at the beginning of the war. They slaughter animals, and most
likely, rape her as she is the only female in a group of murderous men. Losing
self-respect and common sense, Mary-Anne is the first and only female to ever
experience the transformation of insanity driven by the derivatives of war and shameful
conflict that tests the minds of the norms.
2. Values and Community = Mitchell Sanders, after being passive-aggressively encouraged
to invite some women to the camp by one soldier, he decides that it is an ingenious idea
to bring along the love of his life, Mary-Anne. WHO IN THEIR RIGHT MIND BRINGS
THE ONE PERSON THEY WISH TO LIVE FOREVER ALONGSIDE THEM TO A
LAND OF BLOODSHED AND MASSACRE? Without even giving it a second thought,
he accepts the idea, not realizing the consequences and illegal nature of bringing someone
 over from the states to Vietnam. His love blinds him where he cannot think straight,
logically, or rationally, and in the end, cannot accept the fact that it is his fault his
ex-girlfriend turns into a jungle native bloodthirsty for Vietnam and all its favors.

Group 4: Chapter 9, “Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong”

1. According to the presentation, what makes a character within a novel an unreliable narrator?

2. What is the symbolism behind Mary-Anne’s pink sweater and culottes? Conversely, what is
the symbolism behind her chanting and her necklace of tongues?

3. Is the impact of war always negative, or can it be positive in some ways? Please explain:

Group 5: Chapter 12 & 13, “The Man I Killed” & “Ambush”

1. What is the symbolism between the butterfly and the dead Viet-Cong soldier?

Butterflies are commonly represented in literary pieces as passageways and hints of a soul’s
passing to the afterlife. They have found peace within the acknowledgment of their death and
move towards the light as they begin a new life, particularly to this novel, away from the chaos
and destruction of mental truth and physical labor. The dead Viet-Cong soldier’s wounds yield
their drowning blood once the butterflies pass beside his body, emphasizing the hope of
reincarnation. With the inclusion of Asian Buddhist belief and faith within the idea of
reincarnation to a better, eternal life, O’Brien subtly relays his own respect and homage to the
Buddhist religion as he moves on through his new life after the war and the scarring remnants
within his mind. Butterflies, in another sense, are light and delicate creatures with gorgeous
wings of freedom that help them leisurely live their lives without the tension of heavy shoulders
and burden. Connectively, the Viet-Cong soldier no longer has to endure the colossal stress of
pride and reputation as he is finally set free from his duties as a murderer and fighter, and
instead, take on the role of a peacemaker and grateful conscience venturing further and further
from the blood and unjust torment.

2. Identify and discuss the main theme in EACH chapter..

1.
2.

3. How do these two chapters complete each other and what does O’Brien accomplish?

Both stress the lesson of another life beyond the war. Survival, protection, and fighting was
everything to these men. It was the life they created for themselves when they could not choose
for themselves. Their world, basically. Every single lesson they learned was from this war. Every
death and birth, whether physically or psychologically, derives from this fight. Every attack and
survival technique originates from the experience and endurance of this war. Everything was this
very Vietnam War. It was where they experienced fear, excitement, relief, stress, horror, terror,
and drive. There lies no hope, but then, O’Brien witnesses first-hand of another’s murder by his
own hands. Although desperate for the pathway of survival, O’Brien witnesses the bliss behind
the symbol of death within a war setting. There is blood everywhere, yes, there are also corpses
everywhere, yes, but, in all this turmoil, O’Brien gets to witness the passing of a burdened
village teacher and the releasement of a man who can finally achieve his dreams in his next life
without the burden of military drafting.

Group 6: Chapter 15, “Speaking of Courage”

1. Identify and explain the TWO main themes of the chapter.

1. The healing process of war cannot be fully redeemed but can be relieved in some way
that comforts the individual through their own style and exertions - Tim O’Brien and
Norman Bowker both venture the ideas of opening up or completely closing in at the
topic of such savage conflict. One chooses to speak out of the topic (The Things They
Carried) while the other, you guessed it, chooses to keep the subject to himself at all
times. With the idea of O’Brien’s novel, he can outwardly speak about his own demons,
choosing the most important events that symbolize every single lesson combined that all
correlate back to the meaningless idea of war. While Bowker shuts the notion out
completely, we can see how much it kills him from within as all the burdensome images
and sentiments gather up within him to the point where he cannot take it anymore. It
becomes too much for him because he just could not allow it to escape from his mind.
2. The irony of a ‘hero’ derives from the realism of a coward that would rather choose to
survive for himself rather than dying within a meaningless war - Surviving is not a
cowardly wish. Majory on this planet Earth would choose living over the treacheries and
utter destruction of war and combat; nevertheless, that admittance only occurred after the
vain deaths of millions and trillions of men who fought for something they did not even
know. They were not cowards, nor were they heroes.

2. Thoroughly explain what the motif of time represents.

It is the importance and differentiation between the past and the present. With O’Brien’s
mentioning of this chronicle throughout an entire novel, it brings back the memories of before to
the contemplations of today. They resurface as he finds therapy in retelling his past experiences
into a whole set and stone story with the time that he possesses within the present. In order to
heal from the first-made mistakes and realizations, he takes the time, as a new person with a new
mindset on life and how to live through it without the physical involvement of war, to teach
others what he gained from those succeeded memories.

3. What does O’Brien accomplish through the sentimentality of the chapter?

The long-lasting effects of war that seemingly never wear off. Its own uniqueness has its separate
category of trauma so much to the point where all participants of it can never heal from it. It is
not a simple situation of medication and yoga, it haunts the individual’s mind, always lingering
there for the bearer to remember so that they will never be able to relinquish it from their mind.
Even when they truly wish for it to begone, it is just not that simple. They played within the life
of God, chancing life and death, and took on that role when it was not for them to play within.
They ventured through the forbidden territory and in the end, it left a mark unrecoverable as long
as they shall live. The guilt of murder and battle follows him like a shadow, just showing how
human a man can be even with the experience of war. They may have survived the match, but
their battle with the unrelenting memories remains and they cannot do much about it, other than
thinking of it or releasing it in some sort of manner. In O’Brien’s case, it was The Things They
Carried. Even if the title of the vignette relies on the past tense, it is quite clear that Tim O’Brien
is still often burdened with these events that shaped his every being. As a reader, I honestly do
feel pity for him, having to topple all of this by himself and with only a few members of his team
that are still alive and breathing, regardless, I also gained a sense of admiration and true respect
for him as he still continues to live and open his eyes to a brand new day even with these
afflictions. He finds the value of life more important than ever as he is a survivor and he is not
afraid to show it.

Group 7: Chapter 15, “Speaking of Courage”

1. Explain the purpose of juxtaposing America and Vietnam.

It just shows how drastically different the American mind was from the Vietnamese mind and
standards. Even when the Vietnamese women attempt to warn the soldiers of the odorous
campgrounds, the men do not even make an effort to listen to them, careless of the fact that these
are the people they are trying to help. Clearly, these two sides do not get along, and yet, America
still continues to fight and die for this war that no one knows the real purpose behind. They are
not friends. Nor are they enemies. They do not know where they stand with one another, but it is
certainly not allied. America’s offered to help and secure the protection of Vietnam, yet, they
bomb the lands, they kill Vietnamese soldiers and innocent civilians, and they lust upon the
Vietnamese women that easily offer themselves up to the men. There is no sense of justice here,
it is just straight up injustice and confusion. The Vietnamese clearly care for their own
well-being and somewhat for the well-being of the soldiers, whereas, America, seems to be
somewhere in this war. Take into consideration that I said SOMEWHERE. AMERICA IS NOT
AN INTEGRATED PART OF THIS WAR. Just like it has been mentioned in the previous
argument within the Third Period, America really achieved no such things as assistance but
rather the complete and utter opposite.

2. Why does O’Brien use the day of the Fourth of July in the chapter and what is he trying to
show?

The Fourth of July is a day of American independence. With the irony of such a topic even
mentioned in war, THERE IS NO INDEPENDENCE. The holiday was created in order to
celebrate the peace and truce of a nation. Where is the peace in Vietnam? If anything, it seems
that the war has made little to no progress at all of the Vietnamese liberations. There was an
adventure on the fourth of July, there was the discovery, and there was emotion. Not in this war.
There is only solitude, wastelands, and useless temperament. WHERE IS THE FREEDOM?
These men cannot even show the gratitudes of joy and cheer because they are forced to sport a
mask of proudness and intimidation in order to out-do their own teammates. It is always a sense
of competition and rivalry. No joy, cheer, merry, or elation. Based on the holiday alone in
modern times, fireworks always go off within the skies. When they go off, one glances upwards
so that they may have the chance to witness the beautiful, sparkling lights going off. There is no
light present in a war setting. Even a bomb explosion cannot compare to the beauty of fireworks
and family time. The idea of togetherness is absolutely absent and lack thereof because of the
war and these men are imprisoned when looking at any angle of the cube. The idea of freedom
and unison has been abandoned as these men have only become used to the idea of ‘survival of
the fittest,’ and therefore, could not care less about one another.

3. Hypothesize what happens to Norman after the conclusion of this chapter and support your
hypothesis with paraphrased evidence.

I predict he dies without the memory of a tombstone or even the mentioning from a family
member as he is constantly shown as a neglected character by every single person he encounters.
Even while he passes a boy on a common street and he attempts to honk at the boy, the boy
simply ignores him, unaware that the man in the passing car has just tried to give him a very
blunt and obvious command to walk faster on the road.