“Church“
The characters act this way while in the church compared to the jungle.
What is reverent and respectful?
Tim O’Brien copes with the truth of killing a man by doing this action done with the imagination.
What is creating a version of the truth (notion) that helps him cope with his feelings and in doing this he finds a small sense of closure.
Tim O’Brien repeats the words “his one eye shut, his other eye a huge star-shaped hole” (O’Brien 127) to explain the man that he killed. How does the repetition of these words show his guilt?
What is his fixation and inability to forget the moment.
In the chapter “Good Form” the narrator can tell his daughter that he never killed a man or he killed a man and they would both be the truth is an example of this literary device.
What is a Paradox?
This hand motion was made by the Monks in “Church”.
What is a washing motion?
While in the “Church” O’Brien feels the hospitality of the Monks but also feels this feeling commonly felt before tests.
What is uneasiness and worry?
As Tim stares at the man, he sees a butterfly land on the man’s forehead. This butterfly stands a symbol of what?
What is a symbol of the beauty amidst the war, it is a simple reminder that beauty and horror can coexist, especially in war.
On page 128, what words does he say that connect to the theme of the search for closure?
What is “Sometimes I forgive myself, other times I don’t” (O’Brien 128).
“I blamed myself” (O’Brien 171)
This quote from “Good Form” shows this about the author’s thoughts on war.
What is it leaves a lifelong mark of guilt on the soldiers and the people affected?
In “Style” Azar assumed that the girl‘s dancing was actually this.
What is a ritual?
The limited knowledge of English from the Monks and the heavy dependence on body action highlights the importance of this for the men.
What is controlling the way they act?
By imagining the man's hopes, fears, and background, O'Brien creates this kind of emotional connection that helps him process guilt and trauma.
What is empathy?
This kind of irony is portrayed through the narrator wanting to warn the man about the grenade he threw.
What is situational irony?
The symbolism of the girl’s dancing connects to the soldiers’ questioning of this moral dilemma.
What is questioning why they are there and if it is worth it to fight?
This character in “Style” shows that he has some impressive dance skills.
Who is Henry Dobbins?
“‘Maybe you'd change,’ Kiowa said. Henry Dobbins closed his eyes briefly, then laughed. One thing for sure, I'd look spiffy in those robes they wear‘“ (O’Brien 115).
The men use humor to mask this hard truth.
What is they are at war and don’t know what will happen to them at any time? (Along those lines)
Despite being a factual account of war, this chapter blurs the line between reality and fiction to reveal emotional truths—demonstrating Tim O’Brien’s belief in this kind of storytelling.
What is “story-truth” or emotional truth?
This is the tone of the following quote: “None of it mattered. The words seemed far too complicated. All I could do was gape at the fact of the young man’s body” (O’Brien 127-128).
What is disillusionment and detachment?
This is the major theme in “Style”.
What is symbolism between the girl’s dancing and war.
In “The Man I Killed” O’Brien made up that the man he killed like this school subject.
What is mathematics?
This literary device is shown by the men camping at a church while at war.
What is Juxtaposition?
This literary device in conjunction with vivid imagery and imagined backstory is used heavily in "The Man I Killed," to create rhythm and emphasize emotional trauma.
What is repetition?
The time that the ambush occurs symbolizes this. (Hint: think about dark vs light)
What is darkness of war and the unknown?
This is the overarching theme of “Good Form”.
What is imagined accounts contain kernels of the truth?
In ”The Man I Killed” Kiowa tried to help O’Brien overcome his trauma representing this occupation?
What is a therapist?