Stories
Lice are mailed back home, and checkers are played in this story
What happens in "Spin"?
He has a broken nose, a lost knife, and a new friend
Who is Dave Jensen?
"This whole war," he said. "You know what it is? Just one big banquet. Meat, man. You and me.Everybody. Meat for the bugs."
What did Rat Kiley say?
The author describes a character's personality in detail for you.
What is "Direct Characterization"?
Norman Bowker struggling to pull Kiowa out of the mud illustrates...
Man vs Nature
A man dreams of love while another is shot in the head in this story
What happens in "The Things They Carried"?
He carries a hatchet, a Bible, and the friendship of everyone around him
Who is Kiowa?
"It's my own character flaw. I just like to finish things."
What does Azar say?
Events are described accurately as they occurred with this device often employed in memoirs and war stories
What is "Happening Truth"?
Mark Fossey's hapless attempts to rein in his girlfriend's transformation illustrates
Man vs Destiny / Man vs Man
We learn about a veteran's suicide years after the war in this story.
What happens in "Notes"?
He obsesses about the one medal he didn't win, and likes to play checkers.
Norman Bowker
Make me out to be a good guy, okay? Brave and handsome, all that stuff."
What does Jimmy Cross say?
The focus of the narrative is not so much on describing the events themselves, but on recreating the emotional payload an event had on those who lived it.
What is "Story Truth"?
Tim O'Brien driving to the Canadian border to avoid the draft illustrates...
Man vs Destiny / Man vs Self
There's a mysterious party in the jungle in this story
What happens in "How to Tell a True War Story"?
He's afraid of dentists and really, really should look where he's stepping on.
Who is Curt Lemon?
"My girl. (...) This picture, it was the only one I had. Right here, I lost it."
What does Tim O'Brien say?
You get inside a characters mind and explore the story through his thoughts with this device
What is "Stream of Consciousness"?
Norman Bowker frustrated at the ignorant and carefree attitude of his hometown about the ongoing war in Vietnam illustrates
Man vs Society
A woman discovers her taste for 'organic' jewelry and a healer tells his strange tale of folly in this story.
What happens in "Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong"
He wears a peculiar totem around his neck, and one of the nicest things he ever did was almost throwing a colleague down a well.
Who is Henry Dobbins?
"Mellow, man. We got ourselves a nice mellow war today."
What does Ted Lavender say?
You discover the nature of a character by looking at the tenor of his actions and his words.
What is "Indirect Characterization"?
Mitchell Sanders recriminating Jimmy Cross for camping them on the waste field illustrates
Man vs Man