How do you tell a war story quotes?
“you can tell a true war story if it embarrasses you. If you don’t care for obscenity, you don’t care for the truth; if you don’t care for the truth, watch how you vote. Send guys to war, they come home talking dirty. ”
What does Azar do to the puppy?
Unable to cope with stress, Azar brutally kills Ted Lavender’s adopted puppy and uses his immaturity and youth as an excuse for his actions. O’Brien’s decision not to explain or elaborate on this event conveys the message that sometimes the facts in a true war story need no further commentary.
Why does Tim O’Brien keep writing war stories?
O’Brien keeps writing war stories as a coping mechanism and to convey the true horror of the Vietnam War. Writing these stories helps him cope with the responsibility and guilt he feels by baring his soul to himself and the world. He shares his Truth and feels better for it.
Why did O’Brien lie to his daughter?
In “Ambush” from The Things They Carried, it appears that Tim O’Brien lies to his daughter to protect her from the realities of war. Later in the book, however, it seems that he does so because the truth about what happened in Vietnam is impossible to communicate.
Why does Dobbins tell Azar to dance right?
What does Dobbins means when he says “Dance right!”? Dobbins’s comment to Azar to “Dance right” is that what Azar was doing with his mocking dance was wrong, and that if he wants to dance he should dance right without making fun of the girl.
What does the dancing girl symbolize in The Things They Carried?
The dancing girl is symbolic of this amorality and senselessness that pervades the soldier’s feelings and actions throughout their time in Vietnam, as well as those who found difficulty finding any purpose in life after the war ended (e.g. Norman Bowker).
What story did Norman Bowker want to tell his father but couldn t?
Norman imagines telling his father about how he nearly won the Silver Star. He would start by describing the Song Tra Bong river. Bowker would say he wasn’t brave enough, but his father would point out he got seven medals; he wasn’t a coward.
What does Bowker realize when he returns from the war?
What does Bowker realize when he returns from the war? He’s emotionally scarred. He has nowhere to go. He disgraced his family.
What chapter does Norman Bowker kill himself?
In the chapter titled ‘Notes’, the narrator reflects on his friend Norman Bowker’s difficulty in transitioning to post-war life after Vietnam, his suicide, and the impact of this event on his writing.
Why does Norman Bowker still feel inadequate with seven medals?
Why does Norman Bowker feel inadequate, even with seven medals? Bowker feels that his seven medals were for “common valor”, not “uncommon valor”. He feels that if he had been really brave, he would have earned the Silver Star. He imagines that his father might console him with the idea of the seven medals he did win.
What did Henry Dobbins carry emotionally?
Physical and Emotional Burdens Henry Dobbins, for example, carries his girlfriend’s pantyhose and, with them, the longing for love and comfort. Similarly, Jimmy Cross carries compasses and maps and, with them, the responsibility for the men in his charge.
What is the favorite food of Henry Dobbins?
Character Map: Henry Dobbins Henry Carried extra rations due to his size. His favorite ration meal was peaches in heavy syrup over pound cake. As well as rations, he carried his girlfriend’s pantyhose. He would wrap them around his face or neck as a security blanket or protective talisman.
What kind of person is Henry Dobbins?
Henry Dobbins The platoon’s machine gunner and resident gentle giant. Dobbins’s profound decency, despite his simplicity, contrasts with his bearish frame. He is a perfect example of the incongruities in Vietnam.