TTTC study guide questions

Up to this point, the things the men carried were essentially material. In the passage that begins describing how the men carried USO stationary, what other types of things do they carry on their bodies? What does this imply?

"Among the necessities or near-necessities were P-38 can openers, pocket knives, heat tabs, wristwatches, dog tags, mosquito repellent, chewing gum, candy, cigarettes, salt tablets, packets of Kool-Aid, lighters, matches, sewing kits, Military Payment Certificates, C rations, and two or three canteens of water." - page 2 I feel like this implies a sense of survival and a lack of wants. They are forced to carry many survival tools and have few pleasantries one them. It shows the start contrast between the non-war and the wartime world. We have 100s of things in our home that provide comfort whilst they each only have one or two.

Name two instances where the land itself becomes personified as the enemy

-"Their boots sank into the ooze, which produced a powerful downward suction, and with each step they would have to pull out hard to break the hold" (115) -"the monsoons seemed to be a lasting element of the war" (113) -"the rain was the war and you had to fight it" (113)

Why was the war so hard on the men psychologically? Give details of the hazards.

--It was so hard on the phycologically due to the fact that they had to face questioning and struggling with their humanity. whether they were a good person, did they kill someone, are they a monster, are they inherently bad or good? Genuinely questioning their morality, -Some examples of this are like where Tom talks about how he did and did not kill the man, he created this whole life for the soldier he killed just to appease his own conscience. We can see how much time he has spent thinking about this. -This is also seen with Tim questioning what brace to go to the war or to not, Whether he believes the war is for good or not. But there is no winning he feels like a coward either way -This is also seen where Norman Kitterlaty kills himself because of the tauma and physiological stress that was brought by the war. He spent so much time thinking about and justiing what he did. -There is this but also the psychological burdens of grief and love -This is seen when Rat kiley brutally murders the baby bufalo and how much he deeply hurts. Like a clawing over consuming grief, like you don't know what to do with yourself but just scream but even that's not enough. Angry at everything and not knowing what to do. -They also see many dead bodies nad people killed, which is pretty traumatizing especially wondering if you had done something different that could of saved them -The book itself is a expression of psychological trauma from O'brien and a coping mechanism

Quickly list superstitions held by people you know, even if they joke about them.

-Don't walk under a ladder -knocking on wood reverses bad luck in a way -black cats are bad luck -four leaf clovers are good luck -pennies are lucky when you find them -broken mirror is bad luck -beginners luck -tossing salt over your shoulder is good luck

Did Tim kill a Vietnamese soldier, or did he not? Defend your answer.

-He did not kill the man at least from what he tells us, although he was present during the murder it nevers states that he did anything to directly cause the death of the soldier. If everyone was guilty just because they were present during something and didn't do anything, we would all be guilty of horrific things. Whether you morally feel responsible is up to the individual and situation, but you are not inherently guilty. This is shown when Tim feels like he is and is not guilty of killing the soldier. It is his morality that he is questioning and whether or not he is morally responsible, but he is not inherently responsible for killing the soldier. If we are guilty for all the things that we didn't do we would all somewhat be guilty for genocide and truly horrific acts because for 99 percent of us there is always something more that you can do.

How does his experience at the drive-in alienate him even further? Why won't he talk to the man who says he will listen?

-He doesn't understand the way that things work and have changed in the time that he has been gone, and is seen as kind of weird and scoffed at in a way. He isn't in "the know" and is isolated from the others who seem to be annoyed and frustrated with him. It isn't a big deal but it feels big to him. Something that used to be known has become unknown; he has become an alien to even things that felt safe to him. -He doesn;t talk to the man because he is afraid of judgment and further alienation, he has been pushed far out of his comfort zone. He just had an experience with something that might make him feel more normal and make him feel even more out of place. He also might not want to burden the "voice". He also had a certain way that he wanted the conversation to go and who it was and how they would respond. He was afraid and uncomfortable.

How does Rat Kiley escape the war?

-He doped himself up and put a bullet through his foot so that he couldn't be a medic in the war anymore. He was then lifted out to a hospital in japan. And even though it was on purpose his fellow soldiers are willing to vouch it's an accident so that he doens't get in trouble. It just became "too much" and his head wouldn't "quit" he saw dead bodies everywhere and felt like he was dehumanizing everyone.

For what does Azar feel guilty?

-He feels guilty about the "dumb jokes" he made and says that they "didn't mean anything" -He also feels as if he hadn't made the jokes and "kept his mouth shut" the situation with Kiowa wouldn't have happened. And although it is irrational he almost blames himself for it -Once they started to try and pull Kiowa out of the mud azar became pale and started to hold his stomach, like the reality of the situation was setting in

Why does the unnamed young soldier (hm . . . Perhaps he represents "everyman") feel guilty?

-He feels guilty because he had turned on a flashlight to show a picture of his girlfriend to Kiowa and then the whole field exploded -He felt guilty because by turning on the flighlight he could of easily gave the enemy a location and target, which led them to getting shot and blown up

What does he think he should have done instead of following orders in making up camp?

-He feels like he should of moved to higher ground and lied to his heigherups about their whereabouts -He feels like he was also unprepared and should of followed his first impulses -he felt sick and hideous about his mistake, he feels like he should have known that something was going to happen -Even the smallest mistakes in war can lead to absolute catastrophe, it has a pebble affect and you can never really know what is going to cause someone's death -Norman says it best it's "nobody's fault" and everybody's fault"

Briefly describe Tim's thoughts about the field and how he feels it has somehow swallowed his emotions. Does his trip to the, ah, "poop" field provide some kind of catharsis? Explain.

-He feels like the field swallowed his best friend, pride, belief in himself as a man of dignity and courage, but he feels like the real emotions are just gone and swallowed completely. But he says that there was a coldness that didn't disappear. He feels like it is now flat, dreary, adn unremarkable. It's a,so bone dry except for a few marshy spots. It seems to be quite nice now with a grassy field, peaceful, yellow butterflies, and a blue sky with no rain. I feel like the trip does bring some catharsis for him. He imagines this huge scary and daunting thing but in reality it seems small, unremarkable, and peaceful. The growth that happened around the place also seems like the growth he's had in science , the incident that he's now able to see. It's also a testament to Kiowa, but there's still a reminiscence of the "poop" field with the smell

What would Norman have liked to share with someone?

-He wants to tell them the story of how he almost got the Silver Star. Perhaps to prove something to himself and receive more validation from other people, possibly making him feel less alienated and alone and affirm the fact that he is brave and not a coward. But also as a way to get the death of Kiowa off his chest because he seems to partially blame himself for it, and as a way of recognizing him.

Ultimately, who or what do you think is to blame for what happens in war?

-I think that human civilization as a whole is to blame for war, before civilization there were no wars, and I do wonder if it is more human nature or a construct of the society and world civilization that we live in -Some of the main causes for war are economic gain, civil wars, nationalism, territorial gain, religion, nationalism. It happens when some group of people want something from another group of people (way oversimplified version) -There are however, cases in which there is a person that is not totally to be blamed but can hold some of the responsibility for war. For instance hitler, whilst he is not totally to blame for the war he contributed huge parts, or Putin. -I do feel as if war is inherently evil but in today's society it can definitely be necessary and it would be less moral than to just keep the peace

Why does Norman feel so alienated from the people of his hometown?

-No one understand the scope of what he went through and even old war veterans can't truly understand his predicament -He also feels isolated because he is around so much of what could have been, he is not only isolated with his experiences in the war but also with leaving his life on hold. Everything else kept going and he has to catch up -He also is afraid of judgment and what they will think so her further alienates himself in that way -He tries to compensate for this by circling back around and finding parallels just trying to find a similarity and find something that he knows and feels safe to him. But this blurs the line between Vietnam and home which in a way exacerbates the alienation

Contrast the clean lake in Sunset Park with the contaminated field in Vietnam. How is each representative of the people found there? Why do you think Norman jumps in the lake?

-The people found in Sunset Park are ordinary, seemingly happy lives unburdened of violence. They are clean not only in a more physical sense but also clean with the guilt of war and the blood spilt on your own hands. They are clean and peaceful, which are both more representative of purity and innocence. They also have a sense of obviousness at least from Norman's point of view, clean of the information -The contaminated field represents the bloody warfare going on. The contamination of your purity and innocence, contaminated your conscience and feeling of guilt and shame. Dirt also symbolizes someone vile, mean, or worthless which is a lot of how Norman feels about himself. It's a lot about how Norman sees the two different sides and himself. -/it is a metaphor/physical manifestation of his story coming to a full circle. It parreles the situation with Kiowa. And also kind of to put himself back in that place. It represents his obsession with what happened and shows how his current life parallels war, or how he sees war in everyday life.

How are these people different from Norman?

-They are all living happily in the life that he might have had, he has experienced the horrific war but also wasn't able to live his life. He is behind everyone and they have moved on without him. -they also don't hold the weight of anyone on their soldiers, it seems like metaphorically Norman and circling and drowning. -He doesn't feel like anyone can grasp why he feels the way he feels -they don't understand war

How do you explain the fact that these men have become such a tight group and Tim is left out? Consider why some veterans who have been in battle still join with their war buddies even though the war they served in took place many years ago.

-They have become tight because of the horrific experience they have gone through that really forces you to cling to one another. They are connected through horrible emotional experiences and are the only ones who truly understand each other. Tim went through a lot of this with them but now isn't able to connect with them so much on that deeper level anymore, especially when he wants to hurt someone that is a part of their "family" -This also relates to why veterans go back to their old war buddies, they are the only ones that remotely understand what they went through. There is a human need to be understood. They also have become quite close friends and everyone tries to stay in connection with close friends

Of all these people, the person who most likely could have understood Norman's angst is his father. Why is that? What hinders Norman from unburdening himself to his father and thus finding peace?

-We know that from before Norman didn't want his dad to care about all the medals and fame -He feels like many of the medals are for ordinary braver not that he doesn't deserve them but it doesn't mean quite that much. He feels like when he talks to his father he is basing all of his worth on the type of medal he got. He feels like a coward and is struggling with a lot of feelings that his father won't understand or at least he doesn't think that he will. His father seems to be more surface level with the medals rather than the depth that Norman wants to talk about. He also sees that his father's coping mechanism is distracting and avoids neither of which would apply to talking to him. Maybe he is also scared that he won't live up to his father's expectations and he will be disappointed. fear.

Through Norman's experiences in these chapters, O'Brien seems to imply that the people in one's hometown can't really relate to the Vietnam experience. How does Norman cope with that situation while driving? What about three years later?

-When he is driving he seems to relate everything back to the war, as if it is seemingly mirroring what once was. It feels as if he is putting himself back into the war, perhaps thinking if he never left never let kiowa go he would never have to deal with the consequences -he also draws out long conversations in his own mind about talking with others and controlling their reactions. Have an imaginary release but is to scared to actually do it -I feel as if he is scared, rightly so and cannot take the chance to get past the line -I feel as if I somewhat see myself in him or perhaps not me right now but me a year ago, and perhaps by him mirroring himself then and now causes me to see the similarities within myself. I don't blame him at all for anything that he did but to me not talking about what is going on and letting it eat you inside out is cowardice. Letting something take over and consume you until you have nothing left. He was too scared to do what he needed, as was I. But I got lucky and he did not. -He dealt with it later by committing sucide; something done not out of self hatred but of fear and in a small way hope.

What human actions have you heard in the news that seem as unexplainable as Mary Anne's story?

-Why did Putin invade Ukraine, I understand not wanting Nato closer to him and for the land. But it is absolutely destroying the economy and the country in general. The citizens of Russia are suffering, why is it worth it to claim part of a country if you are committing war crimes and obliterating your own economy -why is child marriage still very much legal in the United States -Why is PG & E still allowed to be in charge of California's power? They have caused so many wildfires. They also don't use the money they get for infrastructure or anything helpful -This was a while ago but I still don't understand quite why the Georgia governor attempted to sue the atlanta mayor for putting on a mask mandate in 2020 -why drug companies are allowed to charge so much over what they need for cures to different diseases. People need these things to live, they are not optional. Gene therapy for cystic fibrosis is 250,000 dollars a year, who can afford that? Epipens are over 300 dollars and expire every year, and the drug company absolutely doesn't need to charge that much. Why is healthcare a business?

Why doesn't Tim accept Jorgensen's apology? How does Tim explain his position?

-even though Jorgenson has a very reasonable explanation for why what happened happened (paralyzed by fear) Tim can't accept his apology because: -he feels almost betrayed when Rat Kiley left and Bobby replaced him, Bobby already went wrong when he just wasn't rat, Tim has misplaced feelings about the "loss" of Rat Kiley that he places of Bobby -He also is really mad at what happened to him and then places that anger on Bobby thinking about what could have been, and also anger around his "severed" connection with his buddies and the oslation that he feels -He says that he absolutely hates Bobby and feels disgusted with him. He feels like he almost killed him, and wanted to hurt him the same way he felt.

Ironically, when Azar carries the prank further than Tim wanted, what reaction does it prompt in Jorgensen? What does that and his subsequent action tell Tim about the man whom he had thought to be a stupid bungler?

-he didn't "go nuts" he kept his cool and calmly handled the situation by firing at the target a sandbag. Tim says that he was relaxed, not "twitching or screaming". He was almost graceful about it. And smiled after it happened -It tells him that he has matured and is almost a better man than him, much more mature and forgiving. He's not some scared little kid anymore that has no idea what to do. Jorgensen feels bad for Tim and it reflects back onto Tim's own immaturity, fear, and stupidity

What difficulty does Lt. Cross have in thinking about the men under his command?

-he was trained to get rid of their identities and think of them as identical copies of a singular soldier; "interchangeable units of command" -He states "it was difficult sometimes but her tried to avoid that sort of thinking" -He wants to think of the men as human beings; not dehumanize them more than they already are -He also seems to have a bit of trouble in remembering individual names

What place does Linda's story have in a book about the war in Vietnam?

-it makes a deep connection between love and death as well as grief -It shows a lot about Tim's storytelling and understanding of his power to almost bring back the dead. Kind of shows us a new perspective of storytelling that he has, and maybe somewhat why he does it. -Shows teh living on through stories -He also thinks of her when he thinks of death and beauty, the connections of opposites -Shows deep real love contrasted with something so cruel, the love hate relationship with love that they have with war -Shows human connection

As he drives, he sees others several times, but they pay no attention to him. Name four such individuals. Why can't they help?

-man fixing his motorboat on the lake -woman in pedal pushers fishing -workmen laboring to set up for the fireworks -two little boys truding on a 7 mile hike -waterskiers who were tanned and athletic -high school band packing up their instruments -They can't help because they don't understand the horrific things that happened to him, and seemingly is congratulated when he feels so much shame and guilt around everything. He also feels alienated and isolated, not feeling like he is too different and can't relate to them, he is afraid of their reactions and that it might backfire. They are ordinary people doing ordinary things and despite thinking of himself as ordinary and not worthy, he also doesn't feel worthy of burden someone or scaring them, maybe he is terrified of their reaction

What early clues are we given that Mary Anne began to change?

-she cuts her hair and starts wearing it in a bandana -stops wearing jewelry and makeup or fingernail filing -wants to know more about the enemy and takes more risks -became more serious and hardened, and starts to lose her innocence -became fascinated with the "adrenaline buzz" -her new composure in times of action -cared less about hygiene -adversity to going home -changing her mind about the white picket fence life that had been laid out ahead of her -less laughing, no nervous giggling -lower pitched voice -much quieter -starts to come in late at night

Good playwrights often use comic relief after an act that has been heavy or tragic. List five incidents from "Spin" that make that chapter a kind of comic relief.

1.Kiowa teaching a rain dance to Rat Kiley and Dave Jensen 2.Ted Lavender adopting an orphan puppy 3.The story about they guy going to AWOL shacking up with a nurse, and then coming back 4. "Follow Dink you go Pink", the instance with the man and going across the mines when the man said goodbye 5.Normal Becker and Henry Dobbins playing checkers 6.Azar makes a joke about running out of amo 7. Michell Sanders sends his body lice back to his draft board in ohio

The narrator gives ten features of a true war story. Skim the chapter "How to Tell a True War Story" to list the features.

A true war story is... -never moral, doesn't instruct or encourage or encourage virtue. It doesn't model human behavior or provide any lesson. -Doesn't uplift you -no rectitude or virtue -there is "absolute and uncompromising allegiance to obscenity and evil" -It embarrasses the person telling it -It is difficult to separate what happened vs what seemed to happen -It cannot be believed in many cases -You cannot even tell a true war story in some cases -There is no generalization or abstraction or analysis -Tell the truth, though the truth is ugly -There is no point, or the main point hits you years later -You can tell if it's true by the questions you ask, and if the answers matter -a true war story is never about war it;s a out love, memory, sorrow, and so many other things

Explain the author's description of life being a burden after one has come through the panic of experiencing the fire of warfare?

After going through warfare there is uncertainty around death and knowing that you could die at any second for many reasons. The PTSD and anxiety that stems from that creates this "burden", and the fear around death and paranoia can be very extreme.

Why do many hotels not have a thirteenth floor? Why won't many people walk under a ladder?

Both are thought to bring misfortune upon you. By omitting a thirteenth floor or not walking under a ladder you will have better luck. Neither is true. We just often notice more bad things going on when we think that bad things are going to happen. Human also often want reasons of justification for things and the theory of bad luck often satisfies this,

Why does Lt. Cross react to this death as he does?

He feels guilty and responsible for Lavender's death, he feels that if he hadn't been so careless or caught up in his fantasies that Lavender would still be alive. He feels lots of grief and melancholy as well as sorrow. He also self-blames and has deep feelings or remorse.

The two men make a pact; why doesn't Dave keep the pact when Lee is wounded?

Dave doesn't keep the pact because Lee is begging him not to kill him. He says "Jesus man don't kill me" and even says they can "sew it back on" (clearly can't) in an effort to avoid death. Dave wants to respect Lee's wishes and believes that it is the most moral thing to do. He doesn't want to kill a man who doesn't want to be killed (when that man is his comrade).

What ironies do you detect in Ted Lavender's death?

Despite being in the middle of a war and having many battles on a consistent basis, as well as the danger that Strunk was going through, Ted Lavender died doing something quite ordinary. He was coming back from peeing and considering all the other much greater dangers they go through it is ironic that he died doing something so normal.

At the end of "Spin," the author gives reasons for writing stories. List three purposes stories can serve.

Education and allowing people to know what happened without first hand encounters Enjoyment and pleasure, it evokes emotions in you Preserving moments in time and having things that are able to exist forever Teach moral lessons

Why does Lee's death relieve Dave of an enormous weight?

Even though Lee begs Dave not to kill him he is in a delirious state and we can't (including Dave) help but question whether that is what he truly wants. Or just plea to stay alive out of desperation. They had made a pact and it was quite serious so it is natural for Dave to question the morality of breaking it. When Lee actually dies there is no need for the pact anymore because he is already dead, this lifts a huge moral weight off of Daves shoulders. He doesn't have to worry about keeping the pact anymore.

The narrator knows nothing about the young man whose death he blames on himself. Why do you think he makes up a biographical sketch of the man's life?

He does this out of guilt but also as a way of honoring the man that he killed. When you know the whole story of someone it makes them much harder to dehumanize. By creating a biographical sketch of the man's life he is able to make him more human and give him the life that he will never have. It is partially a testament to him. He also emphasizes with the soldier so much that he sees himself in him, and wonders what would happen the opposite way around. He sees himself in the soldier.

Why does Kiowa want to talk about Ted Lavender's death? What is the dilemma he finds when he thinks about it?

He doesn't understand why he feels relief that it is not him instead of mourning Lavender's death. He feels like he is "unchristian" and can't make himself really feel remorse or sorrow over the death, he feels detached from it in a way. He also needs to process his own fears surrounding death

What aspect of war is presented with the incident about the soldiers who are in the fog-shrouded mountains for seven straight nights, who then waste napalm and trillions of dollars of fire power to burn the mountains?

Fear and the unknown can lead to chaos, lack of judgment, and destruction. This is seen not only in this example but also in the very way that the US got into the war. The paranoia that was surrounding communism caused the Americans to go into a war without truly looking into the person they were backing up. Why were the people of Vietnam so persistent on fighting, or whether it was actually a good idea in general. The US spent so much money and lives fighting a war that seems so unreasonable today. Similar to the way that the soldiers felt in the moment when they ordered the weapons. Both of these were rash decisions and led to mass destruction. The fear of something or the need to be heros can be so persistent that it becomes the sole focus and guides all of our decisions. Mass communism is scary but there were many other aspects of the war that needed to be thought about. Just like how the music was scary but that wasn't grounds to burn down an entire mountain. We are always afraid of what is different or unknown like communism or hearing vietnamese music up on top of a fog-shrouded mountain.

When she returns from her night foray with the Green Berets, what do the men notice about her relationship with Mark Fossie?

From far away they looked like "the happiest people on the planet" and a "model of togetherness". However, up close they had a very strained relationship. Their relationship was tentative and false; a "mask" that they had to keep up. There was a lot of tension and Mark Flossie seemed afraid to let Mary Anne get even a few steps away from him. They also "helo hands like they were afraid to let go".

Define grunt and hump as they are used in this story.

Grunt is the word used for the soldiers themselves, and hump is the word used for traveling or tramping through the land by foot. "humping' the hills.

Why does Kiowa think that it is wrong to dig their foxholes there? How do you feel about it?

He believes that it is disrespectful and wrong because they are in a church/churchlike place which is where God resides. He believes that it is bad luck to camp at a religious and holy site which he considers sacred and special.They are also setting up war in a way which he believes is wrong to bring war and violence into a holy site. I agree with him although I may not originally have reservations about setting up camp in a church, it is disrespectful to the people who do consider it sacred and use it a holy place. I am religious myself and it is really important to many people that I know, the defining factor for some. To disrespect that and take that away from a person/group of people is wrong and greedy.

Why does Lt. Cross burn Martha's letters?

He blames his distraction as one of the causes for the death of Ted Lavender, he feels as if Ted would still be alive if not for his carelessness and daydreaming. He does this a symbolic act letting go of his fantasies and bringing himself back into reality, he wants to be there for his men,

Why can't Tim forget what he has done?

He can't forget it because he feels so much shame and guilt about taking his life. He was already dealing with so many moral issues with the war in general, but after killing someone particularly when he isn't in mortal peril this exacerbates everything. He can't decide whether to forgive himself or not, and it makes him question his own morality and somewhat his humanity. It was something that was really traumatic and he also clearly has PTSD surrounding this, possibly flashbacks from what he said. It is ingrained in his brain because he can't decide whether or not what he did was okay and if he is a good person. He also can't forget about the entire life the man had in front of him and what would've happened if he were one the receiving end.

How will these experiences in battle affect Lt. Cross's relationship to the men under his command?

He distances himself and remains more composed but attaches himself more emotionally, he puts them above his own fantasies about Martha. And works harder trying to let go of emotions that might distract him from his line of duty that might possibly appear in a way that he is becoming more emotionally distant when in reality it is quite the opposite.

Why is Rat Kiley so disappointed when Curt Lemon's sister doesn't answer his letter?

He feels this way because he poured so much emotions dn grief into the letter he sent her. He also was very vulnerable and showed a lot of emotion and there was and still is a lot of social stigma around that. We can really see the breath of his anger when he calls her a cooze which even the author finds significant, so it's not just a social disconnect between then and now.. He is also disappointed and has misplaced anger around his friend's death. By contacting his family he was hoping to reconnect in some way with his dead comrade and hold on to him for a little longer.

Near the end of the story, Rat attributes Mary Anne's change to her desire to understand herself and says that desire becomes an obsession. What does he imply can happen to people who study themselves too intensely?

He implies that when you study yourself too intensely you can lose yourself. Mary Anne loses herself physically and emotionally when she does this. She physically disappears and is lost forever. Emotionally she completely changes and becomes withdrawn, animalistic, and barbaric. She loses all of what we think makes us human; her humanity has been lost and her entire self is gone as well. She seems to be left as a shell of the person that she once was. This connects to her but also is almost a parallel for ptsd and how many of soldiers felt lost after the war. Her story is obviously an exaggerated example of this but it is still very much a metaphor.

How do you explain Rat Kiley's cruelty to the baby water buffalo and then cradling his rifle and crying as he walks away?

He is hurting so badly and so angry at his friend's death that he wants to hurt something as bad as his pain feels. He doesn't know how to handle the emotions that he is feeling and wants to let out his pain, he holds so much anger to what happened and wants the whole world to feel that. He takes this out on the baby buffalo letting out a slew of emotions with the violence that he commits. But after the release of this intense anger a flood of grief comes through. This incident is caused by the intense emotional rollercoaster piritu carly anger and grief Rat kiley feels about his friends death. When we are hurt we tend to hurt and lash out at the things we love. Our impulse control goes out the window and all of this is exacerbated in war. High tensions equal high emotions.

Tim is relating this incident many years later. With what is he still dealing?

He is still dealing with much of the guilt from the incident, and is still really just trying to process what happened and how he feels about it; whether or not to forgive himself. He says, "Even now I haven't finished sorting it out. Sometimes I forgive myself, other times I don't" (95). He also is dealing with the PTSD from the incident and the war in general that still affects his life. He can still describe it in great detail recounting every second of what happened, something that ingrained in your brain doesn't easily go away. He struggles with himself and whether he is a morally good person, we see things before in the book so it's not a surprise that this affects him so much.

What does Lt. Cross mean when he speaks about grieving for Martha because she belongs to a world that isn't quite real? How does that partly explain why so many people treated Vietnam veterans badly when they returned home?

He means that they belong to a very different world at the moment. He bleongs to the terror and grilsyness of war whist she belongs to the world of youthfulness, college, and poetry. He has had much of his own humanity taken from him, the world that she belongs to doesn't seem quite real to him. I feel like because their world we're so different from the soijers they couldn't really emphasize what happened to them, and that lack of understanding led to their mistreatment. The people were also so mad at the war and what had happened and the souljers were a tangible reminder and representation of that even though it wasn't their fault or choice (draftd) to be in the war but rather government authorities. But the people couldn't take their anger out on them so thus the souljers became the victims of this misplaced anger when all they really needed was help.

The narrator quotes the familiar "war is hell" but then adds that it is "not the half of it." What does he mean?

He means that war is hell but that label doesn't come halfway to describing what war actually is. War is horrific and hellish but there is so much more to it. Describing war as hell doesn't show the million other things that are going on. The narrator even talks about the beauty and love within war. The author talks about war as hellish sometimes, but that doesn't justify what it really is like. There are a million emotions and feelings that are wrapped up in war, so while it is a hell that doesn't justify or represent even half of what it actually is.

What do you see as the significance of Tim noticing first a butterfly and then gnats on the face of the young man?

He noticed the gnats because he was feeling much guilt and shame, he knew that the man was dead and the gnants represented that. The butterfly resembles his life and how he was still alive, as well as how the man's life could have turned out. Butterflies also represent stability and transformation, whilst gnats represent quick changes in life. He notices the gnats. The gnats show the death of the man and how the smallest change had such a big effect in both of their lives as well as the ones who care about them, they represent the guilt and shame Tim feels. The butterflies show the transformation of what happened and as well as the world/life of the man and his possible future. The contrast of the two helps to bring more significance to the small details that Tim notices as well, and helps us to look deeper into the other symbolism throughout the chapter.

What rationalization does Tim give for throwing the grenade?

He rationalized it by saying that he did it instinctively and that he was "terrified". He had "no thoughts about killing," and he felt his "mind go empty" (94). He then later goes back perhaps out of guilt and further explains the situation saying that he was in no mortal peril. He said that he would have just passed by, he rationalizes it but then says things that somewhat make his claims have less validity in a way. This is part of him wrestling with himself and whether what he did was moral or not.

Tim discusses why he writes/tells stories. What does he say?

He says that it separates the incident from yourself, it objectifies it -you are able to carry it forward -Even though he doesn't feel like it is a form of therapy he feels like it helped him cope with memories that might of "ended in paralysis or worse" -It is a way to get rid of the shame and guilt and things that are haunting you -"the simple need to talk"

What is the moral that Mitchell Sanders decides on about that incident? What does he mean?

He says that the moral is quiet. He means that when there is nothing going on and it is just peaceful the world is better off. If everyone would just be a little quieter and try to understand the world would be a better place. Before he talks about no one listening or understanding, but then he turns to just quiet. Pure peaceful silence, no fighting, no war. This applies to the war itself but also aspects of civilian life as well. Think about what's happening now with the political division of our country.

When Mitchell Sanders tells the story about the AWOL soldier, he says the man couldn't wait to get back to combat. What does he say about the effect of peace on the soldier and what does he mean?

He says that the peace "hurts" him, it doesn't feel good despite what one would think. Perhaps because he went into the war whilst his brain was still very much developing he came to think of war as a comfort. The soldiers are so used to it that they are attracted almost addicted to violence and war. He is still thinking in terms of being a soldier rather than a human.

Azar mocks him and how he destroyed the man, but Kiowa stays to comfort him through the ordeal. For what two reasons would Kiowa want to do that?

He sympathizes with Tim and he believes in doing good as he is a very religious person. He and Tim are very similar with their moral views and conservations about the war. He can very easily put himself in Tim's shoes and this allows him to empathize with his situation. He believes in doing the right thing and helping Tim as not only a person but as a friend. We see this empathy in the past and know that part of this is due to his strong relationship with God, like where he focuses on conserving the church. He relates to Tim and has a lot of the moral values that make him want to help him.

The last four sentences in the chapter "Notes" are ambiguous. What do you think O'Brien is saying here?

I believe that he is trying to convey that the story here was his "truth" and it was O'Briens truth and perception. He has often played around with the idea of story truth vs actual truth, and I think that because he told his truth he wanted to make sure that we knew that it wasn't normans truth. he doesn't feel as if he can adequately provide a true story to Norman, and doesn't instead in his own story truth. He also doesn't know if we will understand what Norman went through and wants to take the blame off of him, and even so I think that the only reason he feels comfortable publishing it is because he is dead. it also intrigues the reader and urges the to continue to read the book

Tim's daughter Kathleen accuses him of having an obsession with the war because he writes war stories. Do you agree or disagree? Defend your position.

I disagree what he went through was a very traumatic experience and it was very emotionally impactful for him as a person, especially when his mind/brain was very much still developing. Him writing and talking about it is better than holding it inside and waiting for it to burst, it's therapeutic and a way to cope with what happened. He is also letting people know what he went through and educating them about it. Particularly after the way that he was treated.

What insights have you gained by reading the experiences of these men?

I feel like I have gained a lot of insight on firstly how women were thought of at the time, even though it wasn't that long ago it's interesting to think about how far we have come. I feel like I have more of an appreciation for soldiers and veterans, many of which are currently homeless, and what they actually went through. As well as the Vietnamese people who seem to be treated very poorly and their humanity is completely disregarded. There are so many gruesome parts of war and it really changes people like Norman carrying the thumb, having to be a killer takes away a lot of your own humanity. My grandfather was drafted and according to my dad he never has talked about the war, he thinks that he is frightened by a lot of the things that he did. Is it really ethical to force people to kill others, war isn't ethical at all but in a free country should people be forced to do something that goes against their very core beliefs. I feel like I have gained a new respect for pacifists, I understand that violence is sometimes necessary but people shouldn't be forced to commit it. Especially in a country where we have the largest army in the world without anyone having to be drafted. Just something I'm now starting to think about.

Why does the Vietnamese farmer raise the shovel and then lower it again? What message does Kathleen get? What is Tim's interpretation?

Kathleen feels like the man is mad at them or upset in some way. Tim believes that all of that is said and done; it's in the past. He seems to think it is more of a recognition of solidarity accounting what happened and kind of representing all the pain that happened.

What's the point of these two chapters? Overall, what is O'Brien's or meaning here? What would be the impact of losing one of these chapters from the book-in other words, what if there were only "Enemies" or only "Friends" in the book?

I feel like O'Brien's main message is that there is lots of moral confusion going on with the soldiers. There are no clear lines to what is right and wrong; enemy of friend. This is seen throughout the conflict with Lee and Dave, and with many of the soldiers killing civilians because they didn't know the difference between them and the enemy. Without one of the chapters we wouldn't be able to see a lot of the struggles they had when they felt like the enemy was all around them. Identifying who was safe and who wasn't started to get harder and harder and O'Brien wanted to illustrate that. It also contributes to the growing topic of morality throughout the book.

This chapter is titled "The Things They Carried." Notice that the necessities or near-necessities are just the beginning of their load. What is the point of the author enumerating the minor things individuals added to their packs?

I feel like the author does this to make note of the smaller details and force us to look into things that we might otherwise skip over. I feel like there is much symbolism within it and by taking the time to describe things that usually wouldn't even be included as they are so mundane, the autour really forces us to take a deeper look. The author characterizes each person through the things that they carry and also describes the setting and different important things to note through the small "mundane" things that they each carry with them on a daily basis.

Most of us have not experienced a battle, but we have experienced trauma or loss of some kind. When you reflect on your experience, which of the reactions, if any, do you relate to in this chapter? What was your trauma or loss? How did you cope?

I have lost a brother which is the hardest thing that I have ever had to go through. I held on to these fantasies where he was still alive and I lived with him over the years and still do it to this day. I was very young when it happened so I was very confused. As I have gotten older I have gone through the cycle of grief again when I have the ability to actually process it. I carry this weight around with me every day and look to help other people that suffer from the same diseases as he did. There is no tangible thing that I carry with me on a daily basis but I definitely carry around the emotions, and there are many things that represent him for me. Pirtuarly his grave site and I experience some of that longing because as I have moved states there is less access to be able to go and visit him.

Jimmy asks Tim not to mention this story and Tim agrees. Yet, obviously he does mention it. Why do you think he tells Jimmy's story anyway?

I think that he tells it because it's important to him and he feels like it's not just his story to tell. He can't really have a book with one of the characters being completely flat. I also feel like he has a lack of respect for Jimmy, hopefully because of some of the things that he talked about with Martha but I'm not e

Rat compares Mary Anne to an animal and notes that she is now a member of the zoo. How is that comparison appropriate for the Vietnam experience?

In Vietnam every soldier is forced to behave like an animal on some level to survive in the harsh wilderness and the guerilla warfare that the war was made up of. They had to use the more barbaric and animal instincts to simply survive. They also made many choices that defied ethical and moral laws making them seem less human and in turn much more animalistic. In Vietnam there were no rules or even specific grounds to fight on. Everything was chaos, a very unconventional war that was more animalistic and barbaric than others that came before. They had to let go of their humanity when they entered the war.

How is war ambiguous? Give an example from history.

It forces humans into situations where there is no moral solution. Is it really moral to murder another human being and to take their life, but is it moral not too if they are supporting a horrific cause. Even in the war where there was an obvious right and wrong side (WW2), how moral is it to murder german soildjers who were brainwashed. But is it moral not too because they are supporting genocide, how morally resposible are the german citizens for what happned. Is it moral to bomb places that will hurt your enemy but also in turn hurt civilians. What is worth sacrificing. In WW2 even though it essenitaly ended the war was it moral to bomb hiroshima and nagasaki, but would it be moral not too and continue fighting when there was something that would totally end it. War proposes so many moral questions with no answer, both answers are wrong but right at the same time. There are no correct answers, and no winners. War forces us into moral situations where we cannot make an ethical choice, or the ethical choice we make isn't ethical to other people.

Many years later Lt. Cross and Tim meet and reminisce. Describe Cross as he is several years after the war. How has he coped with Ted Lavender's death? With Martha's rejection? Has he become the man of strength he determined that he would be? Why do he and Tim change from drinking coffee to gin?

It still seems as if lavender's death lay's very heavily on him and he still very much blames himself for what happened. It will never "go away", he still holds his death very close to his heart and hasn't seemed to get over at all. He seems to be more accepting of Martha's rejection. A sad acceptance, and he still holds hope that she will come back to him. I feel like he has, he seems to consider other people's feelings and put them first which is what he wanted to do. He wanted to lead his men and put them first before any fantasies in his head which I feel like he's done to some degree. They change to gin to lighten up the mood after talking about some heavy greifstricekening things.

What is ironic about the item that Norman Bowker carries?

Norman Bowker is characterized as a peaceful and non-violent man, but he carries around the thumb of a dead vietnamese soldier and young at that. It's ironic how he carries around this item that is so grisly and violent whilst his demeanor and values seem to be quite the opposite.

One often hears that nobody really listens any more. What is the value of being a good listener to others?

Listening is one of the most fundamentally important parts of a relationship.When you listen to someone it makes them feel understood and heard, as well as loved. It makes them feel like they matter and that they are important to you; you care about them. You are also better able to learn about someone and form a deeper connection with them. No relationship is one sided.

How is Curt Lemon's death almost the opposite of Ted Lavender's?

People (mainely rats) really seem to care about Curt's death, there is a lot of talk about the grief surrounding his death. Whether that is the Buffalo story, the letter, the talk of beauty and morality, ect. People seem to care about Curt's death, however Ted Lavender's death is cared about but only because of the guilt. After he dies they all just smoke his weed, it is seen as much more ordinary than Curt's death. More value is placed on Curt's death while Ted's is seen as an ordinary thing. It is only really mentioned because they needed a way to convey Jimmy's guilt and give him a turning point. Ted Lavender is just sent up in a chopper while they smoke his weed. Curt's death is agonized over by Rat and it impacts the rest of the crew as well. Even the differences in the way they were sent off, in a chopper vs agonizing scrapped off of a tree while singing a song for his memory.

What is Rat Kiley's reputation among the men? Why is he the right one to tell this story?

Rat kiley had a reputation for exaggeration and orverstapendt, the ment had a normal "procedure to discount sixty or seventy percent of anything that he had to say". But Tim O'brien also said that he wasn't trying to lie or deceive them, he just wanted to tell the truth in a way that you would know exactly how he felt. He was the right one to tell this story because the story is very emotionally intense. Without the purpose of trying to make the story emotionally intense or exaggerating certain points it wouldn't get the main message across. She might have not actually worn a necklace or tongues but that helped to represent the savage/animal she had become. It is necessary for this story to be "true" to bend the truth and overstate it because that's the only way that the story would be understood.

In what ways is Mary Anne Bell the typical American teenager when she arrives? How is she different from the depiction of the Green Berets?

She is friendly, innocent, bubbly, and very curious. She tends to ask a lot of questions. She was also described as coy and flirtatious, and very happy. She is almost the opposite of a green beret when she first arrives, she talks and gets along with everyone very curious about what they have to say. She doesn't really know much and hasn't seen hard things, or been hardened in general like the green berets. The green berets are very stiff and deadened. Mary Anne was bubbly and wanted to get to know everyone, she was "chattering" away all the time and very innocent. Practically the exact opposite of what a green beret is. She also has never killed anything and still seems to have that innocent morality.

How are Mary Anne's curiosity and her desire to learn assets at first?

She learns to help out as a medic and is enjoyed by everyone around her. They think that she is very "cool" in the way that she isn't a dainty girl scared of everything, Rat talks about her flaws but focuses a lot on how smart she is. A "d cup" with a "trainer sized" mind, a man's ideal woman in a way. She wasn't too forward at that point and still was very innocent and palatable enough, she was in the perfect goldilocks zone. She still has the sweet happy bubbly personality but toned down enough so that the soldiers don't see it as annoying. They appreciate her helping out and love having a woman around considering they haven't seen one in months, she isn't too manly yet or too hardened.

When Mark and Rat enter the Green Beret hootch, they see and hear strange things. Review the paragraph that describes the room with the candles burning. Read the paragraph you have found in the text and then read the rest of the section, until the next time Rat pauses during his story. What are the fears Rat implies in that passage?

Some of the fears that he implies are death and the fear of killing. The fear of losing your morality and losing yourself. There is the fear of the jungle and the wilderness, the dark and mysterious. I feel like many of the men are scared of the green berets in general because of what they represent, the dark barbaric side of the war they almost don't seem human to them and their hootch reflects that. There is also the fear of the enemy and jungle wilderness, just their surroundings in general. Rat implies many of these fears by describing the setting around them. Talking about the smells and general atmosphere of the the hootch,

Study the passages in the story that describe the scenes of fighting. Then comment on how the Vietnam War was different from the picture one usually has of war.

The fighting was much more discombobulated; they seemed to be going into different villages and just tearing everything down instead of having individual battles. The citizens and bystanders seemed to be getting hurt a lot more, and they didn't often connect or make cohesive plans with other soldiers as well.

What does the narrator say is the heaviest burden of all?

The responsibilities that are placed upon the men, their duties.

What are Green Berets and how are they described?

The green berets are a secretive unit (special forces) that mostly operate separate from other military operations. They went out on special ambushes and were largely in the wild juggle a lot of the time. They are described and very introverted and secretive. As well as suspicious and "loners by nature". They sneak around and are very vicious and merciless in a way, there are bones and a tiger head in their sleeping quarters. They don't really talk to anyone, not even to each other. Everyone seems to be at least a little bit scared of them.

What is the irony in Lee Strunk's reaction when Dave asks him if they are now square?

The irony is that Lee really did steal Dave's jack-knife, meaning that Dave's reaction to punching him in the face might have been a bit over reaction but it was fair. Lee got punished for something that he actually did, meaning that Dave was on a level playing field and never really needed to break his own nose to fulfill the social code. It also somewhat flips the tables and characterizes Lee as almost cruel which could be significant later in the book.

What is the significance of the pebble Lt. Cross carries in his mouth? What does this action say about aloneness?

The pebble is the good luck charm of the woman that he is deeply in love with, it represents his fantasies as well as his longing. Because she never has or will love him as much as he loved her, but it represents hope towards the relationship but other aspects of his life as well. It shows the longing and isolation he feels from people back at home whom he loves, as well as holding on to fantasys in his own head to prevent him from being lonely and facing the alonessnes in his own reality.

In the twelve times that Norman Bowker drives around the lake, he thinks about three people in whom he cannot now confide. Who are they, and why can't they help?

The people that he believes that he can confide in are Sally (his old girlfriend), Max (old friend), and his father -He cannot confide in Max due to the fact that he had drowned before the draft in the nearby lake, the "drowning" seems to be almost a parallel to the death of Kiwowa and contributes the the circular parallel idea -he cannot talk to Sally because she has another life now, perhaps one that he would have had if he had not been in the draft. She seems to almost represent what could have been and what was supposed to happen. He also feels as if she cannot handle what he has to say and doesn't want to disrupt her current life; he doesn't want to burden her -He cannot talk to his father because he seems to have "his own war to deal with" and is maybe afraid that he will not relate to what he has to say and afraid of being even more alienated and alone if his father can't accept him or understand him. His father's method of coping also seems to be avoidance and distraction, neither of which involve talking things out or facing things head on. Perhaps he's also afraid of being a coward, as he mentions a lot about bravery and almost throughout the book like he's trying to prove something.

What does the narrator mean by saying that the story was a love story and that stories are "never about war"?

The story is not about war but about the love, memories, and emotions that are felt in the war. It is a story about love which can be painful. The story is about the emotions that are felt in the war and how they affected the soldiers, Curt Lemon's death is described as something beautiful. There is a lot of focus on the beauty of his death rather than the negativity. There is guilt, death, and memory all of which are proopent of war stories and love stories. The author is also pointing out that war stories and love stories are often one in the same, love and war are inherently interconnected. Stories are never about the war itself, they are always about the way we felt in the moment. They are about the emotions that are a product of the war but their own separate thing, war itself wouldn't matter if it didn't affect the way that we feel.

Why does the woman cry over the buffalo story but like the grenade story? What is the deeper meaning of his saying that she wasn't listening?

The woman liked the grenade story because it was very generalized and unspecified, it also appeals to her morals. She didn't have much connection to any of the characters but understands that it is a noble act and is very textbook ethical. She doesn't have to feel any emotional confusion or strain during the story. In the buffalo story it is very descriptive and lots of emotions are wrapped up in it, there is emotional confusion and it takes work to understand what happened if you were not there in the moment. She just sees an animal dying and isn't willing to put the work in to truly see the purpose behind why he died, before she felt like there was a reason but now it doesn't make sense. When things don't make sense to us we tend to dislike them and look for the easiest way out. The author's deeper meaning in saying that she wasn't listening is that she wasn't understanding, and didn't want to understand. She didn't try to grasp the concept of the story or try to understand the soldiers. The need to be understood and understanding is a common theme throughout the book. and was also significant for vietnam vets in general. People didn't understand what happened to them and misplaced their anger at what happened with the war onto the people who were really victims of it.

What does Dave Jensen gain by breaking his own nose?

There is a social code in the army that represents what little morality they have left and that is to "get even" or "be on equal standing" with each other. Dave Jensen felt like there would be retribution from Lee or the other soldiers because he broke Lee's nose, he was afraid that they were going to hurt him to even out the playing field. He was so afraid of the retributions and punishment that he became increasingly paranoid. He felt like breaking his own nose would do that for him and "make it even" so that he could stop worrying about what he thought was inevitable punishment. It is essentially to stop his paranoia, because Lee Strunk doesn't seem to be trying to actively hurt him in any way and laughs it off after it happened.

What is the significance of Mitchell Sanders' discussion with Henry Dobbins about a moral in connection with cutting off the thumb? What moral does he suggest? What might he mean?

There is no moral around the cutting off of the thumb, the author seems to suggest that under certain circumstances different things are acceptable. The author wants to contrast normal life with wartime life so pointing out different ethical values and the status of morals between the two shows this idea very strongly.

Why does Tim say the Vietnam War is boring?

There would be long periods where they weren't in active combat but they couldn't relax because they had to be alert. They would ultimately be shot at and have to fight again, and that happened over and over. It is a waiting game for them.

The sequence of the two chapters "Stockings" and "Church" is curious, yet the two are connected because the monks relate best to Dobbins. What do those three have in common?

They are both very gentle and good people that try to do the right thing. Tim O'Brien describes Henry before as a "gentle giant" and a "good man", he also talks about how kind and caring the monks are. Henry and the Monks connect to each other not only because of the things that they have in common, but those things in common cause them to be much more open and accepting towards each other.

How do these antics in "Spin" fit the men involved?

They are immature teenagers with the average age among them being 19-20, they are childish men who are involved in a violent war. This leads them to cope and find humor to let them forget about the fact that they could literally die at any second which many of them do.

Why would two men fighting in the same army become fearful of each other? What underlying cause might there be?

They became fearful of each other because of the high tension atmosphere, they were dealing with so much that they took it out on eachother. They quite literally became their own enemies. The way that they turned on eachother became quite vicious, and it seemed that Lee Strunk got seriously hurt due to Dave's over exaggerated reaction. There is also a social code in the army to be even with each other which frightens Dave Jensen and ignites paranoia within him. They are frightened because the other has become the enemy over a seemingly small thing that is actually connected to a larger idea. They are in a pressure cooker as young and immature children. The way that they are living day to day is really tough and it starts to wear them down and this includes their tolerance and morals. They already can't tell civilians from the enemy, and the lines between them are starting to blur from friend to foe.

How do the motives for the young man's going to war match those of Tim at Rainy River? Why would he invent this kinship?

They both seem to be more peaceful and have, "no stomach for violence." ''''They both feel similar about the war not wanting to fight but feeling shame for not wanting to answer to their countries. They are both afraid of disgracing themselves and their families. They both didn;t want to be soldiers, and didn't feel like they could fight. Their moral reservations are quite strong. I think that Tim does this agisn partially out of guilt, but also as a way of processing what happened. He sees himself in the soldier and things that we are familiar with and comfortable with are easier to understand. He also would be angry but might be more accepting of the death by a vietnamese soldier based on his past virtues, and wants to think that someone would do the same thing for him. It is a way of coping with the greif, and also seeing himself and the man as one in the same.

Think about the many meanings of the word things. Many of the things listed are material, seemingly surface necessities. What nonmaterial things can you see the characters carrying, even if they are not stated?

They carry the weight of the deaths of their fellow soldiers as well as the weight of the death of the Vietnamese soldiers that they have killed. The weight of missing what is at home and the longing that they feel.They are also very scared and even terrified of what's to come and what is going on around them. They feel love towards people at home and eachother even if they don't express it all the time. They also long for comfort.

What is ironic about the supplies they continually get from the United States government?

They throw some away because they have a surplus and know that more will arrive soon, this is very ironic and speaks much to the time. Despite needing so much money to fund the war and few people agreeing with it the US government was sending a surplus of supplies a lot of which was being wasted which is quite ironic. They also get things like sparklers which cause you to be a light up target, and sweaters which isn't something you want in the hot jungle.

What is their escape mechanism when the siege is over?

They use humor to cope with their feelings, joke around and laugh. To keep the atmosphere more positive and distract themselves from what is really going on around them.

Why is this chapter titled "Love"?

This chapter holds this title because it's about the grief and the love that they both hold after the war. Love for the ones that they have lost and the grief and guilt they feel, love for eachother and this reunion. Love for the war because although it was traumatic they had each other and weren't dealing with the aftermath. And love for Marthat or the obsession with Marthat that Jimmy feels. And her lack of love towards him.

What other behaviors have you noticed about which people joke yet seem a bit nervous? Why are they cautious even though they don't really believe in superstitions?

This happens often when you mention that you're glad about xyz today, for instance, oftentimes in emergency rooms by saying it's quiet today everyone believes that you have cursed them. It is almost forbidden and from what I have heard everyone seems to get very nervous. I know that when someone says that they are glad it isn't windy anymore or something along those lines I "knock on wood" to reverse what they said. I don't really believe it but I still definitely feel nervous. They are very irrational and defy science but it is made really to influence unpredictable factors and get rid of uncertainty. As well as the belief in more supernatural sources. By doing things that make good or bad luck it gives us a sense of control that we would not otherwise have and gives an illusion of predictability and assurance. It can also stem from the belief of supernatural sources, like saying bless you when you sneeze. That is more of a manner nowadays but it started because people thought that when you sneezed the devil could snach your soul. Many people also believe in fate which definitely has a lot to do with superstitions.

Read the first paragraph of "Stockings." In this paragraph the author compares Henry Dobbins to the United States. Give examples that show this to be at least a somewhat accurate picture of our nation and its involvement with nations around the world.

Tim describes Henry as "big and strong" something that is definitely true of America, first of all with us having a country with some of the most landmass in the world. But we often play the role of the world police and have the biggest army in the world. Our military might isn't comparable to pretty much any other country. However, we often enter wars and other countries with "good intentions" same as Dobbins but they don't always end up going the best. Take vietnam for example even though we had good intentions we weren't necessarily the good guys in that situation or afghanistan and iraq. There are many good intentions but sometimes our execution can be a bit off. Tim also describes Henry as "always there when you need him" this also appears to be true of America based on their allyship with other countries in the past. Such as what is currently happening with ukraine although the us cannot help directly with the war (due to the fact that it might start WW3) they have done much to help ukranians and arguably much more than a lot of other countries. They also describe him as a belive in "hard labor" something that rings true throughout a lot of america, one of the main parts of the american dream. Unfortunately, this can lead to a lot of problems. People use that virtue to justify racism and dicrimanation against other countries which is completely untrue.

Why is Kiowa's admonition to talk good advice?

Tim is in somewhat of a daze of disbelief and horror over what happened, and can't really process what is going on at the moment. Talking would help him to fully grasp what happened and "put the pieces together". It also is helpful to talk about many of the irrational thoughts that are going through your head because once you say them outloud it is easier to deal with and realize what is the more logical pathway. What would the man do if he were in your shoes, and just gives more of a general sense of assurance. Saying things out loud helps them to become more known and not so scary. It would also help to slightly take a bit of his mind away from just staring at the dead body thinking about the man's life which was entirely unhelpful to his own mental health. Talking through things is always helpful for anyone particularly someone who has gone through something very traumatic. It is the basis of all modern therapies.

The narrator explains that true facts and events may actually be a lie and that fictional events may be "truer than the truth." Explain his meaning.

To the author a "true war story" is about the emotional truth of what was going on instead of the actual events that occured. The factual truth isn't as important as conveying the way it felt in the moment, like how we often exaggerate what is happening in a story of our own. This is even more important when telling a war story. So the true facts and events are factually correct but don't convery what in the author's sense actually happened. But a retold story that helps get the emotional point across but doesn't stick to the facts is truer that the story that solely stuck to the facts. Because the emotional truth is more important than the factual truth.

Dobbins believes in the protection of the stockings, and experience seems to reinforce that idea. How do you explain his safety? What evidence do you have that your explanation has validity?

When we believe that something is going to happen it gives us a sense of assurance which could have led to more confidence and clearer thinking in battle for Henry Dobbins. It's not so much the stocking themselves but the state of mind and body that it puts him in. When he go9t caught in the open during a fire, they said that he let the stockings do their magic work. In reality he had more confidence and was able to clearly think and made better decisions to get out of the situation. They make him believe that something is going to happen and hope is one of the most powerful things. The loss of hope leads to lesseed survival rates, through experiment it is found that the presence of hope that things will get better pushes you to get through something. Believing in something has an effect as well, people who take placebos see better outcomes even though the medication itself doesn't actually do anything.

Throughout the novel Tim has talked about the value of telling stories. In "The Lives of the Dead," he implies that stories save people. What does he mean? Think of an experience—it doesn't need to be about death—in which you or someone you know was saved by a story

answers vary greatly

Lt. Cross "works on a letter to Kiowa's father" to alleviate some of his guilt about his death. What details would he include at first? What about his second plan? His final one?

plan 1 -Her wanted to tell him what fine of a soldier and human being he was, and how he should be proud of him forever, no wanting to include the details about the shit field -He then wants to explain everything to Kiowas father, and apologize to him "point blank" -describing thing in much greater detail plan 2 -then he starts to write and impersonal letter which he wanted to convince himself was the exact truth -"An officer expressing an officer's condolences"\ Final plan -His final plan seems to be sinking deeper and deeper into the sea and laying there floating; he lets himself slip away and go back to good times. and he decides to possibly write a letter to Kiowa's father after the war. Maybe maybe not