Author O’Brian also confuses the reader by writing his novel as if everything that was told took place in the real world. For example, just by saying “this is true” (64) doesn’t always make it true. O’Brian leaves it up to the reader to distinct what they see the story as: reality or fiction. It is said that “a true war story… makes the stomach believe” (74). Author and character O’Brian tell the story in such a way to make it believable that the two different people are really the same person.
The name of the poem implies that the poet was a proponent of war, but contradictorily we discover that he was not. Undoubtedly, Owen had the practical, realistic knowledge to informatively and effectively portray the war scene. He experienced first-hand the physical, psychological and emotional effects of war on a human being. Although both speakers had contradictory concepts about war based on their own values, knowledge and experiences, they presented their theories with equivalent zeal, tenacity and passion. The speakers are fixated in their beliefs, and adamant about their concepts of war.
First person point of view can be described as the narrator participates in the story's action and is the "I" of the story; however, this does not necessarily mean that the narrator is the protagonist. First person point of view tends to be very personal and self-revelatory. The author first person point of view by using I and we to describe her feeling compared to everyone else. She also allowed her thoughts on why empathy was important for others to use. Last, being able to use first-person point of view allows the author or narrator to tell his or her story the way he or she wants and how he or she sees it, in order for the reader to understand his or her
However, in “The Things They Carried” O’Brien chooses not to use brotherhood as the theme but instead uses the conflict between war and love. O’Brien uses Lieutenant Cross’s feeling of responsibility and his daydreaming to show the conflict between love and war. Both authors use plot structure to develop the themes in their stories, Erdrich develops brotherhood in “The Red Convertible” and O’Brien develops war and love in “The Things They Carried”. In “The Red Convertible”, the author uses Lyman’s memories to establish a bond between Lyman and his brother Henry. Erdrich also uses the red convertible that the two brothers bought as a metaphor for Henry.
War is portrayed as glorious and honorable to the eyes of the public through government propaganda. Wilfred Owen fought in World War I and argued against these views. In “Dulce et Decorum Est”, Owen wants the public to know the gruesome realities of war and not to be swayed by what is fed to them in public propaganda. The poem shows these realities in a very detailed manner. Owen shows the ones who die are not the only ones who suffer.
Be Specific! Henry Kissinger defines history as, “History is the memory of states.” This means that the history was told through the powerful, the ones who won wars in history. Kissinger’s meaning of history is compromised of inconsistent accounts from many different people with different intentions. Howard Zinn’s approach differs from Kissinger’s because Zinn would rather history to be told through more of a peoples view. The memory of the people.
By calling into question the truth of his stories, he disorients readers who are expecting to read a standard fiction, where the events are undoubtably false. He also shows readers why reinventing a story may be more important than telling the story just as it is remembered. Norman Bowker disapproves of O’Brien’s first attempt to describe a horrific battle, and, therefore, O’Brien feels the need to rewrite the story. Essentially, O’Brien must remember the event in a new way that makes the story more real for Bowker and other readers. Finally, O’Brien explains to readers why stories must be told, even with the risk telling the story the “wrong” way.
'The Handmaids Tale' is a first person narrative. The narrator is active in the story therefore can be considered as defective as the events are conveyed from a predisposed view point. Atwood reveals Offreds 'state of mind' through both the structure of the narrative and the opinions explored by our narrator. Offreds narrative style can be interpreted to highlight a number of viewpoints about Gilead. For instance the fragmented element of the narrative can both reflect Offreds 'state of mind' and contribute to the suggestions about Gilead as a nation/ society.
Perhaps O’Brien sought to chronicle through fiction those whose experiences would ‘speak out and speak up’ from the battlefield. In any case, one rationally may presume that O’Brien’s works mirror the public’s distaste for the war. Following this rationale, one also may presume a substantial degree of commonality between the management of the theme of war across each preceding literary period and the Postmodern
So how are a tale and the truth distinguished? In “How to Tell a True War Story,” Tim O’Brien gives a certain criteria to a true war story that allows the reader to determine whether the story is true or not, based on morality, exaggeration, difficulty, meaning, and more. “It doesn’t suggest proper human behavior,” states O’Brien. In “Sweetheart of the Song of Tra Bong,” Mary Anne displays strange behavior. From the story Rat Kiley is telling, she goes from a beautiful sweetheart, to an ugly land loving creature.