Kevin Powers’ The Yellow Birds: Teaching War Literature in the AP English Literature Classroom Dr. Warren J. Carson Professor of English, Univ. of South Carolina - Upstate Chief Reader, AP English Literature and Composition Exams

Kevin Powers’ The Yellow Birds Literary Considerations The Characters John Bartle, the narrator; 21 at the time of the action, but narrates via reflection and memory some years later David “Murph” Murphy, 18 at the time of the action Sergeant “Sarge” Sterling, 24 at the time of the action The mothers LaDonna Murphy Mrs. Bartle

Kevin Powers’ The Yellow Birds Principal Settings Tal Afar (real name, Al Tafar), Nineveh Province, Iraq; early 21st century, beginning in 2004 Outside Richmond, Virginia Blue Ridge Mountains, southwestern Virginia

Kevin Powers’ The Yellow Birds Literary Considerations Mode—psychological realism Narrative perspective—young, male soldier, confused about war; a victim and survivor at once Point of View—First Person , Limited Omniscient Language—Poetic, vulgar, violent, and brutal Themes The grandness vs. the brutality of war The grand myth vs. the brutal reality of war

Kevin Powers’ The Yellow Birds Literary Considerations, continued Themes “You can’t go home again” – Thomas Wolfe “The old lie: Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori.” An individual’s sense of self