How to tell a true war story Tim O’Brien

About the author Tim O’Brien was born in Austin, Minnesota in 1946. In 1968, he graduated from Macalester College with a BA in Political Science. That same year, O’Brien was drafted to serve in the Army in Vietnam. He served in the American Division, which was the division heavily involved with the infamous My Lai Massacre. After he served, he went to graduate school at Harvard University, and had an internship with the Washington Post. It was this opportunity that he started writing about his Vietnam experiences with works such as If I die in a combat zone and Box me Up. O’Brien is an endowed chair at Texas State University-San Marcos. Most of his work stems from his experiences in Vietnam and the impact the war had on fellow countrymen.

Literary terms Theme – the central idea, the focal point of a story around which various elements such as plot, character, setting, and point of view revolve. Metafiction – a literary term that describes a work that explores the nature, structure, logic, status, and function of storytelling.

Plot synopsis O’Brien rotates from telling the story from a soldier’s point of view/experience and from a role of a storyteller. O’Brien begins by stating that “this is true.” The story encompasses an account of events that happened in Vietnam regarding a group of soldiers. Specifically regarding the death of a comrade of theirs, Curt Lemon, who dies. Rat writes to Curt’s sister who never writes back. O’Brien recounts the gruesome death of Curt and contemplates what is really true. Mitchell Sanders offers another war story, that may or may not be true. After Lemon’s death, O’Brien writes of his unit coming back and Bob Kiley shooting the baby water buffalo. The story then ends after serious thoughts and considerations of true war stories and what war stories are really about.

Notable quotes “A true war story is never moral. There is no virtue.” “It’s difficult to separate what happened from what seemed to happen.” “The next part you won’t believe. And you know why? Because it happened. Because every word is absolutely dead-on true.” “Certain stories you don’t ever tell.” “Nobody Listens.” “Hear that quiet man? There’s your moral.” “A true was story is never about war.”

Questions based on the text (answer Two Thoroughly ) Describe how you think O’Brien intends for a true war story to be told. What is the significance of the dead guy’s sister never writing back? Why does he call her a “dumb cooze?” Elaborate on O’Brien’s use of metafiction. How does this impact the story? Recall the scene with the baby water buffalo. What significance does this scene have towards the underlying message and theme of the story? Why does O’Brien’s switch telling the story from a soldier’s role and a storyteller’s role repeatedly in the account? Which one did you like better? Which one did you think contributed more meaning, or truth to the story? What is the intent of Mitchell Sanders’ war story?