“How to Tell a True War Story” Discussion

Definition How does O’Brien define a true war story? Make a list with your groups using specific quotes from the text. You should come up with at least 5 different parts to his definition. “If you feel uplifted, … then you have been made the victim of a very old and terrible lie” (68-69). What is the lie? Why can’t the grenade story be true, even if it happened?

Rat Kiley Why doesn’t the sister write Rat back? Why doesn’t Rat understand this? Why does Rat maim the baby water buffalo? Do you think that story really happened? Why does O’Brien see Rat’s story as a true war story?

Truth Looking at page 71, O’Brien mentions the “seemingness” of a war story, and later on page 84, he grapples with his inability to capture the exact reality of his story. What does this story say about truth in general? How does O’Brien define truth?

The musical mountains What are we supposed to take away from this story? Do you think this happened? What does he mean that it’s “true”? “The whole war is right there in that stare.” How so? “Hear that quiet? There’s your moral” (77). What does that mean?

End of chapter How does O’Brien deliver his point in the end of the chapter with the anecdote about the woman who likes his story? How was that a love story and not a war story?

Other chapters Select either the combination of “Enemies” and “Friends” or “The Dentist.” How does either narrative fit O’Brien’s definition of being a true war story?