1. How to Tell a True War Story Understanding The Things They Carried

2. Double Meaning of Title Instructions for Composing/Relating a True War Story Instructions for Identifying a True War Story

3. Identifying vs. Composing Never moral (65) It embarrasses you (66) Cannot be believed (68) Never seems to end (72) Meaning/deeper meaning (74) Makes the stomach believe (74) Truths are contradictory (77) Will tell the ugly truth (77) No point (78) Questions raised (79) Never about war (81) Truth as it seemed (68) Keep on telling it (81) Adding and Subtracting details (81)

4. Identifying a True War Story What do the characteristics of a true war story also describe? Explain “[I]f the answer matters…” (79) What is the truth in all of these war stories?

5. Important Quotes “he tells a few stories to make the point” (64) “It’s all exactly true…It happened, to me,” (67) “It’s hard to tell you what happened next” (67) “It all happened” (72)

6. Details of the Curt Lemon Story #1 Muddy River March west Mountains 3 rd day Trail Junction Shade of Giant Trees Light popping sound Soft dripping Smell of moss Tiny white blossoms Laughter Quiet Sunlight Face brown and shining Sharp gray eyes Lean, narrow waist Sucked upward into trees “There was noise, I suppose”