1. “Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong”
Warm-Up Questions
Tim O’Brien, in a interview, said that this is one the truest of all the stories in the text. Thoughts?
In what ways is this chapter an example of a metanarrative?

2. What is Rat Kiley’s reputation among the men of Alpha Company?
Then why have him tell this story? How would this tale be different if Tim O’Brien (the narrator) told it firsthand?
2. Why have Mary Anne be a woman? How might the story be different if, say, Mark Fossie had flown his Dad, best friend, or little brother over?
3. What changes take place in Mary Anne’s
-demeanor?
-appearance?
-attitude?
-desires?
4. Which “rules” of true war stories apply to this vignette?
5. Does it matter, in the end, what happened to Mary Anne?
6. What is this story really about?