In Hemingway’s short story “Soldier’s Home” a story is told about a young soldier named Krebs returning to his rural home in Oklahoma following the first World War. This story reminds me of the stories my grandfather told me about coming home after he served in the Vietnam war. My grandfather didn’t serve in active duty, he served in the Navy in Arizona. He was responsible for helping load up the jets for training missions. The line where is says “ Now the reaction had set in.…
In his essay, How to Tell a True War Story, Tim O’Brien begins with telling the reader that a war story is never moral. The author argues that there is no uplifting part to a war story, only a glimpse into what war is like. O’Brien uses the story of his platoon member, Curt Lemon, getting blasted into a tree by a grenade as an example of the amorality. The rest of the platoon then had to strip Lemon’s body parts out of the tree. The author goes onto exclaim that a war story is sometimes impossible to tell.…
Boston Massacre Massacre: an indiscriminate and brutal slaughter of people; deliberately and violently kill (large number of people) The amount of troops populating Boston became too much for the citizens to handle. Their privacy was being stolen, as were their basic human rights. People grew frustrated and decided that it was time to ridicule the soldiers in a mob to make things better.…
Writers often find inspiration for their literature through their imagination, people they meet, or past experiences. Ernest Hemingway’s past experiences encouraged an abounding works of short stories, non-fiction, and novels. Considering him being a war veteran of World War I, his short story Soldier’s Home is similar to his struggle through reconnecting with his home town. Even though the main character is Krebs, there are several indications that he is a reflection of Hemingway’s 20 year old self. There is evidence as to this assumption between Krebs and Hemingway: actions, thoughts, and emotions.…
For example, the focus of “All Quiet on the Western Front” is more extensive than that of the theme of "Soldier's Home”. This is because of a variety of things, length, writing, author ,etc.… ;but either way the crucial point of Hemingway's story is Krebs's relationship with his family, exclusively his mother, Remarque's ,extends into the relationships of individual with the machinery of war, technology and military procedures, and the friendships that these men make during these times. “All Quiet on the Western Front” showcases a more uplifting optimistic side of a soldier that most people witnessing war, unfortunately, do not have. The war is seen through the eyes of Paul Baumer whose mindset is far better established in comparison to his companions.…
In the union camp Chamberlin and some soldiers come across a black man who is a runaway slave (127). He speaks no English and can barely understand what the troops are saying (128). He had been shot by a woman who had saw him (131). So they had to a surgeon fix him up and feed him (129). Chamberlin encountering the slave shows his compassion against slavery.…
In The Things They Carried, Tim O’Brien breaks down the border between fact and fiction as he articulates a credible collection of war stories. O’Brien takes the unique role in the novel as an imaginary character created from a blend of real and fabricated elements, but he still makes sure to elucidate that the novel is merely a work of his imagination. Nevertheless, this style of autobiographical fiction forces readers to question the fictional nature of the novel. O’Brien himself understands the blurred line separating fact from fiction, and he discusses the complex relationship between the two in his storytelling.…
From 1955 to 1975, American soldiers were fighting a war in Vietnam. During this time Marine Lieutenant Philip Caputo landed at Da Nang with the first ground combat unit deployed to Vietnam. Months later, having served on the line in one of history’s ugliest wars, he returned home. Physically whole but emotionally impacted, his adolescent beliefs forever gone. In his book, A Rumor Of War, Philip Caputo offers an insightful analysis regarding the psychological damages a soldier faces post-war.…
Frederic Henry had major changes throughout the novel. His attitude towards the war, Catherine, and friends had all changed significantly. One could argue that he didn’t pay much mind towards the war he involved himself in at first, but once he did, he became less enthusiastic about it as he became more aware. Eventually, he started to care more about a woman with whom he became increasingly interested in. His feelings towards the war and his feelings towards Catharine had a negative correlation.…
Within the writing of Tim O’Brien’s novel, The Things They Carried, he often uses the contradiction of topics or actions to emphasize their importance. He pairs ideas that are centralized around silence and speech to add value to what is said or not said and/or to emphasize the action associated with the silence or speech. O’Brien masters literary elements like mood and tense while portraying the contrast. Although this contrast is present throughout the book, it is most prominent in storylines included in “The Man I Killed”, “On the Rainy River”, and “Speaking of Courage.” The most prominent account in which O’Brien uses speech in contrast to silence to add value to the subject can be seen in the interaction between Kiowa, Tim, and the corpse…
Guilty as Charged In terms of any sexual or romantic encounter, it is at upmost importance that both parties are in mutual agreement of what is unravelling. In Earnest Hemingway’s short story “Up in Michigan” the story is told through the lens of a young girl named Liz Coats who finds herself in a situation where sexual consent is in question after her encounter with a man. Through Hemingway’s rhetoric devices, the evidence is laid out clearly that Jim Gilmore sexually assaulted the victim Liz Coates.…
He has been changed and has experienced the horrors of war that no one else can understand. The town is over the hysteria of soldiers returning, have a glorified view of war and refuse to hear the truth. He comes home and finds his town unchanged by everything, whereas he has encountered a metamorphosis of self. Krebs finds himself caught in a conflict with the past and present, and doesn’t fit in anywhere. Krebs hides out at home when he realized that everything outside is complicated.…
The small-town mentality of Norman’s hometown proves to be detrimental to his journey for healing, as he is shamed and ostracised for the way in which he served his country. Like many other middle-American towns, Norman’s home retains a strong sense of patriotism. From the white picket fences to the perfect ‘nuclear families,’ these civilians are proud of the image of their lives and country as a whole. Thus, these same civilians who fight for the victory of their country work to earn reputations as heroes, whose stories of bravery are to be revered throughout history. On the other hand, veterans are exiled and seemingly punished by this same society upon defeat, much like the veterans who saw America’s loss in the Vietnam War.…
A Narrative of a Revolutionary Soldier is a historical narrative about Joseph Plumb Martin 's adventures and efforts while in the Revolutionary War. This classic read uncovers the thoughts and struggles of a soldier in the Revolutionary War during the year 1776. Plumb Martin enlisted in the Continental Army in 1776, and served in New York and Connecticut during the American Revolution. Joseph Plumb Martin was an American patriot for many different reasons. One of those reasons being that he went against his own will to enlist and continue to enlist until the end of the Revolutionary War.…
Soldiers felt forced to participate in the war to avoid the shame and embarrassment from friends, family, and others familiar with them. They each are embarrassed for different reasons. One isn’t brave enough, while one isn’t smart enough. One isn’t tough enough, while one isn’t satisfied enough. O’Brien demonstrates that he is able to tell his story, twenty years later, due to the fact that he realized that facing one’s fears may be difficult, but it dissolve the shame that is felt before it.…