Tim O Brien's How To Tell A True War Story

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In Tim O’Brien’s short story, “How to Tell a True War Story”, O’Brien uses humor, obscenity, and storytelling to portray that a “True Was Story” is never moral, clear, or even true; it is about love, sorrow and memories (1). The author begins to uncover his opinion of a war story with a mixture of symbolic and almost humorous stories combined with straightforward paragraphs of “facts” about a true war story. For instance, O’Brien recounts a ridiculous death of Curt Lemon, for the first time of many, then immediately breaks his thought to explain that a war story frequently confuses actual events with what may have occurred (2). The author continues a pattern of an alternative pace throughout the entire story really causing the reader to stumble and ponder what O’Brien really is trying to render. Overall, the writer proves that war is not pretty, and will never be fully explained through a supposed “True War Story”. O’Brien’s “How to Tell a True War Story” really spoke to me by its combination of precise language and humor to bring out very deep meanings and themes. O’Brien states that, “You can tell a true war story through its uncompromising allegiance to obscenity and evil” (1). The writer illustrates his …show more content…
Out in the civilian world, we are so oblivious to the fact that there are young men and women out fighting for us daily in horrible conditions we will never know. In my opinion, O’Brien’s piece is almost mocking the average idea of war. For example, O’Brien tells the story of Curt Lemon’s death once more, yet focused of the sunshine on his face while casually mentioning his guts being scattered all over a tree (9). I take this as a direct shot at civilians thinking that war is so honorable and a thing a beauty when it’s actually horrendous. Overall, I think the writer emphasizes a new respect for war and those who have experienced it, even though no one will ever
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