How to Tell a True War Story Discussion

“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” (66). 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 pages 67 -68, O’Brien mentions the “seemingness” of a war story, and later on page 80, 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” (74). 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?