What is the function of stories according to O Brien?
4. According to O’Brien, what function do stories serve? a. O’Brien provokes us to conclude that the largest truth in the telling of such stories is in the feelings instead of the facts.
What is the difference between happening truth and story truth?
“Happening truth” is the actual events that happen, and is the foundation or time line on which the story is built on. “Story truth” is the molding or re-shaping of the “happening truth” that allows the story to be believable and enjoyable.
What is story truth?
Story-truth, sometimes referred to as emotional truth, is a subjective reflection of a person’s thoughts and feelings about the same event when retelling that story.
What is more important to O’Brien emotional truth or factual truth?
But what O’Brien states – and what is really more important than factual truth – is that the emotional truth of what happened is really what counts. Postmodern theory, and one of its forms, ‘creative nonfiction,’ which some have dubbed O’Brien’s story and novel, posits that ‘factual’ truth is very difficult to prove.
Why does Obrien use lies to get at the truth?
Why is O’Brien using lies to get at “the truth”? Since he had originally described the definition of truth, he stated what was true. Assumingly so that the audience would believe the facts as they were presented as well as the story, he used opposite meanings to get to this portion.
Why does O’Brien say he still writes about the war?
He keeps writing them because he needs to tell somebody what happened. He lied to his daughter because she was so young.
Who is Tim O Brien’s daughter?
The audience member’s question about novelist Tim O’Brien’s daughter seems reasonable enough, except O’Brien doesn’t have a daughter. As the writer was just telling the crowd at Towson University, however, her name is Kathleen.
What is the nature of truth in the things they carried?
As with all fiction, the answer is simple: if you believe it, it’s real; if you don’t, it isn’t.” O’Brien here deftly sidesteps the question of what’s “real,” at least as most of his readers would understand it, or why they might be especially concerned about such issues with this book, for an answer that bleeds into …
Why does Rat Kiley brutally kill the baby water buffalo?
3 out of 5 Rat Kiley killed the baby water buffalo because he was so distraught over Curt Lemon’s death. This scene is much more disturbing than the death of one of O’Brien’s platoon members because the water buffalo scene has much more detail than the deaths.
What is the significance of killing the baby water buffalo?
Some of them finally pick up the dying animal and throw it down a well. The baby water buffalo is symbolic of the innocence and youth of the soldiers themselves before they were confronted with the horrors of war that have torn them apart psychologically, piece by terrible piece.
Who does Rat Kiley write a letter to?
A week after his friend is killed, Rat Kiley writes a letter to the friend’s sister, explaining what a hero her brother was and how much he loved him.
What does the water buffalo represent to Kiley?
Puppy and Water Buffalo Azar rejoices in the animal’s violent death because it gives him a sense of control over his own circumstances. Later, Rat Kiley shoots a water buffalo to avenge the death of their friend, Curt Lemon. O’Brien narrates how the animal is completely helpless against Rat’s aggression.
