College writing 1 homework 2: Fictional Elements Exercise – Essay 2 Homework

Narrator Description: the narrator is a unidentified in some stories, for instance in the first one, but identified in other. In the stories where he is identified, he is the fictional character Tim O’Brien who tells the stories of other soldiers in his platoon. Point of view: Third person mostly describing the feelings, thoughts, and things the soldiers carried on a daily basis. First person is also used in some instances Reliability: O’Brien’s ability to use his memory to narrate to the reader the happenings of the war makes him quite reliable. Omniscience: The narrator is omniscient because he is all-knowing. He was there and, therefore, understood the feelings, thoughts, and characters of the people he talks about. Participant or non-participant: while in some cases he appears to be non-participant, in most stories the narrator is participant e.g. in “The Things They Carried” Setting Time: The late 1960s Place: Vietnam Condition: Vietnam War Plot Inciting moment (first conflict): After receiving his draft letter the protagonist has to decide whether to join or not. He joins the war Rising action parts: Mary Anne Bell, Mark Fossie’s grammar school sweetheart joins the men in the war. When Tim O’Brien talks about a man that he killed Climax (worst action): Kiowa is killed because of Lieutenant Jimmy Cross’ mistake and this affects all the men. Epiphany (change/revelation): After the death of Kiowa Lieutenant Cross comes to terms with how the burden of his feelings for Martha interferes with his duty as the leader of his men. Resolution (return to normal): Lieutenant Cross decides to let go of these feelings and do his job. He burns all the letters he had been carrying around. Characters Protagonist (main): First Lieutenant Jimmy Cross and Tim O’Brien Antagonist (opposing): Jimmy Cross’ unrealistic love for Martha. The feelings keep distracting Cross and they eventually cost Kiowa and Ted Lavender, Cross’ best friend their life. When Lieutenant Cross finally defeats his feelings the platoon moves forward. Supporting characters: Kiowa, O’Brien, and the rest of the platoon Tone: Meditative Motifs: The jungle, the vapors and haze, and the muck. There is also loneliness. Theme: The crossover from a young man’s innocence to a responsible adult. There is also the theme of a group of soldier’s attachment to their American home thousands of miles away.