AGENDA:
WRITING: Work on metafiction stories
DISCUSSION: Think, Pair, Share and post a group comment regarding these questions.
Speaking
of Courage:
(1) To begin with, why is this story called "Speaking
of Courage"? Assume the title does NOT hold any irony. In what sense does
this story speak of courage?
(2) Why does Norman Bowker still feel
inadequate with seven metals? And why is Norman's father such a presence in his
mental life? Would it really change Norman's life if he had eight metals, the
silver star, etc.?
(3) What is the more difficult problem
for Norman--the lack of the silver star or the death of Kiowa? Which does he
consider more and why?
(4) Why is Norman unable to relate to
anyone at home? More importantly, why doesn't he even try?
Notes:
(1) In "Notes," Tim O'Brien receives a letter from
Norman Bowker, the main character in "Speaking of Courage." Why does
O'Brien choose to include excerpts of this seventeen page letter in this book?
What does it accomplish?
(2) Consider for a moment that the letter
might be made-up, a work of fiction. Why include it then?
(3) In "Notes," Tim O'Brien
says, "You start sometimes with an incident that truly happened, like the
night in the shit field, and you carry it forward by inventing incidents that
did not in fact occur but that nonetheless help to clarify and explain
it." What does this tell you about O'Brien's understanding of the way
fiction relates to real life?
(4)
Compare and contrast possible versions of Kiowa's death in "Speaking of
Courage" and the end of "Notes". Who is responsible?
ReplyDeleteCarina Giannini, Kyra Majewski, Sara Rule, Alexander Christie
The situation described in this story between Norman Bowker and Kiowa required a sense of courage no matter how it played out. If he had persevered and kept trying to save Kiowa, he might have risked his own life in addition. The actions described, that the stink enveloped his lungs and he let Kiowa die, also requires a certain type of courage. Although a life was lost in the process, he might have been doing what was best in the long run, no matter how much praise he would have received. In reference to the idea presented at the end of “Notes,” it is implied that Tim O’Brien himself was “complicit” in the death of Kiowa, that the depiction in the previous story was fabricated. “Notes” explains O’Brien’s quick adaption to peace and his tendency to disregard all of the horrors he had endured. Based on all the information provided, the audience is led to believe that O’Brien was truly the one responsible, not Norman Bowker, and only created the story as an expression of truth in the moment.
Karina Le, Tamaron McKnight, Deja Simmons, Isabella Watts
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of Courage:
(1) To begin with, why is this story called "Speaking of Courage"? Assume the title does NOT hold any irony. In what sense does this story speak of courage?
“Speaking of Courage” is called as such because it brings why he’s writing this particular story, as revealed in the end that he wrote this story primarily out of respect for the dead Norman Bowker. In a sense, the story speaks of courage in the way Norman held this to himself for years—up to his suicide.
(2) Why does Norman Bowker still feel inadequate with seven metals? And why is Norman's father such a presence in his mental life? Would it really change Norman's life if he had eight metals, the silver star, etc.?
The reason why Norman Bowker feels inadequate with seven medals is because even with all the medals, Kiowa is still dead. Norman’s father is in his mental life because of the state of manhood that he is supposed to represent. No, it would not change if he had eight medals because his friend is still dead; there is no way for him to feel a sense of wholeness after what happened, but he clings on to the thought it will because he needs something to be dependent on.
(3) What is the more difficult problem for Norman--the lack of the silver star or the death of Kiowa? Which does he consider more and why?
The death of Kiowa. However, he believes the silver star will solve all his problems. The reason why is that he knows that Kiowa won’t be brought back, but the silver can still soothe what guilt is left (which won’t help).
(4) Why is Norman unable to relate to anyone at home? More importantly, why doesn't he even try?
The reason why Norman is unable to relate to anyone in home because war cannot be empathized. However, he still tries because everyone—especially soldiers—wish to return to the sense of normalcy before the war.
Notes:
(1) In "Notes," Tim O'Brien receives a letter from Norman Bowker, the main character in "Speaking of Courage." Why does O'Brien choose to include excerpts of this seventeen page letter in this book? What does it accomplish?
The reason why O’Brien chooses to include excerpts from this letter because this entire story is not only a dedication to Kiowa, but primarily Norman. This accomplishes making Norman’s story a “true war story”.
(2) Consider for a moment that the letter might be made-up, a work of fiction. Why include it then?
Again, it still creates this sense; this theme of what makes a “true war story”.
(3) In "Notes," Tim O'Brien says, "You start sometimes with an incident that truly happened, like the night in the shit field, and you carry it forward by inventing incidents that did not in fact occur but that nonetheless help to clarify and explain it." What does this tell you about O'Brien's understanding of the way fiction relates to real life?
It contributes to O’Brien’s use of metafiction in order to deliver the harsh truth he wishes not to talk about, but also to falsify it in a way that gives him comfort; a sense of release.
(4) Compare and contrast possible versions of Kiowa's death in "Speaking of Courage" and the end of "Notes". Who is responsible?
The version in “Speaking of Courage” focuses primarily on what happened and how Norman reacted by the death. To contrast with “Notes”, who relatively had the similar events (different small details), focused more on O’Brien empathizing with Norman so much that he felt the guilt—felt as if he had seen his best friend die because he grabbed hold of the wrong body part—and blamed himself for it.