OBriens Things They Carried Essay: An American Nightmare

History has shaped every country and their people, in particular negative experiences like the Holocaust in Nazi-Germany or the Vietnam war, involving the United States in a grueling controversy from 1964 until 1975. The author Tim O'Brian confronts an American audience in his short stories "The Things They Carried" with the inhumane consequences of political and military power decisions by rewriting history from a subjective,individual point of view. Thus he forces the audience to take a stand, to ask questions, to get morally and ethically involved. The narrative structure of the "Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong" and "How to Tell a True War Story" contains two levels, the first on being a discourse about the characters of Vietnam stories. The "I", the narrator, introduces 'Rat' Kiley as his source for the narrative that follows. He characterizes stories about war as "strange", "swirling back and forth across the border between trivia and bedlam, the mad and mundane". The stories have a life of their own, reality is not absolute, not final. With this image he describes the ambiguity of war itself, the normality that turns into insanity, he summarizes the narrative about Mary Ann Bell and her experiences with the war. The narrator clearly states the purposes of these stories, he is not interested in factual truths about the war, he openly questions the reliability of his source: "Rat had a reputation for exaggeration and overstatement". He wants the audience to "feel exactly what he felt", an emotional experience, a subjective app roach. The second narrative level tells the story about Mary Ann Bell, the "Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong". The narrator, probably the author, retells Rat's story in his own words, so that t... ...ositive as well as its negative accomplishments. But how is this to be done, how do we deal with history personally and politically? Ths author Tim O'Brian gives us one answer in "How to Tell a True War Story" on page 69: "You can tell a true war story if it embarrasses you. It you don't care for obscenity, you don't care for the truth; if you don't care for the truth, watch how you vote. Send guys to war, they come home talking dirty". In other words if you don't want war watch how you vote. The connotation of this statement is far reaching, it naturally places responsibility on the American government for having participated in the war, but it foremost appeals to the american public to take responsibility and to use this history, this story to create a better future. Works Cited: O'Brien, Tim. The Things They Carried.New York: Penguin Books USA Inc., 1990.

God and Godlike Humans in the Bible and Iliad

The Position of Gods and God The characterization of individuals through specific and repeated character descriptions are consistent with social norms and create binding values associated each character. In the Iliad, which can be considered the primary religious text of antiquity, godly epithets are used to accompany characters with dominant abilities. The Bible also features consistent divine descriptions throughout the various writings.By regularly featuring characters with â€Å"godlike† descriptions, Homer’s language defines the humanity and position of the Greek gods, creating a sharp distinction from the descriptive writing in the Bible that defines the unreachable position of the monotheistic God. Although the gods of the Iliad and the God of Genesis are similar in their interaction with mortals, the usage and nature of divine language in character descriptions, along with the ability for a mortal to attain â€Å"godlike† status, are remarkably different. Throughout the Iliad, Homer pays respect to soldiers by mentioning their name with various adjacent positive qualities. In the first book of the Iliad, â€Å"godlike Polyphemous† is introduced among a list of noteworthy soldiers (Iliad 1:264). Although Polyphemous is an unfamiliar character that is not central to the action, Homer wholly compares him to a god. The pairing of this godly term with such an insignificant character represents how divine status is obtainable for mortals, especially because Homer does not provide an explanation as to how Polyphemous achieved this status.Within this same listing of soldiers, Theseus is also mentioned as being â€Å"in the likeness of the immortals† (Iliad 1:265). While this phrase exemplifies noteworthy status in the gods’ perspective, it is distinctively different than being compared to the gods. Homer, therefore, employs specific language to carefully present a difference in how characters can either be in the likenes s of the gods or completely similar to them. Homer frequents divine descriptions when mentioning soldiers, noting how numerous men have ascended into a role similar to a god simply by heroic accomplishments or physical attributes.For example, Homer describes Idomeneus â€Å"like a god standing† and â€Å"Akamas, beauteous as god† (Iliad 2:230, 11:60). This divine language not only portrays the importance of both soldiers and physical prowess in society, but also represents how mortals can bridge the gap between the divine and the earthly by possessing superior ability or physical features. In book 5 of the Iliad as Diomedes is preparing for battle, Homer provides an anecdote of Eurypylos, who was â€Å"honored about the countryside as a god is† due to his victory in battle (Iliad, 5:78).By mentioning this story and specific language before a battle scene, Homer demonstrates to the reader that Diomedes, or any character, can achieve godlike standing by winning a significant battle. Warfare, which is an integral aspect of society in the Iliad, also plays an important role in the Old Testament. In the book of Genesis, the writers mention Nimrod as the â€Å"first on earth to become a mighty man† (Genesis 10:8).Similar to the large amount of soldiers mentioned in the Iliad, Nimrod achieves recognition for his violent skills and physicality. However, Nimrod is purposely introduced as a â€Å"hunter before the lord† (Genesis 10:10). Rather than comparing Nimrod to God because of his skill, the writers of Genesis portray his skill as being devoted to the lord. Although Homer would have confidently considered Nimrod godlike, this language displays how the writers of Genesis believed that superiority in skill does not create a godlike mortal.Rather, excellent ability is practiced in honor of the lord and fulfilled in accordance with God’s desires. Odysseus, the skilled speaker and warrior, is consistently featured in the Iliad with godlike qualities. For example, he is titled â€Å"godlike† while motivating the Greek soldiers before battle (Iliad 2:335). This specific account not only displays how possessing a superior talent is considered a godlike quality, but also how reputation and fame grant worthy comparison to the gods.Odysseus became well known during the Trojan War because of his profound ability to speak, giving him the opportunity to encourage thousands of soldiers who â€Å"cried out† and offered â€Å"applause† in honor and respect (Iliad 2:335). Homer’s language in this scene displays that famous and recognizable mortals are comparable to the gods, who are the most identifiable characters in antiquity. Because citizens of Greece admire Odysseus’ skill and knew his name just as if it were a god’s, Homer considers him to be godlike.Hector, another distinguished soldier known throughout Greece, is the most notable example of immortal characterization. P resented as â€Å"equal of Zeus in counsel,† Homer portrays Hector as being wholly comparable to Zeus, the most significant of the gods (Iliad 7:47). This language blatantly proclaims that Hector, one of the most idolized mortals, is equally advisable as Zeus, the most idolized god. Because Helen is the speaker, the reader gains an understanding into the analogous value of both Hector and Zeus from a mortal’s perspective.Abraham, one of the most prominent mortals in the book of Genesis, is the patriarch of the Israelites, serving as the liaison between God and his people. Abraham achieved his fame and status through defeating challenges and personal displays of righteousness, but the writers of Genesis do not consider him to be godlike. Rather, Abraham is considered â€Å"blessed by God most high† (Genesis 14:19). The highest achievement for mortals in Genesis is not to be considered godlike, but only to be fortunate under the direction of God’s desires.T his language proves that God not only provides success and preeminence, but also deserves honor from those he has provided for. Although similar to Odysseus and Hector in status, Abraham’s significance does not make him godlike. The writers of Genesis viewed his prestige and position as a gift from the unreachable God. Although mortals never deliberately strive to mimic the gods in the Iliad, Homer employs divine language to present how superiority in skill, physicality, and fame give mortals godly status.In the Old Testament, mortals such as Abraham, who live according to God’s commands and therefore impersonate his heavenly characteristics, are never able to elevate to godlike status. Although both the Olympian gods and God present humanlike qualities and interact with mortal characters, the position of God’s status remains unreachable. The usage and nature of divine language in character descriptions may help explain why the Iliad is now historically consider ed mythology and the Bible stills remains a religious text.

The Forbidden Jungle - Original Writing - 811 Words

The Forbidden Jungle It was August 11, 2037. There was a kid named Isaac. He is 13 years old about 5ft tall, weighs about 108 pounds has hazel eyes, blond hair, and white. Isaac Thomas woke up one morning with his sister. He got up and went to put clothes on. He ran to the woods were his dog had been caged up. His dog is a husky with white spots. He walked his dog up the road to his grandma’s house. Isaac was halfway to his grandmas house. He looked up and saw a swirling cloud. There was dust flying up and cars flying around. He suddenly stopped and ran to his house. There was stuff landing in front of him behind him and the loud thunder roaring. He got to his house and slammed the door. Distal ran out and yelled what s going on. He said get to the basement. As they were down in the basement the thunder and lighting were crashing and slamming on the ground. He woke up from a deep sleep, from the storm. He got up and it was like nothing happened. So he walked outside and it was like he had been sleeping for ages. The dog got out of the basement and sat by Isaac. The both looked around curious on what s going on. It was a jungle. A jungle with many noises. Isaac and Distal were scared out of there minds. They didn t know what has happening. Isaac says â€Å" Where are we.† â€Å"I don t no but I am really scared.† Distal said very scared. Isaac says very worried. â€Å" Don t worry well be fine.† As Isaac finished that sentence there friends showed up. They were scared to.Show MoreRelatedThe Forbidden Jungle - Original Writing811 Words   |  4 Pages The Forbidden Jungle It was August 11, 2037. There was a kid named Isaac. He is 13 years old about 5ft tall weighs about 108 pounds has hazel eyes, blond hair, and white. Isaac Thomas woke up one morning with his sister. He got up and went to put clothes on. He ran to the woods were his dog had been caged up. His dog is a husky with white spots. 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