Chen, Tina. ""Unraveling the Deeper Meaning": Exile and the Embodied Poetics of Displacement in Tim O'Brien's "The Things They Carried"" Yavapai College: Library Services Databases Login. University of Wisconsin Press, 1998. Web. 14 July 2011. <http://www.jstor.org.proxy.yc.edu/stable/1208922?>.
Yet again we are faced with the deciphering of a ‘true’ war story, and what makes it that way. O’Brien states that, “A true war story, if told, makes the stomach believe” (pg1). However, there is also the controversial things he says about how sometimes fiction is truer than the truth. He has a way of provoking his desired emotion from readers partly through the truth and partly through speaking ‘truer than the truth’. In aid to my essay, this article will show me how O’Brien takes his war experience’s and captures their essence through stories that may not match up directly with his events. He is inspired by his history in the war, but he is not bound by it’s events.
Naparsteck, Martin, and Tim O'Brien. "An Interview with Tim O'Brien." Yavapai College: Library Services Databases Login. University of Wisconsin Press, 1991. Web. 14 July 2011. <http://www.jstor.org.proxy.yc.edu/stable/1208335?seq=8>.
Interviews have a way of really bridging the gap between just a story, and the tale of a real man. This particular interview with Tim O’Brien did not focus directly on The Things They Carried, which may be why it held so much meaning. He writes his pieces of literature all in the same way, about war. The lasting effects of Vietnam on O’Briens personality is profound when learning how some of these seemingly non-fictional tales, really are works of partial fiction. This will come in useful as I write about the way O’Briens literature is a direct effect of his troubles throughout the Vietnam War and his participation in that. I will have a guideline as to how he thought and the effects that the war has had on him and the men he incorporates in his stories and also writes about.
Timmerman, John H. "Tim O'Brien and the Art of the True War Story: "Night March" and "Speaking of Courage"" Yavapai College: Library Services Databases Login. Hofstra University, 2000. Web. 14 July 2011. <http://www.jstor.org.proxy.yc.edu/stable/441935?seq=2>.
While this article is not directly about The Things TheyCarried, it is inspired by O’Briens wartime experiences. O’Brien makes it his goal throughout his career to convey what happened in the hearts and minds of soldiers throughout the war. However this often occurs through imaginary means, even if based off of real events. This task he takes upon himself, bringing to life the experiences they had at war, is a talent he has developed and used as a way to tell his story instead of holding it in and suffering from the things he’s seen. I will use his honesty, and lack thereof method of storytelling to discuss O’Brien’s ability to portray events ‘truer than true’.
I like your first credible source because it helps tell a little big of history about O'Brian and his ideas behind his writing. The interview source you have will also be very good for quotes in your paper. I bet you are already done with, and I hope you get a good grade :)
ReplyDeleteWow, great research. I never would have thought to look up other authors and find a connection. I decided to do a biography of Tim O'Brien for my essay and found some very interesting stuff on him. And the more I read, especially your info, the more I want to know about the guy. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteAll good sources! The first source you listed seemed to be really important because of how directly relevant it was. I wish I would have found that one. You can’t go wrong with the biography and interviews either I found these to be one of my best sources. Good call on using the data bases for your research that’s where I got my information from as well but from reading some other post it looks like a lot of people were resorting to Wikipedia already.
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