‘The Man I Killed’ p.121-125
What do you notice about the opening sentence of the story?
What is it showing about a) the dead man?
b) O’Brien’s reaction to killing him?
Highlight what O’Brien has assumed about this man. Why do you think he has done this?
What does it also reveal about the Vietnamese perspective of war? How is this developed throughout the story? Look at p.122, 123, 125
The Character of Tim O’Brien
Skim through the story and identify words and phrases that are repeated:
What does it reveal about his response to the death a) at the time? b) 20 years later?
The Character of the dead Vietnamese man
Identify the back-story which O’Brien has created for this man:
p.122 “He liked books. He wanted someday to be a teacher of mathematics.”
p.123
p.123
p.124 “For years, despite his family’s poverty, the man I killed had been determined to continue his education in mathematics.”
p.124
p.125
Why do you think O’Brien has done this?
Note the similarities and differences between the dead man and O’Brien (refer to ‘On the Rainy River’ to help you)
Soldiers who killed video - what similarities are there with O’Brien?
What else do you notice about these soldiers’ responses to killing?
Did anyone stand out to you? Why?
Responses to the death
p.122 “Oh, man, you fuckin’ trashed the fucker,” Azar said. “You scrambled his sorry self, look at that, you did, you did, you laid him out like Shredded fuckin’ Wheat.”
“Go away,” Kiowa said.
“I’m just saying the truth. Like oatmeal.”
“Go,” Kiowa said.
“Okay then, I take it back.” Azar said. He started to move away. then stopped and said, “Rice Crispies, you know? On the dead test, this particular individual gets A-plus.”
...Kiowa kneeled down…”No sweat, man. What else could you do?”
What do the responses from Azar and Kiowa show about the effects of the war on individuals?
Read through the rest of the story and note what other things Kiowa does to try and get O’Brien to talk to him.
What do they reveal about a) Kiowa? b) Kiowa and O’Brien’s relationship?
Themes
Key themes | Evidence | Who/what it is associated with | What it reveals to us |
Storytelling and memory | P.121 “His chest was sunken and poorly muscled- a scholar, maybe.” | The dead Vietnamese man and O’Brien | In his shock (and perhaps guilt) at killing this man, O’Brien creates a back story about him. Perhaps this is his way of coping with what he has done. It also makes the reader understand that this was a man who was killed; he was not just a number. This is a personal response. |
Friendship | P.122, 123, 124, 125 “Tim. it’s a war. The guy wasn’t Heidi - he had a weapon, right?” | Kiowa and O’Brien | Kiowa is trying to make Tim feel better about what he has done; realises how badly Tim is feeling. |
Futility of war | p.122 “Nothing anybody could do.” | Kiowa and all other soldiers | Soldiers have no control over where they are positioned and what they have to do in order to survive. |
Guilt and blame | P.125 “Talk to me, “ Kiowa said. | Kiowa and O’Brien | Tim cannot express how he is feeling, but Kiowa is trying to get him to come out of his shock. |
Power of death | P.125 “Talk to me, “ Kiowa said. | Kiowa and O’Brien | Death can render a man speechless. Faced with the man he has killed, O’Brien goes into shock. |
Truth | p.125 “The guy was dead the second he stepped on the trail.” | All the soldiers in the platoon. | That when they see the enemy. they have to kill. |
Motifs/symbols
Motifs/symbols | Example | Who/what it is linked to | What it underlines |
Star-shaped hole | p.121“His other eye was a star-shaped hole.” | Dead Vietnamese man | The star shape symbolises the dead man’s possible link with heaven or destiny. It could also underline how all his dreams have now gone as he is dead (link with the idea of wishing upon a star). |
Butterfly | P.121, 123, 124 “...there was a butterfly on his chin...The butterfly was making its way along the young man’s forehead…”The butterfly was gone.” | The dead Vietnamese man and his wound | The contrast between the beauty of nature and the killing of this young man and the horrific wound which O’Brien is focussed on. The butterfly is actually on the corpse, so underlining further the horrors of the war. |
O’Brien’s silence | Throughout the story - “Talk to me”. | O’Brien | His shock and overwhelmed state at what has happened as a result of his actions. He has no words... |
Language
Evidence | Techniques used(if any) | Effect on reader |
P.122 “He hoped in his heart he would never be tested. He hoped the Americans would go away. Soon, he hoped. He kept hoping and hoping, always, even when he was asleep.” | Repetition of “hoped” and “hoping”. Use of the word “always” | Understanding of how much the Vietnamese did not want to be at war is emphasised. “Always” underlines how this wish never ends. |
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Images and message(s)
Key images from the story and why (can draw):
Key message(s)/morals from the story with explanation: