The author of this anti-war novel set out to portray war as a meaningless and brutal way of life that ruined the life of many of the soldiers. Paul observes the gory and butchered bodies scattered everywhere around the battlefield and “cannot realize that above such shattered bodies there are still human faces in which life goes its daily round” (Remarque 263). The war has completely altered Baumer’s conception of military conflict with its disastrous extent of violence and slaughter. His description of the dead men who even Paul is left an utterly broken and destroyed man after the war. Furthermore, the horror of war and the animalistic nature it brings out in people is thoroughly addressed in Baumer’s description of the impoverished Russian soldiers, who like them were forced to “unknowingly, foolishly, obediently, innocently slay one another” (Remarque 263).
Bierce’s “Chickamauga”, Howell’s “Editha,” and Twain’s “The War Prayer” all offer strong attacks against the sentiment that war is glorious and holy. Each of the stories takes place during one of the American Wars. All of the short stories show how society at the time viewed war, also the true horrors of the war through realism. Each story uses a different techniques to prove that war isn’t holy or glorious at all.
In this story, the author exposes the idea of how war can significantly
In the short story “Chickamauga” (1889) by Ambrose Bierce, he uses juxtaposition to compare the perspectives of the romanticised public and experienced people in war to show that war isn’t built on romantic visions, but it is built on visions that are both dreadful and gory. The young boy enters the forest and fantasizes a battle with a “flying foe,” in which he comes out of an “intrepid victor;” however, the boy’s fearlessness fades when faced with a “rabbit.” The use of the word “intrepid” gives the sense of a great amount of bravery that the young boy has in a moment where he feels no fear, but he cowers at the sight of a “rabbit,” perhaps otherwise known as a harmless animal. The reader can see that the valiant spirit that the young boy emits in his game is only present due to the fact that he isn’t faced with true war, so it became easier for the boy to assume the role of someone who is heroic. Bierce
In this book, Tim O'brien uncovers all his encounters in insight about the war; and also stories about his kindred warriors, and makes a genuine, yet over the top about them. He clarifies how he feels through stories that are hard to unmistakably distinguish as "genuine." This book has a great deal of subjects, demise and brutality is one of the real topics. A major topic and point in Tim O'Brien's novel is what number of circumstances hurt the warriors' lives.
In the book Fallen Angels Walter Dean Myers tells the story of soldiers who struggles with a problem involving what is right and wrong in war. Fallen Angels set in Vietnam during the Vietnam war, the story introduces the main character Perry, who faces obstacles, including death and killing. The author’s use of literary devices, specifically imagery, irony, and metaphors convey the theme warfare often forces soldiers to reconsider their traditional notions of right and wrong. The author employs imagery to express the theme that warfare often forces soldiers to reconsider their traditional notions of right and wrong.
The narrator faces two main obstacles, in the call to adventure stage of his hero’s journey. At only twenty-one years old the narrator is drafted into War. For him this is an obstacle because he is “too good for this war. Too smart. Too compassionate.”
He uses these emotions to convey the readers the true realities of what war is. O’Brien focuses on the theme of war by using syntax, diction, and tone in order to convey there is no beauty in war. The author composes his words
Within his short story, Chickamauga, Bierce is able to depict a realistic version of war and the devastation it creates through the application of imagery in his writing. The author administers imagery, which the literary diction defines as the use of “figurative language to represent objects, actions, and ideas in such a way that it appeals to our physical sense,” (LiteraryDevice Editors) in order to visually represent the gruesome reality of the culture at the time. More precisely, the ghastly illustration of the soldiers, behavior of the child, and comparisons of mankind to animalistic forms, add to the detail of the story and solidifies Bierce’s assertion that war is not glory, but destruction. In representing the story in such a way, Bierce illustrates how even the most innocent of creatures can enact cruelty by representing the little boy as the embodiment of both childish curiosity and ignorance.
This is all utilized by the author to deepen the audience's knowledge of war’s impact on those who went through it. Imagery is a literary
War and its affinities have various emotional effects on different individuals, whether facing adversity within the war or when experiencing the psychological aftermath. Some people cave under the pressure when put in a situation where there is minimal hope or optimism. Two characters that experience
War is the opposite of purity where corruption evolves soldiers into dehumanized reflections of themselves. The nature of war shows how dehumanizing it is, turning soldiers into savages as seen in the story, “How to Tell A True War Story”. War stories, as told by Tim O’Brien,
Throughout the ages, wars have wreaked havoc and caused great destruction that lead to the loss of millions of lives. However, wars also have an immensely destructive effect on the individual soldier. In the novel All Quiet on the Western Front written by Erich Maria Remarque, one is able to see exactly to what extent soldiers suffered during World War 1 as well as the effect that war had on them. In this essay I will explain the effect that war has on young soldiers by referring to the loss of innocence of young soldiers, the disillusionment of the soldiers and the debasement of soldiers to animalistic men. Many soldiers entered World War 1 as innocent young boys, but as they experienced the full effect of the war they consequently lost their innocence.
The Wars is a symbolic masterpiece that illustrates the great impact war brings on the microcosm of society and how individuals juxtaposed to the war are affected. The novel itself requires active reading; because without it, the novel would seem very simplistic; however, after further examination, readers can evidently recognize the complexity of Robert’s character with the aid of many heteroglossic components, techniques, devices, and the reworking of literary conventions. Robert’s physical, mental and emotional journey he endeavours, followed by the constant re-evaluations of his truths and becoming a more proficient soldier, can be seen through a formalist perspective with the use of foreshadowing to signify Robert’s transition from a sane to insane soldier; the utilization of animal imagery highlighting Robert’s development through the horrific experiences of war; and the several themes in the text to illustrate Robert’s evolution as a soldier through his inner
The nature of war has always been a cruel and inhumane part of our world and its history. Many themes, such as desperation and trickery, play a large role in the development of the short story, “All The King’s Horses” by Kurt Vonnegut. However, what is most particularly interesting is how Vonnegut portrays war the story and is represented the most throughout the novel is the theme of how destructive war is and how impactful it can be on many lives. Firstly, Vonnegut often subtly uses symbolism and allegories in order to portray the theme of war within the short story.