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The Ambush

The Ambush. Tim O’Brien. Ambush. The narrator lies to his daughter about having killed a man but regrets doing so –Why? The incident has caused the writer to continue writing war stories. The soldier remembers killing the man automatically, without feeling

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The Ambush

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  1. The Ambush Tim O’Brien

  2. Ambush • The narrator lies to his daughter about having killed a man but regrets doing so –Why? • The incident has caused the writer to continue writing war stories. • The soldier remembers killing the man automatically, without feeling • All he wanted was “to make him go away” • He thought of warning the man he was about to die • He believes the man posed no real danger- is he right in this assumption? • Kiowa tells him that it was a “good kill”- what does this mean? • “Sometimes I forgive myself, other times I don’t.”- why can he not forgive himself?

  3. Ambush • Issues- Examine the comparison between the story and “Ecstasy of War.” • * accepting responsibility for one's actions, • Forced to re-live his automatic reaction. Tries to assign logic and emotion to something automatic. • * living with regret. • The narrator tries to cope with his nightmare by ignoring it when possible and writing as a catharsis.

  4. Discussion • * Why does the narrator lie to his daughter, and how does he justify it? • * The narrator "keep[s] writing war stories." What does he expect the writing to do? Do you think it is working? • * Why do you think the narrator focuses on the gory details of the soldier's death? • * Kiowa tells the narrator that it was a "good kill." What does this phrase mean in its military context? Do you agree or disagree with Kiowa's interpretation? Why/Why not? • * What do we learn about military training based on the narrator’s reaction? Does this offer him any solace?

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