"O'Brien famously distinguishes between "happening-truth," or an accurate and verifiable account of historical events, and "story truth," or
readers' genuine experience of the story, even if the details are invented. The book blurs the lines between fiction and truth even further in
its dedication to a group of soldiers who turn out to be fictional characters throughout the rest of the book, and in the appearance of "Tim
O'Brien" in several stories, a figure who seems very similar to, but not quite identical with, the author" - John Young, Ransom Center
Magazine
Prompt: Do the themes of the novel (bravery, guilt, regret, etc.) still carry the same weight of importance now that you know O'Brien's stories
are fake? Explain why or why not.

What sound device is used in the following excerpt from how the animals lost their tails and got them back traveling from philadelphia to medicine hat by carl sandburg

June and sylvio speak to mr. teller in the driveway of their farmhouse. it is raining hard, and they all carry umbrellas. a dog sits on the steps of the house. june: we didn’t think you’d be coming back for the puppy. mr. teller: i said i would when i dropped the puppy off. sylvio: yes, but that was months ago. we thought you’d be back for the puppy in a couple days. now she’s a full-grown dog. we have raised her ourselves, we built her her own doghouse, and we love her. mr. teller: but she’s my dog. i only dropped her off at your house for safekeeping since i had to go out of town on business. now i’m back and i want my dog back. what is the setting of this play? a basket a farm a doghouse a trip

Which two passages in this excerpt from the death of ivan illych does leo tolstoy use to suggest that ivan ilych feels like his life is slipping away from him? "what's the use? it makes no difference," he said to himself, staring with wide-open eyes into the darkness. "death. yes, death. and none of them knows or wishes to know it, and they have no pity for me. now they are playing." (he heard through the door the distant sound of a song and its accompaniment.) "it's all the same to them, but they will die too! fools! i first, and they later, but it will be the same for them. and now they are merry . . the beasts! " anger choked him and he was agonizingly, unbearably miserable. "it is impossible that all men have been doomed to suffer this awful horror! " he raised himself. "something must be wrong. i must calm myself—must think it all over from the beginning." and he again began thinking. "yes, the beginning of my illness: i knocked my side, but i was still quite well that day and the next. it hurt a little, then rather more. i saw the doctors, then followed despondency and anguish, more doctors, and i drew nearer to the abyss. my strength grew less and i kept coming nearer and nearer, and now i have wasted away and there is no light in my eyes.