Thursday, March 11, 2010

Field Trip 3

What is the significance of the simile O'Brien uses to explan his inability to move while standing in the field of mush?

8 comments:

  1. Ethan
    The simile O'Brien uses, "Like waking from a summer nap, feeling lazy and sluggish" is significant because it is completly opposite to the night when they spent the long rainy night in the field when the mortars were going off and where they were sinking into the slush. They could bearly move and it cost Kiowa's life.

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  2. Derek

    O'Brien used, "Like waking from a summer nap, feeling lazy and sluggish" this feeling is catharsis for him. When he released the moccasins he is figuratively releasing his feelings of guilt and shame and letting them be taken to the bottom of the river just like Kiowa was. This is his emotional release. The moccasins are metaphorically his emotions: guilt and shame.

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  3. Jake Rietow
    I agree with Derek's interperatation. The simile shows how O'Brien felt as if he had a weight on his back with his guilt and shame at how Kiowa had died. I beleive it also ties into the fact that it was a soldier's inability to move that cost kiowa his life. He compares it to "waking from a summer nap, feeling lazy and sluggish," when in reality it was much more serious.

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  4. Kassy Saylor
    -I also agree with Derek's and also Jake's reasonings. I believe that the trip to Vietnam was a sort of closure for O'Brien in a sense. He was carrying all the guilt for just watching, when he could have helped. He lost his fellow comrade to this muck and he just wants to try and make it okay, even though he is full of anguish.

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  5. Jared

    to ethan He was prevent from saving Kiowas life on his own decision he could have ran and tried to help but he couldnt he just sat there because the smell was to unbarable for him to do anything. If he really wanted to try he could have easily overcome the smell and tried to help.

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  6. Kristine
    I like Dereks intrepretaion of the mocasins representing Tims feelings and regrets but I dont understand how the quote/simile fits in.

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  7. Amber Janson

    Kristine-I think that the simile fits because it talks about awakening. I think that O'Brian is feeling more awake than before because he was able to let go of the feelings that keep holding him back. "Like waking from a summer nap, feeling lazy and sluggish", I think that O'Brian is waking up, like from a nap. Over time, just like when a person wakes up from a nap, O'Brian is waking up. He's becoming alive, free from shame, guilt, anger.

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  8. Nolan Surma

    I agree with Derek up above. O'Brien used it to show that he is now a new man, no longer burdened by the past. He has finally found closure for Kiowa's death. He no longer suffers from the regret, cowardice, shame, and guilt that has weighed him down for so long.

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