Lecture Notes: Chapters 10-16 Overview

Chapter 10: Stockings

• Item Worn by Henry Dobbins: His girlfriend’s pantyhose
• Reason for Wearing: Believes they bring good luck
• Reaction Post Breakup: Continues to wear the pantyhose
• Belief About Pantyhose: They protect him
• Coping Mechanism Insight: Superstition provides comfort to soldiers

Chapter 11: Church

• Shelter Location: Soldiers find temporary shelter in a church
• Monks' Contribution: Pray for the soldiers
• Kiowa's Task: Digs a latrine inside the church
• Kiowa's Feelings: Deeply uncomfortable using church as a camp
• Dobbins' Aspirations: Would like to be a priest after the war
• Admiration of Monks: Admires their peaceful routines

Chapter 12: The Man I Killed

• Structure: Based on description and repetition
• Repeated Feature: Star-shaped wound
• Imagined Past: O’Brien imagines the man as an innocent farmer
• Kiowa's Comfort: Explains war logic
• Chapter Tone: Reflective and tragic
• Effect of Repetition: Heightens tension and guilt

Chapter 13: Ambush

• Questioner: O'Brien's daughter asks if he has killed anyone
• Description of Soldier: Describes the Vietnamese soldier as scared and small
• Method of Killing: With a grenade
• Probable Action by Soldier: Would have thrown his grenade
• Reason for Lying to Daughter: She wouldn’t understand
• Perspective on Truth: Emotional truth is more significant than factual truth

Chapter 14: Style

• Vietnamese Girl's Behavior: Dances
• Village's Fate: Attacked and burned
• Azar's Reaction: Mocks the girl's dancing
• Dobbins' Reaction to Azar: Threatens him
• Interpretation of Dancing: Likely a result of mental collapse or grief

Chapter 15: Speaking of Courage

• Norman Bowker's Actions: Drives in circles
• Reason for Circling: Cannot stop thinking
• Imagined Conversation: Telling his father he earned medals
• Almost Achieved Medal: Silver Star
• Reason for Not Winning Medal: Unable to save Kiowa

Chapter 16: Notes

• O'Brien's Revelation: Norman Bowker helped write "Speaking of Courage"
• O'Brien's Regret: Not writing a better story for Bowker