A true war story cannot be generalized because it has many meanings: love, beauty, horror, and courage. Most war stories, though based on truth, have false parts. True war stories never seem to end, and they can always be applied to a larger meaning of life. Tim O'Brien's How to Tell a True War Story, for example, can be applied to a larger meaning of life.
             The first sentence insists the story is true, which could lead the reader to infer normally a war story is not. How to Tell a True War Story takes place during the Vietnam War. Tim O'Brien fought in the Vietnam War, which could be a reason to write the story. Bob Kiley, one of the main characters, whose nickname was Rat, feels low and despicable for his best friend's death. Rat's best friend's name was Curt Lemon. O'Brien probably named Kiley Rat because of how he should feel. O'Brien possibly named Lemon because a lemon is sour and that is how Rat felt when Lemon was blew up. Rat writes to Lemon's sister to tell of Lemon's death. He expects her to write back, and after two months he loses hope. Furthermore, all Rat can say about Lemon's sister is "dumb cooze" (76). Rat fails to realize the sister has to plan a funeral, tell family of it, not to mention she has to deal with her own sorrow. O'Brien fails to mention the relationship between brother and sister, such as, were they at ease with each other. If Rat's sister did not care for Lemon then perhaps that is why she never wrote back.
             Tim O'Brien intends to have an intense impact upon the reader. For example; "A true war story is never moral. It does not instruct, nor encourage virtue, nor suggest models of proper human behavior, nor restrain men from doing the things men have always done. If a story seems moral, do not believe it" (76). He tells the reader not to fall victim of this "very old and terrible lie.&q...