Titeana's AP Blog

      The Sorrow of War has shown me that while fighting in the war one must choose between life or sacrifice. While in the war your life does not belong to you anymore. Every decision you make would affect yourself and your platoon as well. You can either choose to save yourself while in harms way or sacrifice yourself in order to save many other soldiers in your platoon. In this novel many soldiers chose to sacrifice their selves to save other injured soldiers.  The Sorrow of War has also showed me that when you grow up an branch of from your hometown and friends they will no longer be the same. You cannot depend on your significant other to be waiting on you when you get back. This novel has showed me this learning experience through Kien's postwar days because when he returned Hanoi had changed significantly and Phuong, his high school sweetheart, was not their for him when he got back.         The Sorrow of War is a novel written to open readers minds about the reality of fi

" In later years Kien regretted his harsh assessment of his father and his disdain for his dying words. He had been embarrassed about his eccentric father and had frequently shown dislike for his work and words when he was alive. That much was true." (pg.127). 1.This quote relates to the theme regret because he was embarrassed of his father and he never spent time with him. Now that Kien's father is gone he wished he could have spent more time with him and looked at his work. 2.This quotation indicates the conflict person vs. self because he fighting with his self for not spending time with his father. " We deserved to have had a happy life together, but events conspired against us. You know that. You know the circumstances as well as I do. Let's go our own separate ways from now on. Forever. It's the only way." (pg. 145). 1. This quote characterizes Kien and Phuong as a couple who still loves each other but they are realizing that their relation

" It was then she wanted to scream at him in the hatred for using her. Or scream at him in hatred for the discomfort. Or punish him of his dictatorial use of her spirit; he had ignored her eyes, her lips, her smile, her cheeks, her forehead, her neck, her breasts, her soft hands, her long legs, her swaying walk, her very breath and her mute but happy smile. A nd worse, her natural perfume of love" (pg.112). 1. This quote relates to the theme lonliness, because she wants to express her opinion but as a mute she cannot communicate verbally she can only listen. 2. This quote indicates the conflict person vs. person, because she wants him to see her as an attractive girl be he only uses her and see's her as a mute. " His father had hardly mentioned her. He had avoided talking about her for his own sake, to avoid suffering. He had resigned himself to his fate of keeping his family of two in modest circumstances. Later he began drinking and retreated into deep dreams

" Scenes from the northern battlefront began forming before him and he saw once again the Ngoc Bo Ray peaks and the woods of the Screaming Souls. Then each man in his platoon reappeared before him in the room. By what magic was this happening to him? After the horrible slaughter which had wiped out his battalion, how could he see them again?" (pg.86). 1. This quote relates to theme of loss because he has loss many soldiers in his platoon while in the war. 2. This quote provides details about the setting of him doing his duties in the war and MIA team. This setting helps classify the period of the 1970's because this is around the time that he joined the MIA team. " Now after after many years, whenever I see a flood I feel a sharp pang in my heart and think of my cruel stupidity. No human being deserved the torture I left him to suffer" (pg.94). 1.This quotation indicates a conflict with person vs. self, because Phan is beating his self up on the inside fo

"On the memorable night, near the Thuyen Quang park by the late, he saw two figures struggling on the ground under a kapok tree. One of them, a man, rose quickly and drew a knife from his belt. Kien jumped into the fray, kicked the man, then knocked him into a gutter before chasing him off. He turned to and saw that the second figure was an attractive girl"( pg.71). 1. This quote characterizes Kien as a caring person who is not afraid to sacrifice his well-being for someone in need. 2.This quote connects to the contemporary issue of domestic violence towards women in the world. "Kien took to starring out of his window for hours on end, then walking the dark streets, now and then looking back in hope. On bad nights he would lose control altogether and break down, sobbing into his pillow. Yet he knew that if she returned to him both of them would suffer again" (pg.85). 1.This quote relates to the theme of hope, because he is hoping that Phuong would change her