If I Die in a Combat Zone Literary Elements

If I Die in a Combat Zone Literary Elements

Genre

Biography / Memoir

Setting and Context

Set in Vietnam during the Vietnam War

Narrator and Point of View

Narrator: Tim O'Brien;
Point of View: First-person

Tone and Mood

Grim, Haunting, Exhausted

Protagonist and Antagonist

Protagonist: Tim O'Brien; Antagonist: The Vietnam War

Major Conflict

Though he was opposed to the Vietnam War, O’Brien is drafted into the war and has to contend with the horrors, moral dilemmas, and bureaucracy.

Climax

The climax happens when O’Brien is discharged from military service in Vietnam and goes back home.

Foreshadowing

The opening of the narrative where O’Brien and Barney hardly return fire to the enemy shots foreshadows O’Brien’s attitude towards the war.

Understatement

“Snipers yesterday, snipers today. What’s the difference?”

Allusions

The novel uses the biblical allusion of Christ’s suffering to refer to the soldiers as martyrs of the war.

Imagery

The narrative portrays the imagery of intense horror and devastation of war.

Paradox

It highlights the paradox of being duty-bound to serve your country yet reluctant to fight or kill the enemy.

Parallelism

N/A

Metonymy and Synecdoche

“…the corps of foot soldiers, common grunts”

Personification

“The darkness of Fort Lewis mornings is choked off by brazen lights”

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