4. Comment on three characters’ loss of innocence in the novel, more specifically how these characters move from innocence of war to experience of the ravages of Vietnam. What is the catalyst for their change? Do you think these characters completely lose their innocence, and if they do, how does O’Brien demonstrate this?

5. Discuss three examples of O’Brien writing about writing or storytelling. How does this relate to O’Brien’s decision to write his work as a series of vignettes or interrelated stories rather than as a traditional linear narrative?

6. What is the function of memory in the novel? According to O’Brien, does remembering the past preclude “endings” such as the ending of O’Brien’s personal and emotional conflict over participation in the Vietnam War? Both Kathleen and Linda discuss “endings.” With whose version do you think “O’Brien” ultimately agrees and why?