Literary Criticism: Junior Annotated Bibliography Research Paper: "On The Rainy River": The Things They Carried

Spanning from the 1950s to the 1970s, the United States was involved in two wars that were fought far from homeone in aid of South Korea against the neighboring Communist North Korea, and a second waged through the jungles of Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. Both of these engagements were a reaction to what American leaders feared as being Communist takeovers, and both created storms of political controversy and upheaval that still echo today. This book explores both wars in detail to help readers understand why the conflicts occurred and what their lasting effects have been.

"Tim O'Brien, the recipient of many of America's most esteemed literary prizes, is best known for his writing about America's Vietnam experience. O'Brien's interest grows out of his tour of duty as an infantry soldier in the Vietnam War, his moral opposition to this war, and the guilt he felt after serving. If I Die in a Combat Zone, Going After Cacciato, The Things They Carried, Northern Lights, The Nuclear Age, and In the Lake of the Woods, all stem from O'Brien's own life stories, and are directly or indirectly about the Vietnam War. But to consider O'Brien only as a "war writer" would be to miss the depth and universality of his writing. The moral and physical terrain of Vietnam serves as a heightened setting in which O'Brien explores the nature of truth, the function of memory and imagination, the possibility of moral courage, and the power of love." "O'Brien doesn't try to provide answers to complex moral questions or human motivation. Instead, he uncovers mystery and ambiguity, and leads his readers to search for "story truth" - that is, emotional truth - and to explore his stories from different angles."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved

In 2005, Deborah Nelson joined forces with military historian Nick Turse to investigate an extraordinary archive: the largest compilation of records on Vietnam-era war crimes ever to surface. The declassified Army papers were erroneously released and have since been pulled from public circulation. Few civilians have seen the documents.The files contain reports of more than 300 confirmed atrocities, and 500 other cases the Army either couldn't prove or didn't investigate. The archive has letters of complaint to generals and congressmen, as well as reports of Army interviews with hundreds of men who served. Far from being limited to a few bad actors or rogue units, atrocities occurred in every Army division that saw combat in Vietnam. Torture of detainees was routine; so was the random killing of farmers in fields and women and children in villages. Punishment for these acts was either nonexistent or absurdly light. In most cases, no one was prosecuted at all.In 'The War Behind Me' Deborah Nelson goes beyond the documents and talks with many of those who were involved, both accusers and accused, to uncover their stories and learn how they deal with one of the most awful secrets of the Vietnam War.

"On November 18th, 1967, Private First Class Davis's artillery unit was hit by a massive enemy offensive. At twenty-one years old, he resolved to face the onslaught and prepared to die. Soon he would have a perforated kidney, crushed ribs, a broken vertebra, his flesh ripped by beehive darts, a bullet in his thigh, and burns all over his body. Ignoring his injuries, he manned a two-ton Howitzer by himself, crossed a canal under heavy fire to rescue three wounded American soldiers, and kept fighting until the enemy retreated. His heroism that day earned him a Congressional Medal of Honor-the ceremony footage of which ended up being used in the movie Forrest Gump. You Don't Lose 'Til You Quit Trying chronicles how his childhood in the American Heartland prepared him for the worst night of his life-and how that night set off a lifetime battling against debilitating injuries, the effects of Agent Orange and an America that was turning on its veterans. But he also battled for his fellow veterans, speaking on their behalf for forty years to help heal the wounds and memorialize the brotherhood that war could forge. Here, readers will learn of Sammy Davis's extraordinary life-the courage, the pain, and the triumph."

Serving as an indispensable resource for students and general-interest readers alike, this three-volume work provides a comprehensive view of mental health that covers both mental well-being and mental illness. A three-volume ready-reference encyclopedia, this up-to-date work supplies a holistic introduction to the fields of mental health and mental disorders that is written specifically for high school students and college students. Covering the full continuum of mental health, the set describes typical functioning, including biology and neurology of the brain, emotions, and the traits and characteristics of mental well-being. It also addresses mental disorders and conditions, from obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to phobias and schizophrenia. Mental Health and Mental Disorders: An Encyclopedia of Conditions, Treatments, and Well-Being highlights important concepts and phenomena, key individuals, treatment techniques, organizations, and diagnostic tools to give readers a complete view of this broad field of study. It also investigates all sides of wellness, exploring what it means to be "normal" and consistently identifying the links between lifestyle and mental health. The encyclopedia is consistent with the goals of AP psychology curricula and addresses the various disorders classified in the new edition of the APA Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-V-TR). Provides exhaustive content that affords readers a holistic understanding of mental health and mental disorders Features extensive cross-referencing that allows readers to easily see connections and relationships between different entries Offers end-of-entry further readings that serve as a gateway to additional information for study Reflects on common perceptions and portrayals of mental health through a variety of pop culture-oriented entries that focus on subjects such as television shows and movies