Analysis

An analysis of the short story “The Man I Killed” by Tim O'Brien shows that it follows a non-traditional plot structure, beginning in medias res, with Tim describing the man he has just killed. The rest of the story presents the aftermath of the event, combined with Tim’s made-up story about the young Vietnamese man’s life.

The main character is Tim, a soldier fighting for the Americans in the Vietnam War. Another important character is the young Vietnamese man Tim has killed. Although he knows nothing about him, Tim tortures himself by making up a story about the young Vietnamese man’s life. Tim’s comrades, Kiowa and Azar, are also introduced.

The physical setting is outside the village of My Khe, in the province of Quang Ngai, Vietnam. The event takes place during the Vietnam War. The social setting focuses on the realities of war, especially in the context of the Vietnam War, and on reactions to traumatic events.

The story is told from the perspective of Tim, who is also the first-person narrator. All the characters and events, particularly the life he imagines for the young Vietnamese man, are seen through his eyes.

The language is informal and imitates natural speech, which makes it more authentic. The choice of words creates powerful and even horrific images, depicting the realities of war and the effects they have on the people involved.

A full analysis of the short story can be found in the following pages.