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The Yellow Birds By Keith Powers - Coggle Diagram
The Yellow Birds By Keith Powers
Symbolism
Yellow Ribbon - seen as a a symbol and/or sign of solidarity to solders who have returned from combat
yellow birds discuss the reflecting end of what this symbolizes and Bartle's inability to accept the offering that people give because of his service.
The blurred lines between living the war and the false concept of what war is
society celebrates the very thing that has killed his humanity and how he views himself mentally and physically
Hyacinth Flower - used to express life and hope in the novel
used to symbolizes death but also flourishes as the presence of potential hope and life lingered in the war
Snow - symbolizes Bartle's struggle to find meaning and closure to murphs death
melting snow symbolizes new beginnings and transformation
Also represent individuality and changes in a persons innocence's and character - relates back to murphs character and innocence.
Birds - represents the human soul and goodness, joy and beauty and wisdom.
quotes about this in the book
relate back to ptsd that can infiltrate ones mind
Seasons - play a role in human mood and deeply symbolic and can relate back to natural transitions of the planet and the world
examining the cycles of seasons allows us to exam the cycles of life
utilizing seasons in the beginning and end give a sense of completeness
post heroism in yellow birds
context of post heroism in the context of western society - heroism is naïve and rooted general lack of self reflection
Out look on war - reality vs construct - what we know isnt always what is done
Mental and emotional impacts before and after deployment
brutality becomes normal as killing is the most significant theme in the post heoric narritive
Powers use of language and depth - personification of the war,
symbolism of the seasons and war
death is made to be seen as the reason for them to fight
the normalization of the war and death
The effects of the war - dehumanize the soldiers into acting before thinking
Illustration of the war through the concept of fire and through the eyes of Bartle
Why is war so heavily praised and those who attend the war and fight
Frame of mind and Motives of War
the psyche of the soldiers and mental stability and instability before and after war
realistic mindset and viewpoint on war as a context in society
the desperation to survive even when they ultimately know they will die
WANT TO SURVIVE
They feel shame fighting the war as the many ongoing tragedies that occur
Signifies Reality of war fear of death and the survival mode kill or be killed
The environments of war and qualities that are exhibited
symbolism of environment and seasons and war
Power in the war
Power is not gained, only given for brief moments to those in the war
confused on how people are happy and joyous about them fighting in war when the context of war is different
Doesnt feel like a hero and lacks the ability to be appreciated about the gesture of the yellow ribbon.
Motives of war - soldiers are the victim of war and primarily the tools of war and death
turned into merciless murders under the influence of the war
always trying to justify violence and a form of closure to events
when the victims of the war are victims appearing to be young children and other civilians
The war is no more than a stage where heroic deeds and glorious acts are witness, war is a ground for worthless slaughter and reckless devastation. Fear and corruption of self and society.
Summary of Yellow birds
Characters - main - Bartle, sterling and murphy
Minor Characters - Murphs mum, Malik and the civilians in Iraq
Purpose of the story - to recall the times spent in the war after 9/11 and the counter actions that the US military to and the mental and physical decline of the soldiers in these wars from the perspective of Keith Powers aka Bartle
Language feature - symbolism, personification of war,
Author - Keith powers
Questions that i asked while reading this novel
how do they challenge us as people ?
what is the purpose of sharing such depth of mental trauma?
what is the impact of these characters have ?
How does the environment create a sense of the novel and its purpose?
what does the relationships and friendships help develop in the novel further and the concepts in the novel?