"War" By. Timothy Findley (Reader Response)

In the story "War" by Timothy Findley, it is evident to the reader that the title is not actually talking about the war that is in the story but is talking about a different type of war. In the story the reader learns that the war that is being referred to is the war between Neil and his father. Neil is going though a tough time because his father is joining the army and this is hard for him to understand. Throughout the story the reader is trying to find out what the title really mean and it becomes an extra factor to the story and it is enjoyable for the reader when they realize the true meaning. It almost a mission for the reader to find the true meaning of the title in a story and in this story it is enjoyable when the message is told to the reader .

Pilot Neil Armstrong with X-15 #1

Neil Bonnet 1985 Pocono Photo By Ted Van Pelt

Timothy Findley's star on Canada's Walk of Fame

The author did a great job with the title of the story because it makes the reader think about what the real meaning is.

The author, Timothy Findley does a great job of making references to the term war in the story. The son, Neil is having trouble with his Dad leaving to join the army and not telling him, so he hides from his Dad in a barn. Neil is hiding behind hay and other farm accessories to put up shields from his father. In the story it refers to his hiding place as being like a trench in the war. Timothy says this because he is comparing Neil's spot to the environment his father will be, when he is in the army. This could be a stretch but as the reader the idea that the boy is trying to simulate the situation his father would be in to scare him. This is very possible because if his father really realized what war will be like it could scare him and make him not want to go. This is also possible because Neil is trying to thing of any plan he could to try and stop his dad from leaving. The ideas that Neil is coming up with are a little off the wall because he thought hiding would stop his Dad from leaving, so this could be another one of his plans.

The reader of this story can tell right at the end of the story when Neil is throwing rocks at his father, that the situation seem out of the ordinary. This is an error in this story because it becomes obvious that the reaction his father has is different because a father does not normally just let their son throw rocks at them. In the 1940's things were not exactly how they are now, parents would not let things go without giving a punishment. Everyone has heard a few stories about kids getting hit when they were growing up, so it does not sound right that the father would not do anything especially when the time is taken into mind. This is a main point in the novel and it hurts the novel because it takes away some credibility away from the novel and makes it seem less life like. This was the only flaw with this novel and other than that problem it was a good story.

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