I first reviewed the symbolic significance of the physical items the soldiers carry specifically the intangibles: loss , fear of death, and guilt. We discussed how the novel's epigraph provides the foundation for the many paradoxes of war such as how courage is a manifestation of cowardice , and how fiction becomes more real and truthful than memory or history. In this regard, we studied the text to examine passages wherein the author discusses how a story is created tying past and present, truth with fiction. We further discussed why returning veterans have such difficulty adjusting to civilian life, noting passage in the novel illustrating this theme.