Romanticism In Fallen Angels
Savanna Walker
Adams
English III .2
5 February 2016
Romanticism in War War is a glorified thing. The most common misconception of war is from the stories that have battle portrayed as a heroic and valiant thing, the army as orderly and structured, and warfare tactics depicted as reasonable. In these movies and stories, the superior side of proficient warriors emerge triumphant, while the inferior side of seemingly lackadaisical enemy soldiers die. In Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers, the author dispels romanticism around war through his graphic, detailed descriptions of battle, how the war affects the soldiers both physically and mentally throughout the fight, as well as thend ways that they cope with the stress of combat?
Myers introduces …show more content…
Aural sensation is a constant reminder throughout the novel as Perry describes the ways in which the hacking sounds of the helicopters, bursts of enemy fire, and deafening explosions shake him to his very core. "The noise was terrible. Every time a mortar went off, I jumped. I couldn’t help myself. The noise went into you. It touched part of you that were small and frightened and wanting your mommy" (Myers 244). Escaping to one’s own thoughts could often be used as a way to exercise control over what is happening to them, but the war presents a growing intensity with frequent interruption to any protective mindset that had been created. Part of Perry's character development includes his deteriorating perspective of being a participant or an observer; how he soon realizes he can no longer disregard the sounds of the war around him; they are slowly forcing him to become a …show more content…
These myths however do not permit civilians to acknowledge the ruthlessness and brutality that American soldiers are forced to face when they are sent off to war. The loss of innocence is what is focused on most in the novel, the soldiers are thrown into a harsh reality where they are shown the trials of war. In the end, they come to the understanding that the movies and campfire tales that depict valiancy and honor are just falsified images of a vacant idea; that war is full to the brim with horror and meaningless destruction of soldiers who are not at fault for what they have
Adams
English III .2
5 February 2016
Romanticism in War War is a glorified thing. The most common misconception of war is from the stories that have battle portrayed as a heroic and valiant thing, the army as orderly and structured, and warfare tactics depicted as reasonable. In these movies and stories, the superior side of proficient warriors emerge triumphant, while the inferior side of seemingly lackadaisical enemy soldiers die. In Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers, the author dispels romanticism around war through his graphic, detailed descriptions of battle, how the war affects the soldiers both physically and mentally throughout the fight, as well as thend ways that they cope with the stress of combat?
Myers introduces …show more content…
Aural sensation is a constant reminder throughout the novel as Perry describes the ways in which the hacking sounds of the helicopters, bursts of enemy fire, and deafening explosions shake him to his very core. "The noise was terrible. Every time a mortar went off, I jumped. I couldn’t help myself. The noise went into you. It touched part of you that were small and frightened and wanting your mommy" (Myers 244). Escaping to one’s own thoughts could often be used as a way to exercise control over what is happening to them, but the war presents a growing intensity with frequent interruption to any protective mindset that had been created. Part of Perry's character development includes his deteriorating perspective of being a participant or an observer; how he soon realizes he can no longer disregard the sounds of the war around him; they are slowly forcing him to become a …show more content…
These myths however do not permit civilians to acknowledge the ruthlessness and brutality that American soldiers are forced to face when they are sent off to war. The loss of innocence is what is focused on most in the novel, the soldiers are thrown into a harsh reality where they are shown the trials of war. In the end, they come to the understanding that the movies and campfire tales that depict valiancy and honor are just falsified images of a vacant idea; that war is full to the brim with horror and meaningless destruction of soldiers who are not at fault for what they have