Finals: Waiting for a Friend Flashcards
Waiting for a Friend was written by?
Ngo Tu Lap
Who is the persona?
A deceased soldier of a Vietnamese squad
Differentiate what the persona thought of sunshine when he was still alive and when he was dead.
The sunshine used to bring him great pleasure, especially as a child
Since he died, the wind and sun has only been exhausting because it speeds the decaying process of his corpse
Where is his corpse located?
At the foot of Dun Mountain
Describe how the corpse disintegrates over time.
It was originally pinned underneath a rock and covered in foliage, but floodwaters took it all the way to Cai River. Eventually, it came to rest in the mud flats of the Vam Delta and the eye sockets were used as a home by large prawns
The corpse continues to rot away due to the various elements, such as the sun and wind, and the scavengers
Why does the persona call his corpse a “perfect home”?
It is peaceful and quiet
“Oblivion – this is where I find my greatest comfort” (Lap 320).
The nothingness brings the persona the peace and quiet that was absent from the battlefield
Explain
But to us, you see, words on tombstones, paper tokens and floral wreaths all mean nothing.
When you’re dead, worldly attachments or earthly things mean nothing
What does the persona and his squad members do every year?
They return to where they were killed and gather there
How was their squad eliminated?
A tank attacked their camp
Who was the only survivor in their squad?
Ha, the cripple
How did he survive?
“The earth thrown up from the explosion had covered him and saved him” (Lap 321).
What does Ha do for his dead comrades?
He lights an incense every year when they all gather
Why is the title “Waiting for a Friend”?
The persona and his comrades are all waiting for Ha to meet his end, because they know that no one can live forever in our world
