The Ambush. QUESTIONS. Why does the narrator lie to his daughter, and how does he justify it? Do you think she will ask him the same question when she's older? Why/Why not? The narrator "keep[s] writing war stories." What does he expect the writing to do? Do you think it is working?
Why doesn't the narrator let the soldier pass? How do you think you would have reacted in a similar situation?
Why do you think the narrator focuses on the gory details of the soldier's death?
Kiowa tells the narrator that it was a "good kill." What does this phrase mean in its military context? Do you agree or disagree with Kiowa's interpretation? Why/Why not?
How do individuals justify killing during wartime when they would not kill during times of peace? What does this tell you about humans' tendencies toward self-preservation?
What steps could the narrator take to end his own torment about killing the man? How can we come to grips with the guilt we feel over some of our actions?