Abstract

This study presents a comparative analysis of how Korean, Vietnamese, and American authors who experienced the Vietnam War portray religious perceptions and the oppressive nature of war in their narratives. The works analyzed include Bảo Ninh’s The Sorrow of War (1991) and “White Clouds Flying” (1997), Tim O’Brien’s Going After Cacciato (1978) and “Church” (1990), and Hwang Sok-yong’s “Tap” (The Pagoda) (1970) and The Shadow of Arms (1988). Drawing from recurring religious motifs in these stories, this study identifies key themes, such as the challenges of translating faith in the context of war, the symbolic significance of demolished religious sites, and the potential for mourning war victims. As the first comparative analysis of war novels from these three countries with a focus on religious themes, this study offers valuable insights into how human faith can be used as a lens to examine political realities or challenge prevailing political beliefs within fictional narratives.