The introductory paragraph of "The Dog of Tithwal" not only explains the setting of the short story but also the theme. The theme of the story deals with differences and similarities between people, and most importantly how ignorance perpetuates differences while ignoring overriding similarities. For instance, the described setting is beautiful and serene, and yet in the middle of such a tranquil setting, a war is going on. By placing a story about a war in such a quiet, beautifully described place, the writer has illustrated the ironic nature of war. War disrupts the status quo and often does more damage then good, even though the stated mission of the conflict is to arrive at a resolution.

War is also usually described as gory and full of action, and yet in this story, the conflict between the two sides closely resembles the setting in which...