The Things They Carried
1. The plot of The Things They Carried is different than many stories because it tells the main story through flashbacks. These stories are also slightly non-linear, as they are just short bits of his experience in the army, backed by him narrating it from home. A Vietnam veteran reflects back on his life as a marine and how he deals with many of the psychological effects of war. The title of the book comes from the first chapter, when he discusses his situation in Vietnam and describes all of the gear he had to carry with him, but this title also has two meanings that show throughout the course of the book. While it seems to only be the real life, physical things he had to carry with him, by the end of the book you learn he also had many psychological things he carried with him. Many of his friends die, he kills a man, and he thinks about how the "enemy" must feel. His friends also had things they carried with them, including love, such as Henry Dobbins and his girlfriend back home, and each of the company's families. Many of these things are effects not openly shown in the Vietnam war, and that is the reason this book is so interesting to read. The end of the stories has Tim O'Brien reflecting on all the things he had done, and coming to terms with them to be at peace with himself, and believing that telling these stories and letting it all out can help others in the long-run. In a way, these things he carried no longer weigh on his conscious anymore because he was able to speak about them and let his feelings out.
2. I believe the main theme of the stories was that war is hell, and that many of the younger children that went into the Vietnam war suffered psychological trauma for it, but it doesn't have to ruin your life. O'Brien shows that "airing out your dirty laundry" is the best thing to do when things weigh heavily on your mind, and it's better to not carry too much with you.
3. The author's tone was very nervous, doubtful, and fearful when he was a kid in Vietnam, but was very somber and introspective when he was an adult.
3. The author's tone was very nervous, doubtful, and fearful when he was a kid in Vietnam, but was very somber and introspective when he was an adult.
EX 1: "Because the land was mined and booby-trapped, it was SOP for each man to carry a steel-centered, nylon-covered flak jacket, which weighed 6.7 pounds, but which on hot days seemed much heavier. Because you could die so quickly, each man carried at least one large compress bandage, usually in the helmet band for easy access."
EX 2: "The morning was cold and wet. They had not slept during the night, not even for a few moments, and all three of them were feeling the tension as they moved across the field toward the river. There was nothing they could do for Kiowa. Just find him and slide him aboard a chopper."
EX 3: "There was that coldness inside me. I wasn't myself. I felt hollow and dangerous."
4. Throughout the story, a lot of allusion was used to other historical events, books, and pop culture of that time. They mentioned Huckleberry Finn, Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds", and many more. I think it strengthened the juxtaposition of a calm, safe life in America that they were used to and the harsh, terrible time of being in Vietnam. They were just kids, who read books, watched movies, etc.
CHARACTERIZATION
1. Many of O'Brien's friends and fellow soldiers are described through heavy indirect characterization. In the jungle, the way their normal speech changes shows their true character. One good example is Jimmy Cross, who is characterized as being someone who carries a lot of guilt with him, as seen when his friends begin to die around him and the way it weighs heavily on his conscience (such as Kiowa, mentioned earlier.) Kiowa was characterized by many of his actions during their tour. He was a moral compass for his friends, and he had a lot of opinions on life, death, and the war. In a way, his death contrasted perfectly for his character, which was unforgiving and cruel. Many of the soldiers also showed direct characterization through O'Brien's point of view. He had his own views on how these people were to him. A big example of this is how much he looked up to Mitchell Sanders for his compassion for other soldiers and human life. On the other side of things, he shows respect for the medic's craft and not really his character. He uses both because the soldiers in Vietnam were always close, talking to each other, and many of them had skewed or broken personalities from the war. It was a good use of indirect and direct characterization to see how the narrators opinion is on the character vs. other people's interactions with him.
2. Yes, the author's syntax and diction change as he talks about other characters, because these characters were good friends of his that went through a lot with him, and some died in the process. For example, when he talks about his friends who were killed in action, he gets very sad and regretful.
3. The protagonist is dynamic because throughout his own journey through his memories he comes to bring thinga back up and forgive himself for the past. At the beginning of the book there is Is the protagonist static or dynamic? Flat or round? Explain.
4. After reading the book did you come away feeling like you'd met a person or read a character? Analyze one textual example that illustrates your reaction.
CHARACTERIZATION
1. Many of O'Brien's friends and fellow soldiers are described through heavy indirect characterization. In the jungle, the way their normal speech changes shows their true character. One good example is Jimmy Cross, who is characterized as being someone who carries a lot of guilt with him, as seen when his friends begin to die around him and the way it weighs heavily on his conscience (such as Kiowa, mentioned earlier.) Kiowa was characterized by many of his actions during their tour. He was a moral compass for his friends, and he had a lot of opinions on life, death, and the war. In a way, his death contrasted perfectly for his character, which was unforgiving and cruel. Many of the soldiers also showed direct characterization through O'Brien's point of view. He had his own views on how these people were to him. A big example of this is how much he looked up to Mitchell Sanders for his compassion for other soldiers and human life. On the other side of things, he shows respect for the medic's craft and not really his character. He uses both because the soldiers in Vietnam were always close, talking to each other, and many of them had skewed or broken personalities from the war. It was a good use of indirect and direct characterization to see how the narrators opinion is on the character vs. other people's interactions with him.
2. Yes, the author's syntax and diction change as he talks about other characters, because these characters were good friends of his that went through a lot with him, and some died in the process. For example, when he talks about his friends who were killed in action, he gets very sad and regretful.
3. The protagonist is dynamic because throughout his own journey through his memories he comes to bring thinga back up and forgive himself for the past. At the beginning of the book there is Is the protagonist static or dynamic? Flat or round? Explain.
4. After reading the book did you come away feeling like you'd met a person or read a character? Analyze one textual example that illustrates your reaction.
