1. The Things They Carried
Tim O’Brien
The Things They Carried

2. The Things They Carried
A Work of Fiction by Tim O’Brien

3. Historical Context 1940s World War II ends, 1945.
Tim O'Brien is born on October 1, 1946.
1950s Dwight D. Eisenhower is inaugurated U.S. president, 1953, heralding a period of economic prosperity.
U.S. offers aid to the South Vietnamese government, 1955

4. Historical Context
1960s An incident between North Vietnamese and U.S. battleships in the Gulf of Tonkin prompts President Johnson to order the first U.S. airstrikes against North Vietnam, August 1964.
The first U.S. combat troops are sent to Vietnam, March 1965.
Nearly 100,000 people march in Washington, D.C., to protest the war, October 1967.
O'Brien graduates from college and is drafted into the army, 1968.
1970s O'Brien is sent home with a Purple Heart and the rank of sergeant, 1970.
Saigon falls to the North Vietnamese, ending the Vietnam War, April 1975.

8. Historical Context
Video:
Video:

10. Style - Annotating
The Things They Carried is told mainly from the first-person point of view of a narrator named Tim O’Brien who shares many of the same experiences as the author. There are two stories in the book that are not told from this perspective. As you read the book and notice a shift in the narrative perspective, ask yourself why the author might have chosen to alter the point of view.

11. Style - Annotating Each story in the book has its own protagonist
and conflict. Readers should ask themselves whose
story is being told.
What does the protagonist desire more than anything else?
What stands in his or her way?
Make notes about the characters who
appear in each story and how their roles change
over the course of the book.

12. Lit Terms - Annotating
O’Brien uses recurring characters, places, and objects as symbols throughout The Things They Carried. Readers should note each place where these symbols appear in the text and consider how they contribute to a story’s meaning. If a symbol is used in more than one story, it’s important to note how the symbolic value of the object affects the book as a whole (Conceit).

13. Setting - Annotations
Setting also plays an important role in understanding the individual stories and how they fit together. Setting can affect the tone and mood of a work of fiction. Much of the action of The Things They Carried takes place in Vietnam. Readers should be aware of changes in setting and how those changes vary even within a single story. Be aware of how the narrator describes the setting and what emotions those descriptions are intended to evoke.

14. “The Things They Carried”
Lt. Jimmy Cross carries his love for Martha and the responsibility for his men – a conflict
Commentary on the Vietnam War - "By daylight they took sniper fire, at night they were mortared, but it was not battle, it was just the endless march, village to village, without purpose, nothing won or lost.” – as a Vet. what is O’Brien saying about this war?
Defenses – Language & Jokes – “greased,” “offed,” “zapped while zipping”

15. Characters Lt. Jimmy Cross Rat Kiley Ted Lavender Kiowa Henry Dobbins
Norman Bowker
Tim O’Brien
Mitchel Sanders

16. “On the Rainy River”

17. What is the conflict experienced during this chapter?
Why is Elroy an important symbol?
How does the setting reveal the mood of this chapter/conflict?
Paradox: “I survived, but it’s not a happy ending. I was a coward. I went to the war.” – what does this tell you about O’Brien’s character?
Discuss his decision: “I couldn’t risk the embarrassment…I couldn’t make myself be brave. It had nothing to do with morality. Embarrassment, that’s all it was.”
How are similes and metaphors used to illustrate the character’s feelings?

18. May 2010

19. In Class Essay Plan ahead – outline due tomorrow
Have a clear thesis statement
Use two quotations from the novel that will support your thesis
Use organization (introduction, body, conclusion)

20. Thesis Statement
Have a focused sentence that answers one of the questions

21. Quotations Choose 2 to use! Always lead in to quotations
I.e.: O’Brien explains to his reader that “a true war story is never moral” (46).

22. Question 1- claim that this theme is the most important
Bravery
“On the Rainy River” – I was a coward, I went to war (talk about the differences between being a coward and bravery to O”Brien)
“The Dentist”- Needing to prove he is brave
Responsibility
“The Things They Carried” (Cross’ responsibility for his men
“In the Field” (Discussion of requiring blame)

23. Question 1- claim that this theme is the most important
War & Love
“Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong” – Mary Anne Bell and Mark Fosse
“How to Tell a True War Story” – Sister who never writes back
“The Lives of the Dead” – Love of Linda
Figurative vs. Literal Weight
“The Things They Carried”

24. Question 2: Guilt
Thesis: Guilt causes the men in The Things They Carried to….
Cross’ guilt over Lavender’s death
O’Brien’s guilt in “The Man I Killed”
Enemies/Friends
Guilt they all feel over loss of Kiowa

25. Question 3: Change Opinion?
Trace your observations of O’Brien from start to finish…
What was your initial feeling about O’Brien (“On the Rainy River”)?
Did it change during “The Man I Killed”?
How did it end during “Field Trip” and “Ghost Soldiers”?

26. Question 4: Storytelling
Use “Spin,” “How to Tell a True War Story,” and “The Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong” to get notes on what a true war story is.