About the author
Where was Tim O'Brien born?
Austin, Minnesota
What is the role of memory and storytelling in coping with the trauma of war?
Storytelling becomes a coping mechanism for the soldiers. It allows them to process and share their stories with others.
Memory is often unreliable making the act of storytelling complex.
What did Kiowa carry?
he carried an axe and Bible in his back pack
Who is Curt Lemon?
Immature, risk taker, tragic.
The soldier that passed out in the dentist tent.
Lemon's actions ultimately lead to his own death (he steps on a rigged mortar round while playing a game)
Why was O'Brien in the Vietnam war?
He was drafted (he did not willingly sign up)
who is MaryAnne
Flown in to Vietnam to be with boyfriend
How does O'Brien portray the moral dilemmas of war?
The novel shows the (difficult) choices soldiers go through.
In combat, the decision to kill or the impact of violence on their own humanity.
What did Ted Lavender carry?
Who carried tranquilizers, Marijuana, extra ammunition?
Who is Rat Kiley?
He is the Platoon's Medic, tells good stories, has a lot of trauma from the war.
How did O'Brien react when he found out he was drafted? (at first)
He had been opposed to the war and intended to go to Canada while in training in Washington.
How does the novel explore the themes of love, loss, and grief?
The book touches on the loss of friends, the fear of losing loved ones, and the impact of war on their relationships.
The novel dives into grief and trauma and its impact on individuals and communities.
What did Jimmy Cross carry?
Who carried a pebble, picture and letters?
Who is Tim O'Brien?
The author of the novel, primary narrator, and story teller of others.
He enters the war a scared of the shame that dodging the war would bring him and leaves the war a guilt-ridden middle-aged man who tells stories about Vietnam in order to cope with his painful memories.
What were the two main subjects that Tim O'Brien wrote about in his early novels?
The experiences & effects of the war
How does O'Brien use the concept of "weight" metaphorically throughout the novel?
Weight symbolizes the physical and emotional burdens of war. It represents the heaviness of guilt, loss, and the moral ambiguities of combat.
What did Rat Kiley carry?
He carried bandages, M&M's, and Morphine
Who is Jimmy Cross?
Jimmy Cross is the lieutenant, He starts the novel young in love & not being able to take his position seriously.
He learns the harsh realities of war and the weight of his responsibility for the lives of his men. He ultimately learns to let go of his romantic fantasies and focus on the mission at hand.
When O'Brien got back from the war, what did he do? (Education & job)
He studied intermittently at Harvard University and worked for The Washington Post (1971–74) as an intern and reporter.
What is the significance of the title story, "The Things They Carried"?
The title of the book is the central theme of the novel: the physical and emotional burdens carried by soldiers.
What did Henry Dobbins carry?
Who carried extra food and a black flag?
Who is Kiowa?
Baptist and a Native American, Kind and compassionate, practical.
Kiowa’s died drowning under the muck of a sewage field.