the things they carried project

The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien

1954-75 (U.S. involved, 1961-75) U.S. troops engaged: 8,744,000 American battle deaths: 47,410 The U.S. helped non-Communist South Vietnam fight the invasion by Communist North Vietnam (Viet Cong). Background

1. 2. 3. Imagery

1.           Trait; (Quote) pg.# 2.           Trait; (Quote) pg.# 3. 4. Character Traits

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Themes

1.           Spin: “You take your material where you find it, which is in your life, at the intersection of past and present.” 2.            Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong: This is not truly a story of Mary Anne’s transformation: It’s more about storytelling and the loss of innocence. Many of the soldiers are represented by Mary Anne: They, too, left America as young and naïve, and like her, they lost their innocence in Vietnam. Eventually, they all crossed over into the dark side of the war experience, and their innocent selves were lost for good. 3.Speaking of Courage: Compelling metaphor: The sewage field represents an unpleasant, meaningless battle that none of the soldiers can escape; literally Kiowa, and symbolically Bowker, whose wading into the lake he drives around (and even tasting it) signals his desire to return to Vietnam to change the events that ended Kiowa’s life. 4.Notes This is O'Brien's search for authenticity in storytelling: Most of his writing comes from the “simple need to talk,” illustrating that his writing is his chosen form of relief from mental anguish.  5.In the Field No one emerges emotionally intact from the three perspectives of “In The Field.” When the men discover Kiowa’s body, they are overwhelmed by the sense of “bad luck” that caused his death – bad luck that could have claimed (and still could claim) any one of them 6. The Lives of the Dead This is the story that encapsulates the novel’s purpose: writing in order to make sense of life, especially in relation to others’ deaths. Linda is O’Brien’s first love – and his first realization that fiction can overcome death. When this beautiful, little child dies, her innocence, and O’Brien’s, dies with her. Linda’s visits to O’Brien’s dreams begin a life-long process of addressing difficulty through imagination and illusion: an ability he carried with him to Vietnam. By keeping Linda alive – as well as his Vietnam comrades – O’Brien is keeping himself alive. Key Chapters

The Odyssey

Odyssey = Epic  Epic=Long Narrative Poem Story begins “in media res”. The Trojan War has just ended and Odysseus must journey home. Background

1.  Odysseus is loyal. It says, “while he fought only to save his life, to bring his shipmates home”. This is because he was committed to his men. 2.  Odysseus is tough. It says, “all the gods had pitied lord odysseus except Poseidon, raging cold and rough against the brave king”.  He is tough because he is able to survive Poseidon’s waters. 3.  Odysseus is ___________. It says, “__________”. This is because __________________. Hero Trait

Courage Fate of a Nation Homecoming Beauty Loyalty Life and Death Theme

Olympians Interactive Map

Hero Journey