The Things They Carried
Chapter
“The Dentist”
“Sweetheart of the
Song Tra Bong”
“Stockings”
“Church”
“The Man I Killed”
“Ambush”
“Style”
“Speaking of Courage”
“Notes”
Page
86
89
“In the Field”
162
“Good Form”
“Field Trip”
179
181
“The Ghost Soldiers”
189
“Night Life”
219
“The Lives of the
Dead”
225
117
119
124
131
134
137
155
Characters
Curt Lemon
Rat Kiley, Mitchell
Sanders, Mark Fossie
Henry Dobbins
Henry Dobbins, Kiowa
Kiowa
Kiowa; Tim O’Brien
Henry Dobbins
Norman Bowker, Kiowa
Norman Bowker, Kiowa, Tim
O’Brien
Kiowa, Jimmy Cross,
Mitchell Sanders, Norman
Bowker, Rat Kiley
Tim O’Brien
Kathleen, Tim O’Brien,
Jimmy Cross, Kiowa
Rat Kiley, Norman Bowker,
Henry Dobbins, Mitchell
Sanders, Curt Lemon
Tim O’Brien, Rat Kiley,
Mitchell Sanders, Henry
Dobbins
Jimmy Cross, Henry
Dobbins, Tim O’Brien, Rat
Kiley, Kiowa, Mitchell
Sanders, Curt Lemon
Using the first seven chapters and your Cornell Notes,
chart the development of one character in the novel.
You should use at least two other chapters. Use the
reference chart above to find out the chapters that
feature specific characters.
Part One:
Use the chart to note the character’s development.
Character________________________________
Description
appearance
personality
Qualities
Values
(kind,
integrity,
etc.)
Burdens
emotional
and
physical
Themes and
Symbols
Associated
with
Quotes to
support
Consider the following:







Things they say that reveal their significant
characteristics
Things they do that reveal their characteristics
What kind of person is this character overall?
What is their dominant personality trait and how does
this impact their situation in war?
Why do you think they are the way they are?
How did the war affect them and how did they cope?
Any other information about your character that you
feel is relevant or interesting
Remember to back up any claims about your character(s)
with specific evidence from the book.
Part Two:
Complete one of the following activities based on your
character study




Write three separate journal entries from the viewpoint of
the character. Be sure that different events and specific
details are supplied in each one. Each entry should be one
hundred words. Write in the voice of the character.
Draw two pictures of your character. One which shows just
your character as the subject. Another picture that
depicts a scene in which your character and his traits are
shown. Color each picture. Be sure to use quotes to
support your drawing.
Write three original poems about the character. One might
be a haiku, another a sonnet, and a ballad. The sonnet
must have 14 lines and the ballad must be at least 6 four
line stanzas with two lines in each stanza which rhyme. You
may also choose to write a free verse poem of at least 25
lines
Write three letters from your character to another person.
Remember this story takes place during the Vietnam War.
Each letter should be one hundred words.