The Things They Carried Assignments
Assignment #1: “The Things They Carried” pgs. 1-26
List the soldiers and the items they carried:

Which items are timeless?

Why might O’Brien choose to give each man specific items in addition to the typical
soldier’s gear?

What do the items tell us about each soldier’s duties and personality?

What do we learn about their hopes and desires?
Assignment #2:
Read handout: “Conscription and the U.S. Draft.” Discuss the pros and cons of instituting a draft
during a time of national crisis. Read handout: “The Vietnam War.” Take notes.
Assignment #3: “Love,” “Spin,” and “On Rainy River” pgs. 27-61
Finish reading the selections. Choose your favorite of these 3 stories. Write a one paragraph
synopsis. Think about the ways that memory unites these stories. (Synopsis must be typed or
written in blue/ black ink.)
A synopsis is a brief summary of the major points of a written work.
Assignment #4: “Enemies,” “Friends,” How to Tell a True War Story,” and “The Dentist”
pgs. 62-88
Identify the protagonist and antagonist in each story.
Assignment #5:

Consider the 8 stories we have read so far. Who are the “major” characters and which
characters have minor roles?

Which characters seem to be the most important and why?
Assignment#6: “Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong” pgs. 89-116
Identify ways O’Brien uses figurative language such as imagery, simile, and metaphor to
enhance the story. List at least one example of each and include the page number where your
example is found. Also, explain how this is an example of imagery, simile, and metaphor.
Assignment #7:
Discuss “Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong.”

Does this story’s lack of believability make it any less compelling?

How much of the “Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong” seems real?

Is there moral to Rat Kiley’s story “Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong?”

How does O’Brien’s use of figurative language enhance the reader’s experience in this
story?
Assignment #8:
In your group, find examples of imagery of the following topics: the topography of Vietnam, the
Green Berets, or Mary Anne’s transformation. How do these examples appeal to the reader’s
senses?
Assignment #9: “Stockings,” “Church,” “The Man I Killed,” “Ambush,” and “Style” pgs. 117-136
As you read, identify at least one object from each chapter that functions as a symbol. Be
prepared to discuss the object’s symbolic importance.
Symbol: in general terms, anything that stands for something else. Obvious examples are flags,
which symbolize a nation; the cross is a symbol for Christianity; Uncle Sam a symbol for the
United States. In literature, a symbol is expected to have significance.
Assignment #10: “Speaking of Courage” and “Notes” pgs. 137-161
Discuss the evolution of Norman Bowker’s character throughout the book.

How does “Speaking of Courage” show us the complex relationship between one man,
his fellow soldiers, his family, and friends in his hometown?

Does learning about Norman Bowker’s post-war life change the way we feel about his
actions during the attack that took Kiowa’s life?

“Speaking of Courage” is the only story other than the title story, “The Things They
Carried,” that is written in the third-person point of view. Why might O’Brien have
chosen this narrative stance?

Do you believe there are any heroes in the book? If so, how do they display courage?

Does the narrators opinion of courage change during the course of the book?
Assignment #11: “In the Field,” “Good Form,” and “Field Trip” pgs. 162-188
Write a condolence letter from one of the soldiers (Norman Bowker, Tim O’Brien, or Jimmy
Cross) to Kiowa’s family.
Assignment #12:
Read and discuss handout: “The Quang Ngai Province and the My Lai Massacre.”

What is the relationship between truth and fact in The Things They Carried?

Why are facts important?

How much factual information do we need to understand the truth?

How might knowing all the factual information about O’Brien’s service in Vietnam
hinder us from understanding the book?

How does the search for truth enhance the book’s plot?
Assignment #13: “The Ghost Soldiers” pgs. 189-218
Thoroughly answer the following questions using passages (quotes including page numbers)
from the book to support your response:
1. Are there instances where social pressure affects a character or the unit as a whole? Is
this pressure positive or is it a negative influence?
2. Write a short analysis of your assigned character’s individual moral code by quoting
passages from the book. (O’Brien, Jorgenson, Azar, Sanders)
3. How do the characters’ morals differ from one another? How are they the same?
Assignment #14: “Nightlife” and “The Lives of the Dead” pgs. 219-246
Read selections.
Assignment #15:
The Things They Carried Backpack
1. Draw the three personal choice items you would carry with you if you went to war.
2. Write in complete sentences a description of each item and an explanation of why you
chose it.
3. You will be graded on neatness and mechanics.
4. Use colored pencils, markers or pen