Mr. Gavin/Mrs. Horner
11 GP
“The Things They Carried”
Genre: fiction with some factual details
Setting: Vietnam
Point of View: Primarily first person; three chapters are in third person
Conflict: United States vs. Viet Cong; man vs. man; man vs. self
Style: narrative
Characters:
Tim O’Brien: the narrator who, in dealing with his own memories, conveys the horrors of the Vietnam War.
Jimmy Cross: twenty-four years old; first lieutenant and platoon leader; carries the responsibility for his men and blames himself for each death.
Ted Lavender: takes tranquilizers to mask his terror; first man to die; memories of his death continue to haunt the others.
Mitchell Sanders: kind; devoted to other soldiers; impartial; wants everyone to be treated fairly.
Norman Bowker: quiet; introspective; carries emotional scars home with him.
Bob “Rat” Kiley: platoon’s medic; brave and efficient
Kiowa: O’Brien’s close friend; compassionate; devout Christian
Henry Dobbins: large man; platoon’s machine-gunner
Azar: cruel, unkind; makes cruel jokes about death

Summary:
Through a series of linked stories, Tim O’Brien provides glimpses of the Vietnam
War and those who fought in it. Although the character Tim O’Brien is the narrator, the book is fiction rather than autobiographical, and O’Brien acknowledges that most of the events he records never really happened.
The “things they carried” into the Vietnam War include both tangible and intangible burdens. In addition to the physical necessities for survival, they carried cherished mementos, memories, and fears. While in Vietnam, they acquire additional burdens such as guilt, helplessness, anger, and grief. O’Brien reveals the emotional and mental pain the men experience in Vietnam and the nightmarish images they bring home with them.
Background Information:
Vietnam War: The first phase of the war began in 1946 when the Vietnamese fought France for control of Vietnam. From 1957 to 1965, the war was primarily between the South Vietnamese army and the Viet Cong, Communist- trained
South Vietnamese rebels. Beginning in 1965, North Vietnamese regular soldiers and the Viet Cong fought to control South Vietnam; the South Vietnamese army and the United States attempted, but failed to stop them. Thailand, South Korea, the Philippines, Australia, and New Zealand also aided South Vietnam. This was the longest conflict (1957-1975) in which the United States has ever participated, with direct U.S. involvement lasting from 1965-1973.
Questions.
Identify Lieutenant Jimmy Cross and explain what he carries into war (equipment, personal items, emotional burden).
Who is Martha? What do you think she symbolizes to Lt. Cross?

In what sense does Jimmy love Martha? Why does he construct this elaborate (mostly fictional) relationship with her? What does he get out of it?
When is he most likely to think about her? Why is he thinking about her while one of his platoon members is in the tunnel?
Why does Cross blame himself for Lavender’s death? Explain why you do or do not think his guilt is justified.
In what sense is Ted Lavender's death his fault?
Explain how the men in the platoon react to Lavender’s death. Why do you think they react the way they do?
Identify the men in Lt. Cross’ platoon and identify some of the tangible and some of the intangible things they carry into war. What is their primary motivation for fighting in the war?

Here is his excuse for allowing his men to be lax: "He was just a kid at war, in love."
Why does Jimmy use this excuse? In what sense does it excuse him? In what sense, doesn't it?
Why do the soldiers tell jokes about the war, about killing?
How is the idea of weight used and developed in this story ("Jungle boots, 2.1 pounds")?
How do you, as a reader, feel reading those lists of weight? What effect does it have on you?
If this is a story about sacrifice, what does Jimmy sacrifice, and why?
Explain what is being compared in the following metaphor, “... they dreamed of freedom birds.” Why are these “birds” important to the men in Vietnam?

How has Jimmy changed by the end of the story? How will he be a different person from this point on? What has he learned about himself? Or to put it another way, what has he lost and what has he gained?
Do you think the war will affect him in a different way now that he refuses to think about
Martha? How will it be different? What did "Martha" save him from?
List examples of similes and metaphors.