The Things They Carried
Tim O’Brien
Bodine
Directions: Answer each of the questions in COMPLETE sentences.
Due Date: First Day of School- September 2013
The Things They Carried
1. Name 3 practical items mentioned in the story that most soldiers carried.
2. Name 3 sentimental items that many soldiers carried.
3. Name 3 unusual items that some soldiers carried.
4. What are “legs” or “grunts”?
5. To carry something, or to march or walk was called “h_____________”.
The Things They Carried
p. 10-19
1. How did the men choose who would go into the tunnel?
2. When and how did Ted Lavender die?
3. Norman Bowker carried a VC’s body part. What was it?
4. Name 2 diseases that the soldiers carried.
5. Why did Lt. Cross blame himself for Ted Lavender’s death?
6. What was Kiowa’s reaction to Lavender’s death?
“Love”
1. How did the telling of this story change in this chapter? Why do you think this happens? Who is
now speaking?
2. Who is the author conversing with in this chapter? What do we learn about his former “buddy”?
3. What is the author saying about “Love” in this section? What is he saying about the impact love
has on someone in combat?
“Spin”
1. Why is this chapter called “Spin”? What is a “spin” on something?
2. Why does Tim O’Brien say he writes all these stories about the war?
3. Why did Tim and his fellow soldiers follow the poppa-san through the fields? What did the
rhyme they chanted mean- “Step out of line, hit a mine; follow the dink, you’re in the pink”?
“How to Tell a True War Story”
1. On page 90, O’Brien explains that this story was “not a war story. It was a love story.” What does
he mean? Explain in detail using examples (QUOTES w/ PAGE NUMBERS) from the story.
“Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong”
1. Is this a war story? Who is the main character and why?
2. How does O’Brien get the reader interested from the start of the story after he’s admitted that
it is probably not true?
3. How does O’Brien use physical details to show Mary Anne’s change?
4. Does it matter that we don’t know what happened to Mary Anne at the end of the story? Would
it be better if we knew exactly what happened when she left the camp?
“The Man I Killed”
1. Why does O’Brien start with a graphic detailed description of the man he killed?
2. How does O’Brien know so many personal details about the dead man’s life?
“Speaking of Courage”
1. Why is this story called “Speaking of Courage”?
2. Why does Norman Bowker still feel inadequate with seven medals?
3. What is the more difficult problem for Norman—not having the Silver Star or the death of
Kiowa? Explain.
4. Norman develops an active fantasy life; why do the men in the story develop these roles?
5. Why is Norman unable to relate to anyone at home?
“Notes”
1. Why does O’Brien include parts of Norman’s letter in the book? What does it accomplish?
2. How does O’Brien explain how fiction relates to real life?
“Ghost Soldiers”
1. Why was O’Brien the subject of many jokes after his second combat injury?
2. Why does Tim feel separated from his former war “buddies”?
3. Why is Tim so angry with Bobby Jorgenson?
4. Why did Tim refuse to accept Bobby Jorgenson’s apology?
5. How did Tim get his revenge at the end of the chapter? Did it work? Why or why not?
“Field Trip”
1. In “Field Trip” Tim returns to Vietnam with his young daughter, Kathleen, after the war. Why is it
important for him to do this? How do you think this trip will affect his daughter? (Answer in
paragraph form with as much detail as you can.) REREAD WHAT YOU WRITE!!!!
“The Lives of the Dead”
1. In the beginning, how does O’Brien set us up to believe this story?
2. In your opinion, why does O’Brien include the story about a young girl, named Linda, in this
collection?
3. How does O’Brien learn about storytelling from his experience with Linda?
4. Explain the differences between the first time he was shot and the second time he was shot.
5. How does Azar’s behavior reflect the negative aspects of the Vietnam experience?
6. Why does Rat Kiley shoot himself in the foot?
Connections
1. Describe a particular scene or situation in the novel that relates to your life.
2. What do you think about the way the character(s) handled the situation or problem?
3. What similar situation or problem have you experienced or observed in your life?
4. What did you do or think about it?
5. Now that you’ve read the novel, would you change how you thought about or handled the
situation or problem? Why?