The primary theme in the novel The Things They Carried is
the burdens we all carry
. The first chapter of the novel is dedicated to the physical and emotional burdens the men carried with them as they marched: the guns, the gear, the photos, the letters, the hope, the fear, the memories, and the guilt.
What is the central idea for The Things They Carried?
The central idea of the titular story is that
the soldiers in the Vietnam War carry a variety of “things
,” some literal some more abstract. For example, they carry equipment, rations, weapons, and the physical items they need to fight and to live. Beyond that, they carry items from home that have sentimental value.
What can you learn from The Things They Carried?
In “The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien, O’Brien portrays a captivating message of responsibility to his readers. … Its moral explains how we sometimes let ourselves “out” of our problems, because we would like to be somewhere pleasant.
What is the most important story in The Things They Carried?
Two of the most poignant stories in The Things They Carried are
“On the Rainy River” and “Field Trip
.” “Rainy River” portrays a young O’Brien, weeks removed from his college graduation, leaving his home in Worthington, Minnesota, for a fishing outpost on the Canadian border, agonizing over whether to report for Army …
What does Rat Kiley carry emotionally?
In The Things They Carried, Rat Kiley emotionally carries
stories about the war, the responsibility for the lives of the men in the platoon, and the burden of witnessing violence and death
.
Author Tim O’Brien’s purpose in writing his book The Things They Carriedis
to use the genre of fiction to explore the harsh realities of war and communicate them to a wider audience
.
Why should we read The Things They Carried?
Profound, heartbreaking, thought-provoking war literature at its finest, this novel isn’t content to simply explore the emotional lives of soldiers. Instead, The Things We Carried begs
the reader to question the very nature of life, death, and survival
.
What kind of truth is O’Brien trying to communicate?
What kind of truth is O’Brien trying to communicate if not actual fact?
The story has to have things that seem real to make people believe the stories
. It needs to make people want to ask questions after hearing the stories. Describe the dentist and what he does for the men.
What is the symbolism in The Things They Carried?
The pebble in The Things They Carried symbolizes
Martha
, a woman who would never love Lt. Cross the same way he loved her, a complex relationship, and an undying symbol of love and affection that can never be destroyed. The pebble has a powerful significance in the life of Lt. Jimmy Cross.
What did Tim O’Brien carry physically?
Tim O’Brien: I carried all the standard military stuff:
grenades, ammo, an M16, sometimes an M60
. Letters from mom, dad. Letters from a girl back home. More than the physical, I carried incredible terror with every single step I took.
What is a soldier’s greatest fear?
–
Being coward
is a soldier’s greatest fear.
What is O Brien’s definition of truth?
For O’Brien,
something isn’t true unless it feels true
. Whether or not it actually happened is beside the point; something can even have happened and not be true.
What does Rat Kiley symbolize?
He moves quickly and efficiently, even helping O’Brien after he is shot at one point. Beyond his role as the medic, Rat Kiley takes on significance as
a storyteller
, a jokester, and eventually, as an example of the tragic effect the stress of war has on a person.
What things did Rat Kiley carry?
The medic, Rat Kiley, carries
morphine, malaria tablets
, and supplies for serious wounds.
Does Rat Kiley have PTSD?
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
is very noticeable in all of the men of Alpha Company that Tim O’Brien wrote about in the novel but three men who were extremely affected by serving in Vietnam were Rat Kiley, Norman Bowker, and Ted Lavender.
Why does O’Brien eventually cry in the boat?
Why does O’brien decide to go to war rather than Canada? … Why does young Tim O’brien cry in the boat with Elroy Berdahl? He cried
because he didn’t know whether to go to Canada or to war
. What medal does Norman Bowker almost win?
