1. The Things They Carried
Tim O’Brien

2. Accessing Prior Knowledge
What do you know about the Vietnam War?
What do you think of when you think about the Vietnam War?

3. Vietnam War Divided Nation:
North – Communist who advocated independence – wanted to unify country
South – worked with France
1965: America sends troops to help South defeat North

4. Vietnam War 58,000 Americans dead
~150 billion dollars – cost to America
Guerrilla Warfare
Surprise attacks, ambushes, bombings, no clear enemy, terrorist in nature
Wanted to keep communism from spreading – domino theory

5. What is the domino theory?
The domino theory was a foreign policy theory, promoted by the government of the United States, that speculated that if one land in a region came under the influence of communism, then the surrounding countries would follow in a domino effect.

6. The domino theory was used by successive United States administrations during the Cold War to justify American intervention around the world.
Referring to communism in Indochina, U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower put the theory into words during an April 7, 1954 news conference:
“Finally, you have broader considerations that might follow what you would call the ‘falling domino’ principle. You have a row of dominoes set up, you knock over the first one, and what will happen to the last one is the certainty that it will go over very quickly. So you could have a beginning of a disintegration that would have the most profound influences.”

7. Vietnam Views Opposition: Civil War – no right to intervene
Bad military tactics – napalm, ambushes, etc.

8. Post Vietnam Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: ~ 30% of Vietnam Veterans
Frightening thoughts and memories
Lack of emotional attachments to others
Sleep disorders
Easily startled
Nightmares/flashbacks
Psychiatric problems
Lack of interest in life
~ 30% of Vietnam Veterans

9. Lingo in War AO – area of operation PFC – private first class
M & M’s – sarcastic for medical supplies
R & R – rest and relaxation
SOP – standard operating procedure
RTO – radio and telephone operator
AWOL – Absence without leave

10. Tim O’Brien Born October 1, 1946 in Minnesota (like Bob Dylan)
Drafted into Vietnam in 1968
Went to Harvard upon return
Teaches creative writing at Southwest Texas State University

11. Author Reliability/Credibility POV Author’s Purpose Paradox Symbol
Literary Terms
Author Reliability/Credibility
POV
Author’s Purpose
Paradox
Symbol
Theme

12. Author’s reliability/credibility
The abilities and experience make someone suitable for a particular job or activity, or proof of someone's abilities and experience
Think:
-What makes Arthur Miller a reliable/credible source?
-What makes Mark Twain a reliable/credible source?
-What makes F. Scott Fitzgerald a credible/reliable source?
-What makes Tim O’Brien a credible/reliable source?

13. * 1st person: the speaker is a character in the story or poem and tells it from his/her perspective (uses "I")
* 3rd person objective: The narrator can only report their actions and speech and the reader has to interpret what the characters are thinking.
* 3rd person limited: the speaker is not part of the story, but tells about the other characters but limits information about what one character sees and feels.
* 3rd person omniscient: the speaker is not part of the story, but is able to "know" and describe what all characters are thinking.
Point-of-view - The author's point-of-view concentrates on the vantage point of the speaker, or "teller", of the story or poem.

14. AUTHOR’S PURPOSE the reason(s) an author has for writing a selection.
Ask yourself why you think the author wrote the piece.
Begin by determining if they want to persuade, entertain, inform, or express.
Then decide how they accomplished that purpose through their writing.

15. If readers enjoyed what they read, one of the author’s purposes may have been to entertain.
If students learn while they are reading, one of the author’s purposes may have been to inform.
If readers changed the way they thought about a topic or issue, one of the author’s purposes may have been to persuade.
Authors may have more than one purpose for writing.
Author’s purpose can be stated explicitly or readers may have to infer the intent.

16. Ways Authors Achieve Purpose
Through:
Development of themes
Word choice
Imagery
Conflict & Resolution
Dynamic Characters

17. Think about The Crucible
Why did Arthur Miller decide to write the play?
Was his intent to persuade, entertain, inform and/or express?
What did he want to communicate to the audience?
What techniques did he use in his writing in order to communicate that purpose?

18. Conflict & Resolution: Dynamic Characters:
How did Miller use each of the following to achieve his purpose in The Crucible?
Theme:
Word choice:
Conflict & Resolution:
Dynamic Characters:

19. Paradox
A statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth
In love (marriage) the paradox occurs that two beings become one and yet remain two.
How do the laws of our land reflect the paradox of freedom?

20. Nobody goes to that restaurant; it's too crowded
Nobody goes to that restaurant; it's too crowded. Don't go near the water until you've learned to swim. If you get this message, call me; if you don't, then don't worry about it. If a person says about himself that he always lies, is that that the truth or a lie???

21. Symbols: You will not be tested over symbols, but we will identify and discuss these in the book!

22. What is a symbol?
A symbol is an object in a work of literature that represents both itself (“what it is”) and an abstract idea (“what it represents”)

27. How can I identify symbols?
Repetition
The author repeatedly talks about the little boy’s teddy bear.
Placement in the story
When Billy leaves school, he sees a double rainbow all the way across the sky.
Description
The author spends six pages describing the protagonist’s shield.

28. Theme

29. A theme is… A universal message about truth or life
“You can’t always get what you want.”

30. Finding a theme What to think about:
What is the topic or “big idea” in the work?
“The big topic is…”
What do the characters say or do that relates to the topic?
“They say…”
“They do…”
What do these things tell you that is important to learn about life?
“It is important to…”

31. What is a “BIG IDEA” in a work?
Themes are usually about big ideas like freedom, trust, family, good vs. evil, and so on.

32. Themes Killing another person can (or can’t) be justified.
The loss of a friend creates a heavy heart.
Isolation can have detrimental effects
The corruption of war is life-changing.
Adjusting to normal after war can be near impossible.
The individual consequences of war are never the same for everyone.
In times of war, sometimes hatred is a coping mechanism.