1. The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien
TEST PREP

2. CHARACTERS TO KNOW: Norman Bowker Kiowa Rat Kiley Ted Lavender
Henry Dobbins
Martha
Linda
Jimmy Cross
Tim O’Brien
Mitchell Sanders
Elroy Berdahl
Mark Fossie
Norman Bowker
Rat Kiley
Curt Lemon
Lee Strunk
Dave Jensen
Azar
Bobby Jorgensen
Mary Anne Bell
Tim’s daughter
Eddie Diamond

3. ESSAY RESPONSE: You will choose only one option…
Using Rat Kiley and Norman Bowker, describe how O’Brien reveals the ugly, yet graphic truth of the Vietnam War?
Include:
Example of Rat Kiley
Example of Norman Bowker
Explain, in your opinion, what happens that forces these men to act irrationally.
Discuss what truth O’Brien is revealing
Two instances in which men from the Alpha Company use fear as motivation to act preposterously to spare their image.
Include:
Characters’ names and description
Brief summary of events
Explain how fear motivated them
Discussion of why you believe they acted that way