1. The Things They Carried
Tim O’Brien

2. Author Background Opposed the Vietnam War; considered going to Canada
Service: February March 1970
Quang Ngai Province
eventually wounded and returned home

3. Novel Background Published 1990
sequence of stories that take place during and after Vietnam War
Neither fact nor fiction in its entirety
Is fact or fiction more important?
Neither - the EMOTION of the work is most important
Narration
Tim O’Brien (narrator but not necessarily the author)
O’Brien inserts himself into his stories for 2 reasons:
to anchor his narratives to a larger world (represents not just himself - he becomes a representative for other Vietnam vets who have similar stories to tell)
he is unable to escape the memories of his war experience (catharsis)
Reliability of narrator is challenged throughout the novel
theme of chaos leads to the tone of uncertainty - mimics feeling of the generation

4. How were Vietnam vets treated when they returned home?
How do they feel about their service in the war?
How do their experiences differ from that of other war veterans, such as WWII vets?
How are the soldiers depicted? Why?
Describe the process of the examination.
What is being conveyed by the newly enlisted soldiers carrying Lady Liberty?

7. Themes Physical and emotional burdens
Fear of shame and guilt as a motivator
Patriotism, masculinity, etc.
The subjugation of truth to storytelling
Act of storytelling becomes more important than being completely truthful
Storytelling becomes an expression of memory and a catharsis of the past
Resolution

8. Motifs Storytelling Social obligation Ambiguous morality
Loneliness and isolation

9. Symbols Dead young Vietnamese soldier
Humanity’s guilt over horrific actions in wartime
Kathleen
the gap in communication between one who tells a story and one who receives a story
Linda
represents elements of the past that can be brought back through imagination and storytelling