1. The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien
Presentation of the story “The Things They Carried”

2. Characters are Defined by What They Carry….
Rank
Specialty in the field
Necessity (personal & professional)
Mission
Superstition
Reflects heritage, culture, personality
Why the emphasis on what things weigh?

3. Examples of things characters carry:
Rat Kiley: morphine, plasma, malaria tablets, surgical tape (comic books, M&Ms)
Kiowa: Bible, hatchet, & moccasins
Lt. Jimmy Cross: maps, binoculars, compass, code books, .45 pistol
What responsibility does Jimmy carry?

4. “They all carried ghosts” (9).
Lt. Jimmie Cross:
(Martha vs his Men): (8, 11)*
Ted Lavender:
(extra ammo, dope, tranquilizers): (6)*
Norman Bowker:
(pressure from dad to earn a medal): (34)*

5. Superstitions Jimmy Cross: Pebble from Martha
Dave Jensen: Rabbit’s foot
Henry Dobbins: Girlfriend’s stockings
Kiowa: Bible, hatchet
Norman Bowker: Thumb from corpse

6. Attitudes about Death Use Harsh, Crude language:
Ted Lavender was “zapped while zipping” (16).
Make Jokes
Kick or mutilate corpses
Can’t show fear, sadness, or remorse
What happens to Ted’s dope? (19-20)*
Appreciation for still being alive
(Kiowa “enjoyed not being dead”) (17).

7. Jimmy Cross Begins Changing
Feels extreme GUILT over Ted Lavender’s death.
Burns Martha’s Letter & Pictures
Realizes Martha’s True Feelings (23)*
As a moral obligation to Ted Lavender, focuses on becoming a better leader (24)*

8. 3 Final Considerations!
1. Besides the physical things, what emotional burdens do these guys carry? (20)
2. Why is the appearance of “a warm dense fog” (16) important in this story?
3. What do the initials in the name
Jimmy Cross suggest about the burden he carries?