1. Themes in T.T.T.C. Literally, the “things” the men carried; physically and emotionally, but mostly emotionally The nature of “storytelling” and all that goes along with it… Innocence vs. harsh reality The role of “outsiders” to the war, especially the role of women… The role of “courage”, especially “bravado” (a show of courage)

2. Theme 1: The Things They Carried Literal and figurative reference to the things soldiers deal with –Physical weight –Emotional weight (“fear” “ghosts”) “He carried a strobe light and the responsibility for the lives of his men.” Men also carried reminders of home & objects of superstition

3. Page 20 “They carried all the emotional baggage of men who might die. Grief, terror, love, longing-these were intangibles, but the intangibles had their own mass and specific gravity, they had tangible weight…

4. Theme 2: The Nature of Storytelling and Memory Comments on the role of stories in the lives of soldiers; the need to explain the unexplainable & begin to heal Storytelling linked to “confession”; punishment is reliving it as you remember Many times “truth” and “fiction” are called into question; general idea is that truth is relative and not necessary to the telling of a “true” story Narrator links stories loosely; events not bound by chronology (time) but the way one might remember things

5. Page 36 “…the war occurred half a lifetime ago, and yet the remembering makes it now. And sometimes remembering will lead to a story, which makes it forever.”

6. Theme 3: Innocence vs. Harsh Reality Reality basically gives childhood a head-butt Joking is a defense mechanism When Cross thinks of Martha, he is transported elsewhere; (pebble is physical “prop” in the imaginary scene) “He could not bring himself to worry about matters of security. He was beyond that. He was just a kid at war, in love. He was 24 years old. He couldn’t help it.” (O’Brien 11)

7. Theme 4: “Outsiders” especially women Outsiders can NEVER really understand what has happened Women are in another world, and incompatible with the atrocities of war –Examples: Martha never mentions war in her letters except to say “take care of yourself” –“…when he thought about Martha, it would be only to think that she belonged elsewhere.”

8. Theme 5: The role of Courage and “Bravado” Bravado is a “false” show of bravery Often the soldiers’ motivation isn’t bravery, but the fear of looking like a coward (paradox) They made fun of the guys that shot their toes off, but they secretly admired them

9. Page 20, Cont’d They carried the common secret of cowardice barely restrained, the instinct to run or freeze or hide, and in many respects, this was the heaviest burden of all, for it could never be put down, it required perfect balance and perfect posture…They carried the soldier’s greatest fear, which was the fear of blushing.”