The Things They Carried: Vietnam War Notes & Literary Analysis

Why was reading material so limited during the war-in O'Brien's words?

Because reading material is heavy and difficult to carry.

What was O'Brien's role in his platoon?

O'Brien was a radio operator (or RTO).

What was the purpose of the journal entries (vignettes) he wrote daily?

O'Brien wrote these journal entries so that, if he were killed, there would be a record of his experiences.

What did O'Brien mean when he said that all humans "erase their own memories" on a daily basis?

He is addressing the fact that for the most part, people only remember intense memories. All of the everyday things are forgotten.

What was O'Brien's goal when writing The Things They Carried?

To write a work of fiction that felt true.

How many enemy soldiers did Erhardt encounter in his first 8 months in Vietnam?

4

According to Erhardt, how did American troops justify the mistreatment and killings of Vietnamese citizens?

He stated that it was impossible to identify their enemies, and all of the anger, fear, and frustration they felt was focused on civilians.

What became Erhardt's sole reason for being in Vietnam?

Staying alive

Definition of escapism.

Escapism is "the tendency to seek distraction and relief from unpleasant realities." It appears in this chapter through Cross's fixation on Martha and her letters.

Stream of consciousness.

A meandering style of narration intended to mimic human thought.

R&R

Rest and recuperation.

SOP

Standard Operating Procedure.

hedge

Hedge in this instance means to "protect oneself against [something.]

PFC

A PFC is a Private First Class.

dustoff

It refers to a helicopter.

AO

Area of operation

intangible

something that cannot be touched. It's like the emotional baggage they carry.

catch-as-catch-can

This phrase means "by any means necessary."

Refrain in reference to Ted Lavender.

O'Brien repeatedly refers to the fact that Lavender is scared or frightened.

"They carried all they could bear, and then some, including a silent awe for the terrible power of the things carried" (7).

Physical or emotional burdens.

moral of the severed thumb.

There is no moral

Why does Cross blame himself for Lavender's death?

Because he was distracted by his memories of Martha when Lavender died.

Why is Kiowa happy, when he reflects on the death of Lavender?

He is happy to still be alive.

According to O'Brien, what is the purpose of the jokes and hard vocabulary the characters use?

It is a form of escapism, which makes the experience easier to cope with.

What brought these men to war, in O'Brien's words? Be specific.

O'Brien says they went to war to "avoid the blush of dishonor" (20).