The Things They Carried (Wright)

Why does Tim O'Brien use fiction so much? (This is the most important part)

He uses fiction because he wants to make the stories in the book into morals, that can fit into our hearts. The fine details of the story are interchangeable, however the message isn't, and is achieved through fiction or altered memories.

What is the importance of the fictional baby buffalo?

Its innocence, it can represent a civilian or baby.

How is Vietnam like the Garden of Eden?

A jungle filled with unliminited, unchecked sin, and morals that are loose.

When Alpha company (Tim's company) is tasked with cleaning up the dead enemies, what does Tim compare the dead bodies to?

He compares the "bloated" bodies to Linda's dead body which was also "bloated."

What is the Andersonville camp from the quote at the start of the book? What is the significance behind this quote.

Andersonville was a camp for union soldiers, 1/3 died and the quote details how correctly guided people will understand the actual truth in the book, not just taking it all as truth immediately.

Who is Martha?

Lt. Cross's big crush. She doesn't write him love letters, but he hopes she will.

Other than carrying extra fat on his body, what does Henry Dobbins carry?

Extra rations, canned peaches.

What does Dave Jensen carry?

soap, dental floss, foot powder, and vitamins

What does Ted lavender carry?

Tranquilizers and Marijuana

What does Mitchell Sanders carry?

Condoms

Who helped Tim at his first wound?

Rat Kiley, they joked about the baby with him.

How was Tim's second wound different?

Almost dies of shock due to Jorgenson freezing. Later almost gets gangrene with his butt rotting away.

What is the odd thing Rat does when Tim gets choppered away?

Rat hugs him.

What was bad about being stationed at the Rear Supply base?

He isn't as close with any of the guys and Bobby basically replaced him.

What almost made Tim forgive Jorgenson?

If Jorgenson cried he would've forgave him, but Jorgenson chooses to not.

What does Jorgenson do that makes Tim even more angry?

"I hated him for making me stop hating him."

Who are the ''ghosts"

The enemies.

What is the famous "Ghost" story told by soldiers?

They cornered 2 VC in a dead end tunnel and when they went in there were just rats. Also there was a sotyr that VC wiped a whole squad of marines.

What PTSD experiencing does Tim go through during the prank?

Re-experiencing his trauma, basically recalling Jorgensons botched treatment.

What does Rat Kiley do to cope with the bugs, what does he always talk about?

Scratches himself over and over. He always talks about the bugs.

What is the significance of the bloated bodies?

Represents that the physical person after death has changed, but their spirt remains the same.

How do the men deal with the death of a VC nurse and baby?

De-humanize them, refer to them as a "crunchy munchie" to distance themselves from that death.

Dave Jensen cared about...

Hygiene, carried dental floss

Mitchell Sanders carried...

condoms

Why can't Henry Dobbins go on tunnel duty?

He's too fat to fit.

What did Norman carry?

A diary... shows he had a hard time expressing emotions.

What were the soldiers afraid of most?

Being embarrassed.

What did Kiowa carry and how is it significant?

New Testament and an old hunting hatchet, symbolic of his distrust for whites.

What is the Knee Incident? (Jimmy Cross and Martha)

Jimmy touched her knee at the movies, she looked at him somberly and sad.

What do Jimmy and Martha's interactions hint?

Martha was raped.

What did the soldiers carry for comfort?

Mine detector, pantyhose (Henry dobbins), and vitamins.

Who went in the tunnel during the first tunnel duty?

Lee struck drew the number 17 and went in the tunnel.

When Ted dies, why wasn't the squad focused on him?

They were too busy congratulating Lee Strunk, they thought the danger was in the tunnel, not the clear.

What do they do after Ted dies?

Smoke all his dope and pretend to talk to him, while others answer in his place. Helps re-animate him.

What does Mitchell Sanders cut off?

A finger from a dead VC, gives it to Norman Bowker.

How do the soldiers cope?

Cussing, joking, and stories.

What are freedom birds?

plane

What does Jimmy do after Ted's death?

Burns Martha's photographs.

What does Jimmy Cross request O'Brien do after the war?

Make him look brave and handsome in his book.

What do Norman and Henry do to pass time?

They play checkers.

What does Norman's dad harass him about?

getting medals.

What's the main reason Tim doesn't flee to Canada?

He's afraid of the gossip and people disgracing his name. He calls himself a coward for not confessing.

How does Elroy almost make Tim confess?

Asks him about wages and payment, making him confess about his John pork job.

Since the squad was so young, what did they do?

Childish things, Azar blowing up Ted's dog.

Papa San

Old man who helps the squad avoid traps

Why do Lee Strunk and Dave Jensen fight?

Lee stole Dave's jackknife, Dave breaks Lee's nose, Dave gets paranoid, Dave breaks his own nose to become even. After Lee dies he is free of a huge burden.

What pact did Lee and Dave make?

If one of them gets legs blown off, they will kill him. Lee ended up getting his legs blown off but begged Dave not to kill him. He later died from his wounds.

What happens when you send guys to war?

They come back talking dirty.

When Curt Lemon dies, what does Dave Jensen sing?

Lemon tree, this event would haunt Tim for the rest of his life.

How can you tell a true war story?

If you keep on telling it.

What happens when Curt goes to the dentist?

Faints instantly, then starts bawling and cussing.

What does Curt Lemon do in the middle of the night?

He goes to the dentist and forces him to pull out a tooth.

Who tells the Mark Fossie story?

Rat Kiley

How does Mark Fossies girl change?

She says she wants to "swallow the dirt and animals of Vietnam" she basically goes insane.

When does she start going insane?

Mary Anne starts going insane when she goes on a night patrol with the green berets

Where does Mark Fossie think Mary Anne is the first night when she doesn't return to base?

Sleeping with another guy, she is really green berets.

When does Mary Anne Bell first show signs of change?

At the start, when she starts treating wounded men.

What is Mary Anne wearing at the end of the chapter?

Necklace of human tongues whilst living in the green berets quarters.

When Mary Anne says she wants to eat the dirt and death of Vietnam, what does this symbolize?

Eucharist.

What does Marry Anne wear at the start of the chapter?

Pink, shows innocence

When did Dobbins luck out?

When he stepped on a landmine and survived

How did the monks treat the soldiers?

Liked dobbins, brought watermelons and chairs for them.

What did the soldiers call Dobbins?

Soldier Jesus

How are Dobbins and Kiowa different when it comes to church?

Dobbins wants to be a minister to help people and socialize, Kiowa likes the peace of a church.

How does Tim O'Brien get his first kill?

Grenades a man on an ambush.

What does Tim do to cope with the man's death?

He creates a fake backstory for him.

Who comforts Tim after he kills the man?

Kiowa comforts Tim

How does Tim say the dead man will be kept alive?

Through stories and memories of people

What does Kathleen symbolize?

Daughter, symbolizes the innocence and our point of view on war.

When does Henry Dobbins crash out?

When Azar mocks the village girls dancing. (the girl that found her family dead.)

What is in the center of Norman's hometown?

A lake, serves as the nucleus of the entire town.

What does the Lake symbolize?

The shit field in Vietnam

What happened to Norman's friends?

One drowned one married off.

When does Norman almost talk about his experience in Vietnam?

Almost talks to the burger joint worker, but decides not to.

Why doesn't Norman's dad help him cope?

Too busy watching baseball.

Why doesn't Norman want recognition for his service?

He doesn't want to be reminded of Vietnam.

How does Norman die?

Hangs himself in a locker room in 1975 without telling anyone. "He was a quiet boy, and I don't suppose he wanted to bother anybody."

Who was really responsible for Kiowa's death?

Tim; Tim used his flashlight to show Kiowa a picture of a girl, which alerted the enemies to bomb their position.

Who finds Kiowa's equipment?

Mitchell Sanders

Who finds Kiowa's body?

Bowker finds Kiowa's body by spotting the heel of his boot. He retrieves the body with the help of Azar, Sanders, Dobbins, and Kiley.

Why does Azar feel guilty for making jokes about Kiowa?

It's almost like Kiowa could hear him.

How does Lt. Cross's letter to Kiowa's father change?

Goes from apologetic to describing it as a freak accident.

Happening Truth

Real facts

Story Truths

Morals and made up stories. Example: The story of the man he killed on the trail with a grenade.

What does O'Brien bring back to the shit field after the war?

Kiowa's moccasins and buries them.