The Things They Carried Characters and Plot

Tim O’Brien

The author and main character. He shares many stories and opinions from the war and how it shaped him

Jimmy Cross

The lieutentant of the group who struggles to make good decisions due to his unrequited love over Martha and other internal struggles

Mitchell Sanders

A beloved soilder who also tells many stories and acts as a moral compass for the entire platoon

Kiowa

A beloved soilder who’s death has a profound impact on the entire platoon. He’s also very religious and carried around a New Testament

Norman Bowker

A soilder that drives around the lake aimlessly and blames himself for Kiowa’s death. Writes Tim a letter asking him to tell his story, and eventually hangs himself

Elroy Berdahl

The owner of the Tip Top Lodge that takes Tim O’Brien in when he runs to Canada. Is very quiet and lets Tim make the decision on his own.

Mary Anne Bell

A young girl brought to Vietnam who becomes obsessed with the land, goes crazy, and disappears into the forest, becoming a legend

Henry Dobbins

The platoons “gentle giant” who is known for his kindness and simplicity

Bob “Rat” Kiley

The platoon’s medic who expertly repairs Tim O’Brien’s first gunshot wound. Eventually shoots off his toe to leave the war due to high stress

Curt Lemon

A childish soilder who dies after stepping on a mortar round

Ted Lavender

A soilder who deals with stress by popping tranquilizers and smoking marjaiuna. Dies after being shot in the head in the beginning of the novel

Lee Strunk

A soilderr who has a fight with Dave Jensen over a jackknife. The two eventually make a pact to kill the other if one is gravely injured, but Dave Jenses breaks this pact when this character receives terrible injuriesD

Dave Jensen

A soilder who breaks his own nose after a fight with Lee Strunk. When Lee gets grave injuries, this character refuses to kill him, violating their earlier pact. He is eventually relieved to learn that Lee passed from his injuries due to internal guilt over the pact

Azar

A rude soildier who tortures the Vietnamease and plays crude pranks on fellow soilders. Show some humanity when he helps unearth Kiowa’s body

Bobby Jorgenson

The new medic who almost kills Tim O’Brien after being paralyzed with fear on his first day. The two eventually make up over their shared hatred of Azar

Linda

Tim O’Brien’s first love who dies of a brain tumor when he’s nine. This inspires him to write as he wants to keep the memory of her alive

No, some are internal struggles

Are all the things soilders carry physical?

The head

Where was Ted Lavender shot?

He was daydreaming about Martha

Why does Jimmy Cross feel responsible for Ted Lavneder’s death?

Flees to the Canadian border

What does Tim O’Brien do when he receives his draft letter?

Steps on a mortar round

How does Curt Lemon die?

Kiowa

Whos death does Norman Bowker feel responsible for?

Himself and Norman Bowker

Who does Tim O’Brien compare to show how different people deal with grief?

A letter asking him to tell his story

What does Norman Bowker send to Tim O’Brien?

During the war and 20 years after

What two periods of time is Tim jumping between?

He described what his life might have looked like

How did Tim O’Brien deal with his guilt over killing the man?

Linda’s death - to keep the dead alive

What inspired Tim O’Brien to write and why does he write?