Premium Essay

Summary: The Things They Carried

Submitted By
Words 352
Pages 2
Fransisco Payes
English 12H
Mr Chamberlin
The Things they Carried

1. Jimmy really loves Martha, unfortunately Martha doesn't like him back. The presence of her pictures and letters give him a sense of security, warmth and love, something to return too after the Vietnam war.
2. Jimmy is most likely to think about Martha , when he gets nervous. Cross imagines the tunnels collapsing on him and Martha .
3. Jimmy Cross feels guilty about Ted Lavender's death because he was distracted thinking about Martha. He feels like he could've done something about it. Ted Lavender's death is his own fault because he was on too many drugs and too numb to pay attention to protect himself.
4. The Soldiers tell jokes about war, about killing because it makes the

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

The Things They Carried Chapter Summary And Analysis

...The story begins with Tim O’Brien recounting an event that happened in the midst of the Vietnam War. “The Things They Carried” reveals various events he and his fellow soldiers in the Alpha Company experienced. Ted Lavender is the first soldier to die from the company. Ted copes with his wartime anxiety by taking tranquilizers and smoking marijuana. He is shot in the head on his way back from the lavatory and Lieutenant Jimmy Cross blames himself for Lavender’s death because he was thinking about Martha, his unrequited love from college, when he died. O’Brien recounts how he went to Vietnam. After being drafted in June 1968, his anxiety got the best of him and drove him to nearly dodge his draft by crossing the Canadian border. He feels an incredible sense of guilt while contemplating crossing and...

Words: 437 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Summary Of Tim O Brien's The Things They Carried

...In Tim O’Brien’s “The Things They Carried,” the title is directly related to the structure. Most of the structure making up this story revolves around the items carried by the soldiers. These items include material goods as well as spiritual baggage. Some of the physical items also represent their emotional state as soldiers. The recurring pattern of describing the physical and mental baggage serves to paint an accurate picture of the soldiers and their tragic situation. All of the men carry weapons. The weapons are heavy in many ways. They are heavy in a physical manner, putting strain on their arms and backs as they hump it through the wilderness. They are also heavy on the mind, for a soldier’s gun is a part of him. It is the tool of his trade. A rifle possesses an inherent deadliness, and each man knows he has the capability to end the life of another. Sometimes, this mental burden is heavier than the weapon itself. Such is the life of a soldier....

Words: 424 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Summary Of Tim O 'Brien's The Things They Carried'

...In chapter one of “The Things They Carried”, Tim O’Brien uses multiple levels of ambiguity regarding the word “carry” in order to demonstrate how war negatively affects soldiers in both mental and physical ways. In doing so, O’Brien argues that war is pointless and needlessly damaging to drafted soldiers. O’Brien begins the chapter by describing the physical supplies the men are carrying to ensure their safety in battle. They carry plentiful weaponry, including guns, mines, and grenades: “They carried all they could bear, and then some, including a silent awe for the terrible power of the things they carried” (7). O’Brien both tangible and intangible objects in this sentence to emphasize how the men are carrying many more burdens than just...

Words: 298 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Summary: The Things They Carried By Tim O Brien

...Prompt 2: The Culture of Soldiers One the most present aspects in Tim O'Brien's The Things They Carried is centered around the disconnect between the cultures of soldiers and civilians. Presented through the characters of Martha and Lieutenant Cross, O’Brien manages to express the disconnect through the Cross’ thoughts and feelings toward Martha and examines the case of soldier and civilian culture and identities being almost diametrically opposed to one another. When discussing soldiers work of literature, which I noticed in class, many discuss the differing viewpoints of interpretations between the perspective of war between soldiers and civilians, much like in Warring Memories, or actually more specifically those who experience specific trauma and those who view it from the outside, such as in Silence. In O’Brien’s work, Cross is is forced to experience the trauma and brutality of war which is inflicted upon him, and by him, physically and emotionally. Martha and his memories and feelings of her tie him to his civilian life and role. He thinks of her constantly and questions her letters and feelings in the midst of the War. It is not until after fellow soldier Ted Lavender does he sever his connection to Martha, or as I interpret it, his civilian culture and life....

Words: 454 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Summary Of Perception In Tim O Brien's The Things They Carried

...Perception is not in black and white, it is multifaceted. From a philosophical standpoint, one can equate perception to staring out of a window; when one stares out of a window their focus isn’t in just one direction because many things could be happening at once. At the very beginning of Tim O’Brien’s, “The Things They Carried,” the narrator introduces Rat to the reader, and mentions that Rat is writing his fallen comrade’s sister a letter expressing his condolences: “Rat tells her what a great brother she had, how together the guy was, a real number one pal and comrade. A real soldier’s soldier, Rat says. Then he tells a few stories to make the point…how her brother made the war seem almost fun, always raising hell and lighting up villes...

Words: 359 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

The Things They Carried Rhetorical Analysis

...The Things They Carried Summary: This section describes the soldier’s belongings they carried during the war, such as physical items like guns and mental belongings like their feelings and dignity, and how these belongings sometimes interfered with their reality. Message & Purpose: The message conveyed in this section is that soldiers carry physical belongings, as well as emotional, intangible items. These intangible items create the bridge to fantasy in an otherwise harsh war reality. He expresses that these items were sometimes heavier than the physical items they carried. Their personal items allow them to keep some part of home with them at all times. Tone/Diction: When describing the physical items of war they carried, O’Brien uses...

Words: 445 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Auditing Process

...Complete overview of an Audit Executive summary A financial audit refers to the verification of the financial statements of a company by an audit firm in order to express a professional opinion regarding their credibility. This process begins when a client approaches the auditor if deemed reputable the auditor accepts he begins by planning how to carry out the audit. This is done by assessing several factors such as risk, materiality etc. and then obtaining feedback in order to draw up the audit plan. At this point an audit team is assembled based on the audit strategy who visit the clients premise to carry out the procedures agreed upon in the planning stage through practical work or field work. Once enough evidence is accumulated to support the auditor’s opinion a draft audit report is drawn up. The client is contacted after this and feedback is obtained to make final necessary adjustments. Once finished the final audit report is issued which expresses the auditors professional opinion and recommendations, depending on the issues at hand a follow-up review may be carried out afterwards to see clients progress in adopting the suggested changes thus concluding the audit process. Table of Contents Particulars | Page # | Introduction | 3 | Stage 1: Planning | 3 | Step 1: Notification/Engagement Letter | 4 | Step 2: Audit Strategy | 4 | Step 3: Initial Meeting | 4 | Step 4: Planning Analytical Procedures | 5 | Step 5: Risk, Materiality and Control assessment...

Words: 3488 - Pages: 14

Free Essay

The Things They Carried

...The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien ENG 1300 W5A2 Andrea Carr South University Online The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien “The Things They Carried” is one of several short stories written by Tim O’Brien that brilliantly portrays a squad of young American soldiers in the Vietnam War. Each of the short stories builds on the last but in The Things They Carried the author places focus on how immature boys cope and their transformation into young men and responsible leaders. O’Brien is not a character in the story but the fact that he is fluent with military lingo and conveys great passion and a working knowledge of the military suggests that he was a soldier. He tells his war story of soldiers’ experiences with obsession, duty, regret, burden, comradely and maturing. He achieves this by describing every facet of the items they carried with great accuracy and detail. The things they carried as they are depicted in the story represent literal things, emotional things, psychological things and symbolic things all weighing in at different levels of importance. There were physical as well as emotional things they carried on their missions, both were equally burdensome. O’Brien states that during missions many of these items were discarded no regardless of their importance to achieve a higher level of comfort. The author further states that the choppers would effortlessly replace the discarded items. In research conducted by Michael Tavel Clarke he implies...

Words: 1603 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Cloud Computing for the Bank

...research projects need a concept paper: a short summary that tells the reader what the project is, why it is important, and how it will be carried out. Even if no one else ever reads it, the concept paper helps a researcher spot holes in her or his project that might later prove fatal. It is far better to be clear at the beginning than to put in a lot of effort for naught! Typically, a concept paper contains these elements: 1. A clear description of the research topic, including a summary of what is already known about that topic. 2. A one-sentence statement of the research question that the project will seek to answer. (This is almost always something that is not known.) The concept paper should connect this question to the existing literature -- something that almost always takes more than one sentence to accomplish. 3. A demonstration of why it is important to answer this research question. What good comes of this answer? Why is this project worth anybody's time? 4. A description of how the researcher plans to answer the research question. This includes: a. a description of the data that the researcher plans to gather or use; b. a description of how the researcher will analyze these data; c. a demonstration of how these data and this analytic method will answer the research question; and d. a summary of any ethical issues that may arise in the research process. 5. A statement of the limitations of this research, specifically the things that it cannot discover (and why). 6. Longer...

Words: 453 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

The Gray Zone by Primo Levi

...The Gray Zone by Primo Levi – Summary In the chapter, the gray zone, the author Primo Levi describes the human relationships inside the Lager. In describing the gray zone, Levi discusses the different roles of prisoners assigned by the Nazi. The prisoners that did the work were seen as being more privileged which at the end of the day helped them get more food and live better. Therefore, the concept of the gray zone is analyzing the difference between the privileged and the non-privileged in the Lager. The difference can be seen by the tasks that the prisoners carried out, for example, one of the groups were seen as, “Low ranking functionaries... sweepers, kettle washers, night watchmen, bed smoothers... checkers of lice and scabies, messengers, interpreters, assistants’ assistants. In general, these people poor devils like ourselves, who worked full time like everyone else but who for an extra half liter of soup were willing to carry out these and other ‘tertiary’ functions.” This group was seen as harmless and not much different than the underprivileged. The other group of prisoners in the Lager was seen as the enemies to their own people. They were referred to as the Kapos who were “free to commit the worst atrocities on their subject as punishment for any transgressions, or even without any motive whatsoever: until the end of 1943 it was not unusual for a prisoner to be beaten to death by a Kapo without the latter having to fear any sanctions.” The prisoners that became...

Words: 734 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Aquatic Therapy Summary

...The settings of the therapy provided varied from heated pools to land-based exercises. The number of participants, the type of population, and the intervention also were diverse. The one thing that came out with similar results was the primary outcome of the studies. What was studied was how aquatic therapy compared to manual therapy affected the quality of life in elderly patients with muscle and joint pain. A summary of studies is presented in Table 1. [Insert Table 1] Aquatic Therapy A study conducted by by Gill, McBurney, &...

Words: 945 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Tim O'Brien Biography

...Your name Professor English II April 27, 2014 Tim O’Brien: An American Novelist Tim O’brien is a great American novelist very known for many of his work. He has written many stories and novel’s which has made him very popular and won him many awards. Tim O’brien is very know for his books and stories but how does his past life influenced on much of his writing. Tim O’brien has gone through very tough times in his life which has greatly contributed to the ideas that are displayed in his work. The most important and most popular of his work was “the things they carried”. This was one of his most successful piece of work that skyrocketed his carrier as an author and writer, a successful story about the experience and atmosphere during World War II. Tim O’brien used his experience in combat to recreate a story of himself that goes into the smallest details about war and how it felt to be in it. Many of his other stories and novels that he has written as well talk about War and his experience in it. So what do we know exactly about him, the story that goes behind all his work. This is the story of a man who’s past has shaped his future. A man whose ideas shaped his life, his work, and his success. Tim O’Brien was born on October 1, 1946 in Austin Minessota. His father was was William Timothy O’Brien, a salesman. His mother was Ava Eleanor, a school teacher. Both of his parents served in the U.S Navy during the World War II. Tim O’Brien lived in Austin only to the age of nine...

Words: 1299 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Bacon's Rebellion

...Berkeley attempts to persuade Virginians to oppose Bacon. Berkeley said, “Mr. Bacon has none about him but the lowest of the people.” (“Declaration and Remonstrance”) He wanted the Virginian’s to think Bacon’s bad company had rubbed off onto Bacon to impair his reputation with his supporters. Governor Berkeley also said Bacon,”treacherously carried to the dishonor of the English nation.” (“Declaration and Remonstrance”) In the assembly of June 1676, also called Bacon’s Assembly, many Acts were passed favoring Bacon. This most likely upset Berkeley. Acts were passed to declare war with Indians and naming Bacon as general and commander in chief, to regulate offices of officers and to remove tax exemptions from counselors and ministerial families, in which Berkeley had enacted. (A Summary of the June Assembly’s Laws 1676) I think Bacon was able to have a following of Virginians the way he did was because he related more to the common people. (A Summary of the June Assembly’s Laws 1676) Bacon backfired to Berkeley in “Bacon’s Manifesto,” his petition to justify his attacks on the Indians. He said , “Now let us compare these things together and see what sponges have sucked up the public treasures and whether it hath not been privately contrived away by unworthy favorites and juggling parasites whose tottering fortunes have been repaired and supported at the public charge…” (Bacon’s Manifesto – July 1676) This was to inform the...

Words: 353 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Examples Of Corruption In Shawshank Redemption

...One example of this is shown in Shawshank Redemption, when one of the guards beat and killed one of the prisoners. The only reason for him to beat and kill the prisoner was, due to the fact he was crying. It was not like the prisoner was starting a riot or a fight. Stevenson mentions in Just Mercy a young woman named Trina Garnett. When she was imprisoned, she was raped by a guard, and was impregnated. After the guard was found, no compensation was made for her mental or physical well being. These two things, however, from different time periods can be compared side by side. These actions where completed for the guards wants, not job or order, therefore, this is a perfect example of corruption in the criminals justice system. The actions the guards carried out were all caused by personal beliefs or wants for a prisoner. These examples are not the only ones that show corruption in the criminal justice...

Words: 692 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

Awareness of the Faculty Members at Al-Balqa` Applied University to the Concept of Time Management and Its Relation to Some Variables

...Awareness of the faculty members at Al-Balqa` Applied University to the concept of time management and its relation to some variables Abstract The study aims to investigate how much is the time management awareness of the faculty members of the Al-Balqa` Applied university, and its relation to some variables. The study conducted on (150) teachers were selected randomly. For achieving the study goals an appropriate instrument has been built up based on the educational literature and former studies. The study has found out that the teachers’ awareness were “good”, where the planning awareness was the highest, and the execution one was the lowest, also the role of the time management in career life was more visible than the personal life. The study also found out that the variables of the study have a weak impact on the teachers` time management awareness. Key words: faculty members` awareness, time management Time is considered as one of the most important resources as all other resources related to it within its availability or shortage. Moreover, all tasks wither it was simple or small need time. Time has its own characteristics since it’s in continuous motion that can’t be stopped and it can’t be saved. It is a fixed quantity resource within 24 hours a day for all individuals and it cant be retrieved too ( Haynez, 2006). Those characteristics make it necessary to deal with time through wisdom and careful...

Words: 4492 - Pages: 18