The Things They Carried

The Things They Carried

By Joseph Agundez

​Tim O'Brien uses these types of writing styles in The Things They Carried.

• Historical Fiction

• Creative Nonfiction

• Memoir

• Meta-Fiction​

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​Historical Fiction

​Historical details and events are used to enrich a fictional story. Tim O'Brien shares authentic experiences about the Vietnam War, but he is not strictly a historian. His purpose is to tell a story about the Vietnam War to reflect the complexity of human nature and exploring the past.

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​Creative Nonfiction

When an author crafts his/her words artfully as a fictional writer, but the story is true to their own experiences. Tim O'Brien dedicates his book to his platoon squad that served with him in Vietnam.​

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​Memoir

A memoir discusses a specific event that happened during the author's life in great detail. Tim O'Brien refers to himself by name in his book and he tells the story as a Vietnam Veteran.​

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​Meta-Fiction

The breaking of literary tradition between fiction and nonfiction story telling. Tim O'Brien frequently blurs the line between "story truth" (fiction) and "happening truth" (nonfiction). ​

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​What is a symbol?

A symbol is a literary device in which an object, place, or person is used to represent an abstract idea-often with multiple levels of meaning.​

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​- Tim O'Brien

" They carried the land itself - Vietnam, the place, the soil - a powdery orange-red dust that covered their boots and fatigues and faces. " 

Multiple Choice

The weight, grief, sadness, and anger of "The Things They Carried" is a form of.

• Theme

• Simile

• Symbolism

• Irony

Multiple Choice

"Boom...Down" described the sound of___?

• Sadness

• Death

• Fighting

• Marching

Multiple Choice

What kind of writing style is the following quote?

"In June of 1968, a month after graduating from Macalester Collee, I was drafted to fight a war I hated. I was 21 years old. Young, yes, and politically naïve, but even so the American war in Vietnam seemed to me wrong" (p.38)

• Meta-Fiction

• Historical Fiction

• Memoir

• Creative Nonfiction

Multiple Choice

How does Tim O'Brien view the Vietnam War?

• Justified

• Unjustified

Fill in the Blanks

In chapter 4 On The Rainy River, Tim O'Brien says "And yet by his presence, his mute watchfulness, he made it real. He was the true audience...who looks on in absolute silence as we live our lives, as we make our choices or fail to make them."

In this quote, what comparisons does Tim O'Brien make towards Elroy Berdahl?

​Descriptive Writing

Descriptive writing creates an impression or image in the reader’s mind of a person, place, or event. The writing sets the mood or describes in such detail that if the reader saw it, they would recognize it. When writing, it’s good to “show, don’t tell” as a description. Focus on the five senses (smell, taste, sight, touch, and hearing). ​

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​Descriptive Writing Example

Example: ​He was angry.

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Descriptive: ​His eyes darkened and deep lines formed over his brow. He spoke quietly, but with a tone that sent shivers down your spine.

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Open Ended

Write a descriptive sentence for the following:

"Alpha Company was walking through the jungle."