Tim O Brien The Things They Carried Summary

The things they carried is written by Tim O’Brien. Tim was born October 1st 1946. His mother’s name was Ava E, and his father’s name was William T. Obrien’s father worked as an insurance salesman and his mother worked as a teacher. He went to Macalester college and received a bachelor’s degree and he graduated Summa Cum Laude. He then went on to graduate study at Harvard University. He served in the U.S. army form 1968-1970. It is during this time that the inspiration for his story the things they cared came.

The form of the Things They Carried is a collection of short stories. The book itself while not super long is of considerable length. It features a sequence of short stories that intertwine to real life events. The story essentially

follows Tim O’Brien as he relives his experience in vietname with his daughter on a trip. O’Brien includes an actual letter he recieved from one of his war friends. The plot does not feature a climax. The time period that is being covered is beginning of Tim’s war experience and the events leading up to it, as well as present day.

The point of view for most of this story is told from a first person point of view. Throughout the story however the perspective will change to a letter or a memory or the present day. While most of the story is told in past tense some parts are told in the present.

Tim O’Briens “The Things They carried” features many characters. Most of these characters are round as we see their story developed and the war begins to affect them. The characters are revealed through stories, as the story is told as a collection of stories each one reveals a little more of each person. There are approximate seventeen major characters. The protagonist of the story varies depending on which war story you are reading. The antagonist of the story however, the war itself, does not change. The main character is Tim O’brien, he is the narrator. He’s a twenty-year-old Liberal, educated pacifist. He’s funny and outgoing. The significance of his name is it is his actual name. a significant quote that shows this is “It was not a matter of life or death. There was no real peril. Almost certainly the

young man would have passed by.” This quote shows that Tim did not want to kill the man but he did and there was nothing he could change now. Jimmy Cross is another important character. Jimmy cross is a young man who is hard on himself, human, and responsible. He is at first flowery and one of the boys, he does not act like he is a superior. However, after the deaf of Ted Lavender he no longer allows himself to become susceptible to the distracting thoughts of Martha and other symbols that distract from the fact he is in a war zone. A great quote that describes Jimmy Cross is “He would not tolerate laxity. He would show strength distancing himself.” This shows how he felt after jimmy cross died. Mitchell Sanders is a young good guy, his character is funny, determined and at times a bit too hard on himself. Mitchel sanders is one of the better story tellers however, none of his stories have a moral. Mitchel Sanders stories are more about the journey and how it affects the people in the journey vs what the outcome of it is. A great quote from Mitchel sanders would be “There’s a definite moral here” A final character is Kiowa. Kiowa is an intelligent man with strong views about religion and honestly. Kiowa is a constant guide like character throughout the story that helps many of his fellow soldiers. Kiowa’s death is sad and tragic. A quote that best describes Kiowa would be “The guy was dead the second he stepped on the trial. Understand me? We all had him zeroed a good kill weapon ammunition everything”
The things They Carried has a unique setting. The story takes place in War ridden Vietnam. Through the story the character’s travel across the country fighting the war. The title of the story is derived from the concept of people carrying things from place to place. Some chapter’s feature flash backs to Tim O’Brien’s life at different stages. One such stage is when he is debating whether to flee the country so he does not have to fight in the war. Another stage is when he is a child and a friend of his dies because of a brain tumor.

Tim O’Brien uses formal writing and colloquial language to developed the brilliance of “The Things They Carried” for instance when speaking in the past tense or describing an event that isn’t an exact quote Tim uses formal writing such as Kiowa picked up the rubber sandals” or However when speaking in direct quote Tim uses colloquial language characterized by misspellings and swear words such as “Oh man, you fuckin’ trashed the fucker.” Imagery is central part of the diction of the diction.

Sconce like in the chapter titled “The man I killed” begin with “His jaw was in his throat, his upper lip and teeth were gone, his one eye was shut, his other eye was a star shaped hole…” The language is plain and tells the story as it is. The diction indicates higher education. Dialogue is an essential part of this story without it, the story would not be

possible.