The Things They Carried Questions

  1. “Truth” in The Things They CarriedThe Greek philosopher and playwright Aeschylus said, “In war, truth is the first casualty.” Tim O’Brien’s novel, The Things They Carried is very much concerned with the truth of war. How does O’Brien distinguish between the “happening-truth” and the “story-truth”? Which is more important? Why? How does storytelling—the use of fiction—allow for a greater sense of truth than factual reporting might? What are the pervading truths of this novel?
  2. Throughout the book, O’Brien casts doubt on the veracity of his stories. Why does he do so? Does it make you more or less interested in the book? Does it increase or decrease your understanding? What is the difference between facts and truth? Is it fair to readers that the author uses elements of his own life and blurs the lines between fact and fiction in these stories?
  3.   The title of the book refers the “weight” the soldiers carry.  Discuss in your essay what the soldiers carry and the effect of that weight.  Use specific examples, characters, and events from the book to support your ideas.
  4.  O’Brien uses many examples of horrific images in war, but contrasts them by writing about beautiful images as well.  Choose three different “sets” of contrasts and discuss them each, ,using characters, events, and the imagery provided by O’Brien to support your ideas.  Also, in each set, discuss why O’Brien includes these polar opposites in his book.
  5. Discuss the role of women in the novel.  How do they control, affect/effect, change or alter the events and/or male characters in the story?
  6. How does guilt enter the lives of Jimmy Cross, Tim O’Brien, Norman Bowker, Rat Kiley, Dave Jensen, Curt Lemon? Why is shame or guilt so difficult? In what way does guilt compel each man to make emotional, rather than logical decisions? How does storytelling help relieve some of the guilt?
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