Question

Draft a paragraph that explains the importance of the physical things the troops carried in Tim O’Brien’s ""The Things They Carried."" Include how these physical items are connected to the author’s argument presented within the story.

Answer 1

In "The Things They Carried," O'Brien talks about the various items that the men carried with them during the war. O'Brien is able to connect the physical items that the men carry with the emotional burdens that they also have to dealt with. For example, O'Brien talks about a man who carries pantyhose with him as a way to remember his girlfriend. This is also a sign of longing for home and company. Another example is the man who carries maps with him. This is a way of representing the responsibility that the man carried with him when it came to the rest of the team. The physical items contribute to developing the theme of the difficulties and burdens that soldiers have to face, even long after the war is over.