The Things They Carried Vietnam War Tim OBrien

The Things They Carried Vietnam War Tim O’Brien The Sergeant’s Private Madhouse Spanish-American War Stephen Crane War Jack London War Theme Study Asha Paul

Fear • Fear of Death “It had nothing to do with morality. • Fear of Being a Coward. Embarrassment, that’s all it was” • Fear of the Enemy (O’Brien 59) • Results in – – Paranoia Anxiety Frustration Emotional Stress “He might have sat on his horse with the careless grace of his youth had he not been so catlike and tense” (London) e v i l a t e r s o o m m r l e a v e e r ’ n ) u 1 e o r 8 ’ y u n n o e i e Y r h “ ’B w O n ( tha ead” d Why Fear? Very Young Face to Face with Death Dangers Everywhere

Loneliness • Longing for a companion • On lookout in pitch darkness “He was appalled by his own loneliness” (London) • Fear of leaving someone behind: soldiers choose not to make relationships • Abandoned family and friends for a whole new life at war

Wilderness • • Peace in the Wild Chance for Reflection Soldiers have conversations with nature The Woods Mean Safety and Hiding Sy a s e z i l o b m d o Go d n e Fri

Mysterious and Strange Phenomena Animals, Trees, Grass Speaking to the Characters Random Singing Ends a Battle Scout Does Not Shoot the Ginger Beard Man “Both sides took a spell of meditation” (Crane) The soldiers are affected psychologically by the war This mean peculiar occurrences