CliffsNotes on O'Brien's The Things They Carried

by Colella, Jill

• ISBN13: 9780764586682
• ISBN10: 0764586688
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-12-28
• Publisher: Cliffs Notes

Summary

The original CliffsNotes study guides offer expert commentary on major themes, plots, characters, literary devices, and historical background. The latest generation of titles in this series also feature glossaries and visual elements that complement the classic, familiar format.In CliffsNotes on The Things They Carried, you discover Tim O'Brien's powerful and innovative novel about the experiences of foot soldiers during and after the Vietnam War. Drawing largely on his own experiences during the war, the author creates a fictional protagonist who shares the author's own name, and allows this fictional "Tim O'Brien" to relate disturbing war stories as he creates an indictment against the wastefulness of war.Chapter summaries and commentaries take you through Tim O'Brien's very personal journey. Critical essays give you insight into the novel's historical context, the novel's narrative structure, and the theme of loss of innocence. Other features that help you study include Character analyses of the main characters A character map that graphically illustrates the relationships among the characters A section on the life and background of Tim O'Brien A review section that tests your knowledge A Resource Center full of books, articles, films, and Internet sitesClassic literature or modern modern-day treasure - you'll understand it all with expert information and insight from CliffsNotes study guides.

Author Biography

About the Author Jill Colella earned a master's degree at the University of Maryland in English literature, specializing in Vietnam War narratives in film and literature. Ms. Colella, the daughter of a Vietnam veteran, founded The Children of Vietnam Combat Veterans Project in 1997 to speak to the specific concerns of families of veterans. She is the author of After Vietnam: War Stories from a Veteran's Daughter, a memoir of the effects her father's service in Vietnam had on her family life.

Table of Contents

Life and Background of the Author	1	(8)
Personal Background	2	(2)
The Early Years	2	(1)
Education and Vietnam	3	(1)
Career Highlights	4	(5)
Reconciliation through Storytelling	4	(1)
Major Works	5	(4)
Introduction to the Novel	9	(12)
Introduction	10	(3)
A Brief Synopsis	13	(2)
List of Characters	15	(5)
Character Map	20	(1)
Critical Commentaries	21	(66)
The Things They Carried	22	(5)
Love	27	(2)
Spin	29	(3)
On the Rainy River	32	(6)
Enemeis/Friends	38	(4)
How to Tell a True War Story	42	(4)
The Dentist	46	(3)
Sweeheart of Song Tra Bong	49	(4)
Stockings	53	(2)
Church	55	(2)
The Man I Killed/Ambush	57	(4)
Style	61	(2)
Speaking of Courage	63	(4)
Notes	67	(3)
In the Field	70	(3)
Good Form	73	(2)
Field Trip	75	(2)
The Ghost Soldiers	77	(5)
Night Life	82	(2)
The Lives of the Dead	84	(3)
Character Analyses	87	(8)
``Tim O'Brien''	88	(1)
Lt. Jimmy Cross	89	(1)
Norman Bowker	90	(1)
Mary Anne Bell	91	(1)
Kiowa	92	(1)
Rat Kiley	92	(1)
Linda	93	(1)
Henry Dobbins	94	(1)
Critical Essays	95	(8)
The Things They Carried in a Historical Context	96	(1)
Narrative Structure in the Things They Carried	97	(1)
Style and Storytelling in the Things They Carried	98	(1)
The Things They Carried and Loss of Innocence	99	(2)
The Things They Carried and Questions of Genre	101	(2)
Cliffs Notes Review	103	(5)
Fill in the Blank	103	(1)
Identify the Quote	104	(2)
Essay Questions	106	(1)
Practice Projects	107	(1)
CliffsNotes Resources Center	108	(4)
Books	108	(2)
Primary Sources	108	(1)
Secondary Sources	108	(1)
Articles	109	(1)
Film	110	(1)
Internet Resources	110	(1)
Send Us Your Favorite Tips	111	(1)
Appendix: Map of Vietnam	112	(1)
Index	113