What is the catalyst for their change? do you think these characters completely lose their innocence, and if they do, how does o'brien demonstrate this? 5. discuss three examples of o'brien writing about writing or storytelling. How does this relate to o'brien's decision to write his work as a series of vignettes or interrelated stories rather than as a traditional linear narrative? 6. what is the function of memory in the novel? according to o'brien, does remembering the past preclude endings such as the ending of o'brien's personal and emotional conflict over participation in the vietnam war? both kathleen and linda discuss endings. With whose version do you think o'brien ultimately agrees and why? previous full glossary for the things they carried the stories we have read by tim o'brien deal with the vietnam war, but they also contain many compelling issues about the human condition unchanged by the 30 years since that conflict. For your last essay of the semester, write an essay in which you draw from these stories some issue, conflict, theme, or motif that interests you.

As stated in the portfolio requirements, this should not only discuss an author's ideas but should also present the student's opinion and interpretation as distinct from the author's. Don't simply tell the story construct an argument for a particular point of view about it. Below are several topic choices for your to consider if you have another topic in mind, please discuss it with me before proceeding. Refer to keys for writers for additional guidance on writing about literature pages 67 72. In the things they carried, o'brien writes that men killed, and died, because they were embarrassed not to 21. Find three characters from the assigned stories and explain how their actions, attitudes, and beliefs reflect o'brien's point of view in regards to such issues as masculinity, cowardice and courage. What are your conclusions regarding the issues o’brien raises? use plenty of examples from the stories to support your point.

Why is it so hard to tell a true war story ? write an essay in which you examine o’brien’s use of imagination and invention, and the difficulties posed by wartime conditions on truth telling. Throughout the stories, o’brien juxtaposes images of great beauty with images of great horror, the scene of curt lemon’s death in how to tell a true war story being one notable example. Write an essay in which you trace the use of such contrasting images across at least three of the stories. What do these contrasting images say about o’brien’s experiences in vietnam? 4. the men deal with the uncertainty, fear, and death around them in sometimes surprisingly tender, irreverently funny, or horrifyingly brutal ways. Choose three characters from the stories to examine how these characters respond to their circumstances and the men around them.

Choose at least 3 characters from the stories and examine how these characters were changed by their experiences. What conclusions can you draw from these examples about the effects of war on the human spirit? 6. what is the role of women and girls in the book? examine the various female characters in the novel and explain what each may represent. the speaking of courage sequence, as well as the stories related to the man i killed, deal a lot with the issue of responsibility and guilt. Discuss how at least three characters deal with their feelings of guilt over the deaths of those around them.

a clear thesis statement and introduction which sets out for your reader the point you wish to make about the stories. This means writing a sentence or two about each story no more than one paragraph in total. An analysis supported by examples from the text, properly quoted or paraphrased and cited. You are not required to use sources other than o’brien’s book to support your views if you do use any outside sources, make sure you properly quote or paraphrase and cite. The use of outside sources for this essay is strongly discouraged! length: 3 4 pages all drafts must be typed 10 or 12 font , double spaced, 1 margins. . Use mla format for citing. you are not required to use a separate sheet of paper for works cited. Remember to save all drafts!!

first draft workshop wednesday, april 18 bring 4 copies for workshopping, plus before the workshop portion of writer’s process review below you will find four outstanding thesis statements / paper topics for the things they carried by tim obrian can be used as essay starters.

All four incorporate at least one of the themes found in the things they carried and are broad enough so that it will be easy to find textual support, yet narrow enough to provide a focused clear thesis statement. These thesis statements offer a short summary of the things they carried in terms of different elements that could be important in an essay. You are, of course, free to add your own analysis and understanding of the plot or themes to them. Using the essay topics below in conjunction with the list of important quotes from the things they carried on our quotes page, you should have no trouble connecting with the text and writing an excellent essay. topic 1: the things they carried there is a list given for each soldier of the items he carried. Include arguments where applicable about how the items affect others and each soldier’s survival. Explore the reasons why kiowa’s death stands out to so many of the other soldiers.

Essay on Criticism Summary

Why is it that so many of them claim responsibility and guilt for his loss of life? illustrate what actions could have been taken to avoid kiowa’s death and the guilt on the minds of so many soldiers. Although the stories are written and compiled by o’brien and are labeled as fiction, o’brien draws on his own experiences during the vietnam war and the experiences of others. Many of the stories share common themes such as love, loss, regret of things left behind and left undone, violence, and dissatisfaction.

topic 4: controversy surrounding the vietnam war there was much controversy surrounding the vietnam war. Soldiers were sent to kill the bad guys, only to learn that they were often firing on women and children. Throughout the stories, the soldiers reveal how disillusioned they became during and after the time they spent fighting.

Choose one or two of the stories and examine the disillusionment that is described. What elements and events contribute to this disappointment in the military and the united states. In chapter nine we realize how an innocent young girl mary anne bell, who was only in vietnam a few months, lost herself in the country. The protagonist of novel realizes that those who died in the war are not really dead, but they live in the memory and imagination. Without a shadow of doubt, having read the things they carried we understand that we have not been fooled or lied to.

It is deep with symbolism and meaning and the human life, bravery, survival, and death. _ warning. all free online essays, sample essays and essay examples on the things they carried topics are plagiarized and cannot be completely used in your school, college or university education. several legendary scholars have labored with the ldquo truth rdquo in one of o rsquo brien rsquo s most celebrated literary works, the things they carried. Which is an anthology of twenty two tales on the vietnam war, which stand alone just as powerfully as they do when bind together.

Human Nature In Romeo And Juliet Essay

Even though o rsquo brien is a vietnam war expert, reluctantly drafted in 1968 and serving until 1970, he intentionally fictionalizes the war incident all through the things they carried, while concurrently emphasizing that the fundamental nature of the work is factual, an idea that several scholars have questioned and elicited a lot of debate in the literary community kaplan 48. Joking out which knowledge o rsquo brien explains is true, which are legends, and which are thoughts, would be a near impracticable mission since lots of the tales are a mix of those. Somewhat, the significance of o rsquo brien rsquo s literary work is his use of metafiction tale as a representative vehicle for the vietnam war o'brien 78. Numerous wars that have been produced and published, mainly on the vietnam war, and the influence of these works, significantly relies on the literary variety selected to tell them. Though several critics have remarked on o rsquo brien rsquo s reinterpretation of ldquo truth, rdquo the need of metafiction to ascertain a reinterpretation that has to be sufficiently studied silbergleid 133.

Do Over Scholarship Essay

As the reader tries to unravel the entwined relationship between narrative and factual, the novelist of a metafiction will remark on the writing of the piece. In the case of o rsquo brien, his remarks remind the reader that his tales are made up. For instance, prior to revealing a grisly story of a soldier gradually murdering an infant water buffalo, o rsquo brien writes, ldquo this one does it for me. I rsquo ve told it before many times, many versions but here rsquo s what actually happened rdquo kaplan 48. By revealing that the narrative has been told in numerous ways, o rsquo brien is confirming that the narrative has been fictionalized.