The Things They Carried - A Vietnam War Novel Study

"They carried malaria tablets, love letters, 28-pound mine detectors, dope, illustrated Bibles, each other. And if they made it home alive, they carried unrelenting images of a nightmarish war that history is only beginning to absorb..." - The Things They Carried (Back Description, citation provided below)

Students will participate in a deep analysis of the Vietnam War, some of the events that occurred during it, and the experiences that the soldiers went through in an effort to make it back home. The novel does not shy away from the harsh realities of war and the challenges that it poses both for the soldiers and the ones back home. Students will be able to identify the difference between story truth and historical truth (they will sort fact from fiction). Students will find this story engaging and challenging. There is no central plot and many of the chapters seem to operate as independent stories. The Things They Carried (TTTC) is historically a popular book among students!

Week One: 
     - Introduction to the Novel
     - Introduction to the Vietnam War
          - Military Terms
          - Significant Events and Politics of the War
     - First Classroom Post Response: Character Profile
Week Two:
     - Read "The Things They Carried" (Chapter One)
     - Chapter Analysis:
          - Item List for Each Character
          - Character Analysis and Classroom Post
Week Three:
     - Read “The Things They Carried” - “On the Rainy River"
     - Character Development and Comparison to Previous Week's Work
     - Discussion Questions with Analysis
     - Character Analysis Chart
Week Four:
     - Read “Enemies” - “Church”
     - How to Tell a True War Story Elements
     - Comparing Truth to Fiction to Memoir Writing in TTTC
Week Five:
     - Read “The Man I Killed” - “In the Field”
     - War's Effect on Men and Society
     - The Vietnam War Uniqueness and Propaganda
Week Six:
     - Read “Good Form”- End of Book
     - Plot and How True War Stories Can Be Misconstrued
Week Seven:
     - Final Assessment
          - Developing a Visual Representation of the Truth of the Novel
          - Choosing an Option for Messages:
               - What is a true war story?
               - What does war do to a man?
               - How are people changed by war?
               - How events in war build upon one another?
               - Choose a message of your own!
          - Write a paragraph explaining the significance of the visual and the message behind it. You must include at least two quotes within the visual itself and in the analysis. You can represent this in any way that you would like but make sure that it is legible!
     O'Brien, Tim. The Things They Carried. New York, Broadway Books, 1990, pp. 1-246.