Student Name: Natalia Donlan
Title of Work : The Things They Carried
Extract Link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1AFWK2WxJ1dsh3YL1bidcJctHb3-PyQtV-1yO4bz9ehQ/edit
Character
Choose a character or pair of
characters and what purpose
they serve in the work. Then,
describe how the author
achieves this purpose.
5-7 sentence Curt Lemon, in the story,
explanation of ideas works to contribute to the idea
in the work. that beauty must be found in
difficult situations. In the
vignette, the character is shown
to have been in a carefree in a
dangerous environment, but
then quickly killed by a war
weapon. The author, Tim
O’Brien, used this event to
describe Lemon’s death and
portray it as fascinating and
beautiful. Despite the character
having been blown up, which
creates an image of gruesome
gore and despair, the author
instead described the scene as
something opposite of that. By
instead depicting Lemon’s
death in a light connotation,
using warm and pleasing
words, he is able to look at
death in a differing perspective.
This idea of finding beauty in
Theme
Choose a theme in work and
explain its significance to the
work as a whole. Then, describe
how the author conveys this
theme.
A theme with struggle of
humanity as a result of war is
conveyed throughout the book.
Describing the struggle of
maintaining humanity in a war
story is significant to the entirety
of the story because of its ability
to showcase the common
struggle of all of the soldiers. As
they are forced to endure horrific
hardships as soldiers, the struggle
to maintain their humanity,
including their morality and
values, as a whole is prevalent
within each individual soldier.
For example, in the vignette
“How to Tell a True War Story”,
character and war soldier Rat
Kiley is shown shooting an
innocent animal repeatedly. As a
civilian living free of the war
would not carelessly kill an
animal, the character had no
remorse for his actions. This
Plot
Choose an aspect of the plot
(point of view, conflict,
resolution, etc) and explain how
the author crafts the work as a
whole.
The author crafts his work as a
whole using shifts of point of
view. For example, he utilizes
third person and first person
generously, and includes
differing perspectives from
different characters. By using all
three methods, he contributes to
the complex ideas and stories
which he is sharing with his
readers. Using first person
demonstrates a deeper, more
personal and true connection
with his stories, which adds to
the realistic qualities of his
fiction, and the ability to make
his readers feel emotion. Using
third person allows for
generalizations to be made, and a
sense of detachment throughout
his story to be conveyed. All
tactics used through shifting
perspectives work to illustrate his
work as a whole and develop his
Global Issue
Identify and describe a global
issue that the author addresses in
the work. Then, list how the
author develops the global issue.
Tim O’Brien develops the global
issue of death throughout his
story, and romanticizes it. The
author utilized tactile imagery
which created an image of
tranquility in his readers’ minds
despite describing a scene of
death in his story. While death is
usually viewed as a disturbing and
gruesome subject, Tim O’Brien
instead worked to portray the
scene as beautiful and serene. The
author described sunlight to
illuminate on Curt Lemon’s face,
which allowed him to shine
moments before his death.
Lemon’s death was narrated in an
angelic fashion in order to show
the author’s differing perspective
of death, being one disassociated
with fear. This placid scene
 horrific situations in order to
cope with the harshness of
reality is thus conveyed by
using Curt Lemon.
further demonstrates how both
the author and his fellow soldiers
struggle with maintaining their
humanity and ideals focusing on
the rights and wrongs of reality.
underlying themes more
effectively.
portrayed with imagery and
diction develops the author’s view
of war and death, being that
beauty must be found in horrific
situations to allow individuals to
cope and endure hardship.

Author technique or ● Tactile diction ● Symbolism ● Perspective (POV) shift ● Symbolism

strategies (bullet ● Vivid imagery ● Theme (struggle with ● Symbolism ● Tactile imagery
points) ● Contrast humanity) ● Character shifts ● Vivid diction
● Symbolism
You may wish to
consider: motifs,
symbols, character
foils, narrative
technique, plot
structure.