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Symbolism In The Things They Carried By Tim O Brien

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Symbolism in O’Brien’s novel, The Things They Carried, plays a huge part in trying to support the author’s message. O’Brien uses symbols everywhere such as with the characters and to help develop the structure of the novel. The author decides to hide some of the symbols while some of the other symbols are in the open, making the symbols easy for the readers to pick up or understand clearly. The author uses symbolism in different forms, mainly intangible for an example. The main point of using symbols in a novel is to engage the readers, wanting them to continue reading, get the hidden messages across, and mainly addressing the theme. Near the beginning of the novel, O’Brien speaks on the weight of the things they carried which is one of the important symbols of the whole novel. Constantly, the author lets the readers know about the weight of various necessities, hinting to the readers how important the weight is. “They carried the land itself… They carried the sky, the whole atmosphere, they carried it,” (O’Brien 14) for an example which is significant. O’Brien states in the novel how foreign the terrain and atmosphere is to the alpha company which caused conflicts. Unfortunately, the soldiers in Vietnam battles with a different conflict in their own minds. …show more content…

O’Brien expresses his feelings about the two enough to where the readers can get a clear distinction of both. For an example, Jimmy Cross begins thinking about Martha when Ted Lavender passed away. When Mark Fossie ends up getting deployed in a way, he brings his girlfriend with him; bringing his love into his war and the girlfriend ends up wearing war paint on her face and camouflaged clothes. Also, in the novel, Timmy and Linda decides to go on a date, going to see a movie about war. This is another place where O’Brien shows the connection between love and

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In Tim O’Brien’s The Things They Carried, the reader receives insight as to what soldiers experienced during the Vietnam War and what thoughts consumed their minds in those times of hardship and heartache. As Americans, we typically picture military men and women as emotionally and physically strong, while in reality, that may not be the case. They deal with more emotional and physical trauma than we come to understand. People who carry physical or emotional burdens tend to seek some kind of release or do something to feel relieved of their burdens. O’Brien uses stories about the men in his platoon to depict how soldiers are bound by their own emotional weights, and each have a different way of trying to release themselves from those tensions.

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The Things They Carried is an ugly book. The themes and topics throughout the book are gruesome and horrific, but Tim O’Brien writes about them in such a way that portrays the Vietnam War as almost beautiful. In Tim O’Brien’s The Things They Carried, the chapter, “The Man I Killed” is an example of a terrific piece of writing because it utilizes thoughtful symbolism, graphic imagery, and conflict to portray the Vietnam War in an accurate way. “The Man I Killed” uses symbols, imagery, and conflict to tell an accurate war story. First, O’Brien uses symbolism throughout the book, but specifically in “The Man I Killed,” O’Brien writes about the symbol of a butterfly.

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Choose one of the motifs from The Things They Carried and explain its significance In his 1990 novel, The Things They Carried Tim O'Brien uses various motifs,Some of the motifs used are the haze, the jungle, the muck, and the darkness of night. Throughout the stories, the narrator repeatedly describes the vapors and haze that settled over the landscape. For instance, the narrator describes the 'wet and swirly and tangled up' haze that obscures the jungle. The vapors spook the soldiers, making them feel tense, as if something or someone is haunting them.

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In just one short chapter, O’Brien describes a haunting and hopeful atmosphere. He makes the argument that in war, and in life, there is beauty in pain. Another narrative element O’Brien makes good use of is point of view. Although most of his stories unfold from his point of view, he effortlessly transitions into other soldier’s mindsets in almost all of the chapters.

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One of the strongest tools an author can use to strengthen his or her writing are literary devices. Literary devices allow authors to express their meaning in a creative way and produce a certain reaction from the reader. These devices are a main reason why many consider literature an art, as they help authors convey their messages in a more expressive way that goes beyond simple words. The effective use of stylistic devices is a clear sign of a well-crafted and impactful literary work. The Things They Carried, a mostly fictional novel written by Tim O’Brien about soldiers’ experiences in the Vietnam War, demonstrates how authors can target the reader in a particular way through the use of literary techniques.

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Readers, especially those reading historical fiction, always crave to find believable stories and realistic characters. Tim O’Brien gives them this in “The Things They Carried.” Like war, people and their stories are often complex. This novel is a collection stories that include these complex characters and their in depth stories, both of which are essential when telling stories of the Vietnam War. Using techniques common to postmodern writers, literary techniques, and a collection of emotional truths, O’Brien helps readers understand a wide perspective from the war, which ultimately makes the fictional stories he tells more believable.

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Symbols of War Many books have hidden meanings and symbols that represent something deeper that the reader must understand to understand the book completely. In The Things They Carried , by Tim O’Brien, Symbols were used throughout the book that represented things connected to O'Brien's life or life in the war. Surroundings, People, or objects can all be symbolic to a person’s life. O’Brien uses symbols as a way to get his story of war across to the reader in a creative way.

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The things men carried inside.” (par. 6) In conclusion, the characters in “The Things They Carried” can be better understood through a closer look at the objects they brought with them. “They carried all they could bear, and then some, . . . “ (par 2).

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The soldiers in the Vietnam War are portrayed as losing themselves in the chaos and trauma of combat. Through the stories of the soldiers and their experiences, O’Brien explores the ways in which war strips away one's sense of identity and humanity. The author himself is depicted as losing himself in the war. O'Brien served in the Vietnam War, and his experiences inspired much of the book. Through the character of Tim O'Brien, the author explores the ways in which war can strip away one's sense of self and purpose.

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O’Brien did not like the other soldiers he fought with because they did not care about the Vietnam people. O’Brien claims in the book, “I hated the trainees, even more than the captors. But I hated them all. Passionate, sad, desperate hate” (O’Brien 33). Most trannies did not take the war seriously, but had clicks of friends that O’Brien did not take part in.

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In this short story, O’brien has multiple characters who are all part of the same army detail. He goes into detail explaining the different items of each character. For example, the main character, Lieutenant Jimmy Cross, carried letters and photos from Martha, a girl from his home town whom he was in love with. However, Martha doesn’t seem to return the love.

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He fought a war in Vietnam that he knew nothing about, all he knew was that, “Certain blood was being shed for uncertain reasons” (38). He realized that he put his life on the line for a war that is surrounded in controversy and questions. Through reading The Things They Carried, it was easy to feel connected to the characters; to feel their sorrow, confusion, and pain. O’Briens ability to make his readers feel as though they are actually there in the war zones with him is a unique ability that not every author possess.

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O 'Brien use the symbolism the dancing Vietnamese and Mary Anne to show that war can destroy your humanity and innocence. It also use the allegory of the letters of Martha, and Linda, are used to show the past can either hurt or help you someone in war. The destruction of humanity and innocence it 's something terrifying, war can transform you completely into someone else that at the end you will no be able to recognize yourself. And in war you will need to take decisions that you may not like, you will need to get ride of things that you don 't want to let go of the past so you can be able to survive, and your decisions can hurt or help

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