How Does Tim O Brien Use Repetition In The Things They Carried
The Things [We] Carry
An Essay Project for 11th grade: A Response to The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien
Tim O'Brien, in his short story “The Things They Carried,” writes about what soldiers in Vietnam carried, literally and figuratively. He discusses what they “humped,” the tangible things and the intangible ones too. For example, all the men carried flak jackets which had a real defined weight but also they carried fear and “all the emotional baggage of men who might die” (21). We can touch the flak jacket but not the fear or Jimmy Cross' love for Martha.
For this assignment, we are going to create an essay, using O'Brien's model, of the things we carry. I expect us to adhere to the techniques of the short story, using the repetition of phrases such as “I carry” and “The things I carry.” The repetition is part of what makes this short story effective. I expect us to use repetition at least 20 times in our essays. Also, with almost every tangible item the soldiers carry, O'Brien tells us how much the item weighs. I expect us to do the same. Obviously don't go weigh items, just take a guess. …show more content…
But you need to explain some of them more, like O'Brien does in the story. Why do you carry the specific item or emotion? Almost equal portions of your essay should be devoted to tangible items and intangible ones. And with the intangibles, discuss them a little bit more. That's the good stuff. People want to hear about vulnerabilities. Take a chance a write something pretty personal about
An Essay Project for 11th grade: A Response to The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien
Tim O'Brien, in his short story “The Things They Carried,” writes about what soldiers in Vietnam carried, literally and figuratively. He discusses what they “humped,” the tangible things and the intangible ones too. For example, all the men carried flak jackets which had a real defined weight but also they carried fear and “all the emotional baggage of men who might die” (21). We can touch the flak jacket but not the fear or Jimmy Cross' love for Martha.
For this assignment, we are going to create an essay, using O'Brien's model, of the things we carry. I expect us to adhere to the techniques of the short story, using the repetition of phrases such as “I carry” and “The things I carry.” The repetition is part of what makes this short story effective. I expect us to use repetition at least 20 times in our essays. Also, with almost every tangible item the soldiers carry, O'Brien tells us how much the item weighs. I expect us to do the same. Obviously don't go weigh items, just take a guess. …show more content…
But you need to explain some of them more, like O'Brien does in the story. Why do you carry the specific item or emotion? Almost equal portions of your essay should be devoted to tangible items and intangible ones. And with the intangibles, discuss them a little bit more. That's the good stuff. People want to hear about vulnerabilities. Take a chance a write something pretty personal about