SU The Things They Carried Discussion

PART ONE- RESPOND TO TWO CLASSMATES

CODY- A memorable story to me is when the setting of the story is clearly painted for me. I want to be able to know exactly what the air smells like. A story that I can really put myself into makes an excellent story for me. I enjoyed reading the story “The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien. Tim was really able to paint the scene for me. What also made the story engaging for me is how Tim told me what each character was experiencing, whether it be physically, emotionally, or mentally. It was beautiful how at the beginning of the story Tim described all the SOP that soldiers were expected to possess. Tim also described what weapon each soldier carried by rank. After the physical objects each man was supposed to be carrying, Tim moved into all the emotional things the soldiers were carrying. Their leader First Lieutenant Jimmy Cross was really struggling with some emotional heartache that really distracted him. During a moment he was caught in thought about the woman he loved, and one of his soldiers was shot. Although it may not have been his fault the guilt he was facing made me feel guilty for him also.

When Ted Lavender was shot, how each soldier reacted to his death is really fascinating to read. Kiowa was really blown away by how when Ted was shot he just “flat fuck fell”. Boom down. It seemed Kiowa was expecting when someone was shot that they would all whimper, scream, and cry. But Ted just fell like a block of cement. Kiowa was in complete shock at the whole situation. Others did not want to talk about it or just wanted to forget about it.

I personally love reading fiction about war. You get a sense of war through the characters in the story. There is always a sense that the characters in the story are based on someone real. It is really nice having thoughts on each character while they are at war and how they are reacting. I think a lot of the time we think of soldiers at war as machines that are thirsty for blood. However, in reality, these soldiers have stories within themselves and they all just want to stay alive to make it home.

DELETRA- In my opinon wihat makes a good story is when your imagination can interpret the story and the details, placing you in the presence of the events happening. You can tell a good story when you get a sense of the witness experience an adrenaline rush while reading. Now that’s a good story!

-Discuss how O’Brien’s piece helps create awareness of human experience and, and what those experiences are.

Mr. Tim O²ien creates awareness of human experiences by expressing himself in writing of ways that will catch the readers focus and attention. T. O²ien describes his piece of writing as work of fiction as he describes to make it seem more of a reality and or real to readers.

-How do the events the characters experience shape who they are? I believe the events and character experience shapes not only that I am but it develops the creativity of experience and being in the existence of the events happening in the stories. It places you right in the middle of the story. The things they carried

-What are qualities of fiction about war, beyond that it discusses war? The qualities of fiction about the Vietnam War are described as an abstraction of bombs and bullets and killings. But after listening to the author he described the Things we carried pinpointing moving into the emotional and spiritual burdens that you’re going to carry. I listened to the author spreak about anger and using the example of emotions when a bullet strikes a love one and how we often do need to hear from Veterans to understand the outcome of life and making choices in reaction to tragedies. My dad is a Purple heart who also fought in the Vietnam War, t is great to have someone who has not only gone to a war, but devoted a lifetime to suffering from it quoted by Veteran Tim O²ien

PART TWO-Complete Weekly Reflection 1: How does your pursuit of a college education impact society as a whole? What are the social effects of your decision to become a student, both now and later in life, after you receive your degree?(ACCOUNTANT dEGREE)