The Things They Carried Section 12 Flashcards

Questions and Answers

How did O'Brien kill the man he describes at the beginning of the section?

A grenade in My Khe

Name three details that O'Brien used to describe the man after he killed him.

His upper lip and teeth were missing, his jaw was in his throat, and one eye was shut while the other looked like a star shaped hole

What does O'Brien imagine about the man he killed?

He was born in 1946 and his parents were farmers. He was not a communist or a fighter, and he hoped Americans would go away

What does Azar compare the man to?

Cereal Signup and view all the answers

What does Kiowa urge O'Brien to do? Can he do it?

Come to terms with the death; No Signup and view all the answers

What does Kiowa confess?

Maybe he doesn't understand what O'Brien is going through Signup and view all the answers

What does Kiowa ask O'Brien and what is his response?

He asks if O'Brien would rather trade places with him, but O'Brien doesn't respond Signup and view all the answers

What does O'Brien imagine about the boy while in college?

We began studying at the university in Saigon in 1964; he avoided politics and favored calculus Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

O'Brien's Actions and Reflections

O'Brien killed a man using a grenade in My Khe during the Vietnam War.
The graphic description of the man's body includes missing upper lip and teeth, a jaw pushed into his throat, and one eye resembling a star-shaped hole.

Imaginative Backstory

O'Brien envisions the deceased man was born in 1946, coming from a farming background.
He imagines the man was not affiliated with communism or combat and wished for the Americans to leave Vietnam.

Peer Interaction

Azar trivializes the death by comparing the man to cereal, highlighting a disconnect from the seriousness of the situation.
Kiowa encourages O'Brien to confront and accept the death but struggles to help him do so.

Kiowa's Confession

Kiowa confesses a lack of understanding regarding O'Brien's emotional turmoil, emphasizing the complexity of processing trauma.
He questions O'Brien if he would prefer to switch places, but O'Brien chooses not to respond, indicating internal conflict.

O'Brien's College Imagery

In O'Brien's imagination, the boy he killed is a college student in Saigon who, in 1964, avoids politics and leans toward studying calculus, symbolizing innocence amidst conflict.

Description

Test your comprehension of Section 12, 'The Man I Killed', from Tim O'Brien's 'The Things They Carried'. These flashcards cover key details about the man O'Brien describes, the circumstances of his death, and the emotional aftermath. Enhance your understanding of this poignant section of the book.