Podcast
Questions and Answers
What does O'Brien do in this section?
What does O'Brien do in this section?
He shares disconnected memories of the war.
What does Azar give to the boy with a plastic leg?
What does Azar give to the boy with a plastic leg?
A chocolate bar.
What does Mitchell Sanders do under the tree?
What does Mitchell Sanders do under the tree?
Picks lice off his body and deposits them in an envelope addressed to his Ohio draft board.
What do Henry Dobbins and Norman Bowker do every night?
What do Henry Dobbins and Norman Bowker do every night?
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How old is the narrator/O'Brien?
How old is the narrator/O'Brien?
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What is O'Brien's daughter's name, and what does she advise him?
What is O'Brien's daughter's name, and what does she advise him?
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What is the old Vietnamese man enlisted by the Alpha Company to guide the mine fields on the Batagan Peninsula called?
What is the old Vietnamese man enlisted by the Alpha Company to guide the mine fields on the Batagan Peninsula called?
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What story does Mitchell Sanders tell?
What story does Mitchell Sanders tell?
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What does Kiowa teach Rat Kiley and Dave Jensen?
What does Kiowa teach Rat Kiley and Dave Jensen?
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What does Ted Lavender get and what does Azar do to it?
What does Ted Lavender get and what does Azar do to it?
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What does Henry Dobbins do as he sews on his new buck-sergeant stripes?
What does Henry Dobbins do as he sews on his new buck-sergeant stripes?
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What does Lavender go high on, and what does he call the war during this?
What does Lavender go high on, and what does he call the war during this?
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Who did O'Brien kill at the end of the section?
Who did O'Brien kill at the end of the section?
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Study Notes
Memory and Trauma
- O'Brien recounts fragmented experiences from the Vietnam War, illustrating the disjointed nature of memory.
- The storytelling emphasizes how trauma impacts recollections and the act of remembering.
Symbolism of Innocence
- Azar hands a chocolate bar to a boy with a plastic leg, reflecting the stark contrast between innocence and the brutal realities of war.
Acts of Absurdity
- Mitchell Sanders's peculiar act of collecting lice and sending them to his draft board symbolizes the absurdity and futility experienced by soldiers.
Camaraderie and Routine
- Every night, Henry Dobbins and Norman Bowker dig a foxhole and play checkers, showcasing the necessity of routine and companionship amidst chaos.
Reflection on Aging
- O'Brien, at 43, reveals his perspectives on war, reflecting on the passage of time and the enduring impact of his experiences.
Parental Influence
- Kathleen, O'Brien's daughter, encourages him to write about topics other than war, suggesting a desire for him to move past his trauma.
Cultural Ties
- The old Vietnamese man guiding Alpha Company through minefields is affectionately referred to as "poppa-san," highlighting the importance of local connections during the war.
Tales of Escape
- Mitchell Sanders narrates the story of a soldier who goes AWOL to pursue a romantic encounter with a Red Cross nurse, underscoring themes of desire and escape.
Learning Tradition
- Kiowa teaches Rat Kiley and Dave Jensen a rain dance, melding cultural practices with the harsh realities of their environment.
Innocence Lost
- Ted Lavender obtains a puppy as a symbol of innocence, but Azar ruthlessly kills it, which he downplays as immaturity, demonstrating the desensitization caused by war.
Coping Mechanisms
- While sewing on his new buck-sergeant stripes, Henry Dobbins sings to himself, highlighting the importance of self-soothing practices in coping with stress.
Drug Use and Perception
- Ted Lavender uses tranquilizers to cope, referring to the war as "nice and mellow," indicating his detachment from reality.
Death and Guilt
- O'Brien ends the section with the death of Curt Lemon, marking a significant and haunting moment that underscores the themes of guilt and loss in war narratives.
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Description
This quiz focuses on Section 3 of 'The Things They Carried', where Tim O'Brien recounts fragmented memories of the Vietnam War. Test your knowledge on key events, characters, and actions depicted in this poignant section.
