Things They Carried Flashcards 18-22

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Questions and Answers

What does O'Brien confess at the beginning of this chapter?

He confesses the things he witnessed and did in Vietnam which were horrific that he would prefer not to remember.

What does O'Brien say is the honest answer to the question, 'Did you ever kill anybody?'

Of course not

Why did O'Brien return to Vietnam after finishing 'In the Field'?

He returned to the site of Kiowa's death to place Kiowa's moccasins there.

What did O'Brien's daughter, Kathleen, notice about the site of Kiowa's death?

Kathleen complains that the land stinks. Signup and view all the answers

What comment by O'Brien echoed Bowker's letter to him? How did O'Brien's comment differ from Bowker's?

The letter covered seventeen handwritten pages, its tone jumping from self-pity to anger to irony to guilt to a kind of feigned indifference. He didn't know what to feel. Signup and view all the answers

What battle wounds did O'Brien suffer in Vietnam?

He survived two gunshot wounds and an infection. Signup and view all the answers

Why was he traumatized by the second shooting?

He thought that he almost died of shock. Signup and view all the answers

What was O'Brien's response to the shooting?

He vows to get revenge on Jorgenson. Signup and view all the answers

How did the men from his platoon respond to O'Brien's plan for retribution?

They all told him to forget it and move on. Signup and view all the answers

Why did Rat Kiley shoot himself in the foot?

He shoots himself in the foot as a result of the company switching to a routine of night-movement for two weeks. Signup and view all the answers

How does O'Brien say stories create the illusion of aliveness?

The thing about a story is that you dream it as you tell it, hoping that others might then dream along with you. Signup and view all the answers

What did O'Brien feel when he went to Linda's wake?

Her death became an inevitability and sadness for O'Brien. Signup and view all the answers

What did O'Brien do as a child to cope with Linda's death?

He would fall asleep a lot just to daydream and have night dreams about Linda. Signup and view all the answers

How did Linda describe being dead? What is significant about this description?

She said she wasn't dead, she was like a book that nobody's reading, that's on the top shelf. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

O'Brien's Confessions

O'Brien reveals the traumatic experiences he witnessed and participated in during the Vietnam War, expressing a desire to forget them.
He provides a stark denial to the question of killing anyone, indicating a deep internal conflict.

Return to Vietnam

O'Brien revisits Vietnam specifically to honor his friend Kiowa by placing his moccasins at the site of his death.
This act represents a personal closure and acknowledgment of loss.

Kathleen's Observations

O'Brien's daughter, Kathleen, remarks on the unpleasant smell of the land where Kiowa died, highlighting the lingering impact of war on the landscape.

Emotional Responses

O'Brien reflects on a long letter from Bowker, capturing the emotional turmoil of self-pity, anger, and guilt, signaling a lack of resolution in Bowker's feelings.

O'Brien's Injuries

During his service, O'Brien sustained two gunshot wounds along with a subsequent infection, serving as a physical reminder of his trauma.

Trauma from Second Shooting

The second gunshot wound traumatized O'Brien, as he believed he had narrowly escaped death, leading to significant psychological ramifications.

Vengeance and Peer Response

Following his injury, O'Brien's immediate response was a desire for revenge against another soldier, Jorgenson, but his platoon members urged him to let go of that notion.

Rat Kiley's Injury

Rat Kiley intentionally shot himself in the foot, motivated by the grueling conditions of continuous night movements, illustrating the extreme pressures faced by soldiers.

Power of Storytelling

O'Brien articulates how storytelling fosters a sense of life and connection; as he narrates, he hopes others engage with his memories, creating a shared experience.

Coping with Loss

Attending Linda's wake, O'Brien confronts overwhelming sadness, as her absence becomes a painful reality.
To cope with her death, O'Brien indulged in daydreaming and dreaming about Linda as a means of escape from his grief.

Linda's Perception of Death

Linda metaphorically described death as being like an unread book on a shelf, suggesting a feeling of being overlooked and a longing for recognition, emphasizing the theme of memory and loss.

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Description

This quiz covers flashcards for chapters 18-22 of 'The Things They Carried' by Tim O'Brien. It includes key concepts and confessions from the protagonist regarding his experiences in Vietnam. Test your understanding of the themes and character reflections in this powerful narrative.