Question

5. In "The Things They Carried," what theme does O'Brien develop by including long lists of "the things they carried" in this story? Make sure your response is strong by: starting with an argument that clearly answers all parts of the prompt. I • including two pieces of evidence that support your argument. using transitions to help readers follow your ideas. explaining how your evidence supports your argument. Also, make sure to incorporate relevant unit vocabulary in your writing.​

Answer 1

An important theme developed by O'Brien in "The Things They Carried" is the burden of war. O'Brien conveys this theme through the long lists of "the things they carried," which represent the physical and emotional baggage that the soldiers are forced to bear. For example, the narrative states that the soldiers carried "vestiges of beauty," such as photographs, as well as "instruments of torture," such as knives and sharpening stones. This juxtaposition of items illustrates how warfare is both destructive and oppressive. Additionally, O'Brien emphasizes the psychological burden of war by depicting the soldiers as carrying "the weight of memory" that is "so heavy that [they] could not determine its size." This conveys the deep emotional pain experienced by the soldiers, which is often difficult to measure or quantify. Overall, O'Brien uses the long lists of "the things they carried" to demonstrate the tremendous burden of war that the soldiers must endure.