Preview

The Things I Carry

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
602 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
The Things I Carry
The Things I'd Carry
In the novel The Things They Carried, by Tim O'Brien, soldiers would do just about anything to stay sane and alive during the Vietnam War. Some men would have carried things with them during the war. These same men would carry things to remind them of home, others would carry an item to help them feel better during their hardships. What these men carried was something to hold onto, moreover not an item but of a memory or a dream. Soldiers would do just about anything to stay sane and alive during the Vietnam War. I also have items that I would feel wrong without; these items are symbols of me.
One item that I would feel the need to carry is a deck of cards. By having a deck of cards I can play solitaire by myself or play poker with others. Cards can be a way to be social with others. My deck of cards are special because they have pictures of Marilyn Monroe on each card. I obtained this deck of cards from my mother while I was on vacation in Palm Springs.
I have in my backpack a small ball which represents sports for me. I received the ball from a friend of mine because he thought I would want it more because I love to play sports. I can play it anytime, anywhere, with anyone. I play volleyball and football for school, but will play any other sport without a problem. I believe this is my "field specialty" and what separates me from others.
My item for "means of killing or staying alive" is a pocket knife. It was given to me from my dad when we went on a fishing trip; I have kept it safe since then. I can use it as a weapon but I tend to use for less violent purposes. I've used it to cut off lose strings from clothes to cutting out pictures in magazines. Also, it always seems to be right next to me when I need it. The pocket knife not only gives me a safe feeling but it reminds me of my dad when I see it, that is what makes it better than a normal pocket knife.
My house key symbolizes my goal in life. I wish to be able to return to my house

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    Brown Bag Speech

    • 529 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The second thing I chose to put in my bag are some pictures of my family. I have my grandparents, all my aunts and uncles, my mother and sister, my fiancé and baby, and finally my dog Dori. The reason I chose these pictures to put in my bag is because I couldn’t stress enough how much my family members mean to me. I have had several friends either lose their brother, mother, or even grandparents, and it makes me WANT to cherish every moment with my family and REALIZE that I should. It also makes me thank God for the family that he blessed me with.…

    • 529 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The Things They Carried” is a short story written by Tim O'Brien in 1990. This story is about several young American soldiers fighting in the Vietnam War. The main focus of O'Brien's story was the burdens that the soldiers each carried individually. The soldiers did not just carry tangible burdens like weapons, gear, and other essentials. The greatest burdens the platoon had to carry throughout the war, were the ones that they struggled with internally. Not only were these burdens heavy, but they could ultimately cost the soldiers their lives.…

    • 281 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    My thoughts on the things they carried are as followed: I believe that the soldiers carry personal things to remind them what they have to live for. War is a mental game about what side wants it more. I think that the things they carry push them harder to stay alive. They carry weapons and necessities to help them achieve their goal of staying alive.…

    • 378 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    In the short story “The Things They Carried,” written by Tim O’Brien, there is a lot of symbolism in each specific object that was mentioned. According to Dictionary.com, a symbolism is the practice of representing things by symbols, or of investing things with a symbolic meaning or character. A symbol is something used for or regarded as representing something else; a material object representing something, often something immaterial; emblem, token, or sign. The things each soldier carried defined each individual soldier. The story was very detailed in the objects the soldiers carried which tied into the emotional things the soldiers carried.…

    • 1663 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    When referring to the items in the story the narrator uses them to symbolize, the characters, photos, and letters. “The items structure both the story and the book.”(Henningfeld 1) Allowing a great deal of vision in the story, the narrator shares his stories and as well as other characters who also tell their stories. Soldiers items that they are carrying is more of a metaphor because what each soldier is actually carrying is fear, the feeling of being alive, and his haunting memories.…

    • 823 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    -I would take my iPhone, Laptop, Photo Album, favorite Victoria Secret sweatshirt and my baby book.…

    • 361 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    In great detail, O’Brien explains what these soldiers must carry on a daily basis during their journey of war. “Among the necessities or near-necessities were P-38 can openers, pocket knives, heat tabs, wristwatches, dog tags, mosquito repellent, chewing gum, candy, cigarettes, salt tablets, packets of Kool-Aid, lighters, matches, sewing kits, Military Payment Certificates C rations, and two or three canteens of water.” (O’Brien 2) The weight of these items alone complicated travel under such circumstances, but we learn that each of these soldiers have sentimental items they haul along with them to feel comfort in such uncomfortable times. “First Lieutenant Jimmy Cross carried letters from a girl named Martha…They were not love letters, but Lieutenant Cross was hoping, so he kept them folded in plastic at the bottom of his rucksack.” (O’Brien 1)…

    • 920 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Things They Carry

    • 624 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Each physical item has its purpose as in why I carry it. Its pretty basic too, I carry my keys to my car, which I love, since me and my car have seen a lot together and she brings me many places in exchange for her favorite type of drink, also known as gasoline. It’s got a special feeling to it every time I get in it. Just knowing you did all the modifications to it yourself to define your version of perfection for that vehicle.…

    • 624 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Lifestyle In Lou And Oz

    • 621 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Item two. I need food and transportation. By bring some chickens for meat and eggs, cows for milk and beef, horses for transportation and goats for whool I would be set for food and but there is still one thing I'm sure I would need to live in the valley of a mountain…A weapon.…

    • 621 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Things I Carry Poem

    • 271 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The things I carry define who I am As I think with my heart at times, My mind helps me feel my thoughts, And reminds me never to forget my purse…

    • 271 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Things I Carry

    • 714 Words
    • 3 Pages

    I carry so many things, so many insignificant things, things that you would never think could hold so much meaning.…

    • 714 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The first thing that I have decided to carry is my most valuable treasure, the heritage that I received from my grandparents, the Bible that I carry tied to my neck and gives me direction. Second, the memory and advice of my father that I carry close to my heart, and remind me that I am able to reach the objective. Finally, the love of my family that gives me the fortitude that I need to face obstacles, hope that gives me peace during my journey, faith that let me walk with confidence and forgiveness that produces me freedom. I have selected these things to carry in my daily baggage; these things help me to advance on my…

    • 954 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Persuasive Essay Prompts

    • 562 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Combine those items, and you have a number of options for defense, as well as ways to get out if needed. Keep in mind that when you are loading your purse or messenger bag, just remember to make sure that whatever you are using for personal defense is within easy reach. Not having easy access to the item to save your life can be a real pain, usually as you are going down.…

    • 562 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Other items of “necessity” were chosen for a sense of security, no matter how useless, and some for the feeling of control over a small part of their lives. Lee Strunk carries a slingshot so that ammo “would never be a problem,” (396) against men with guns and grenades. Kiowa thinks that moccasins will help to silence his movements even though he is burdened with…

    • 450 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Next create a visual using all the items on your list. Be sure to group these items into categories such as Necessitites, luxuries, things I love concrete things, abstract things, things that make me things I wish I could put down. Highlight three of the most significant weights you carry. Not that these things may represent positive or negative weight.…

    • 141 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays