Saturday, April 11, 2020
Things They Carried Reactions free essay sample
The Things They Carried Close Reading p. 1-26 Pages 3 and 4: So many items being carriedâ⬠¦ what is the purpose? Quote(s): ââ¬Å"Kiowa also carried his grandmothers distrust for the white manâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ (Pg. 3) ââ¬Å"â⬠¦The poncho weighed almost 2 pounds, but it was worth every ounceâ⬠(pg. 3) Meaningful words/ phrases: pounds, weighed, grunts, Kodacolor, Bonnie and Clyde Overall meaning/ authorââ¬â¢s purpose: The soldiers do not only carry material goods, they also carry emotions. Such is Kiowaââ¬â¢s distrust for the white man, as well as fear, anxiety, resentment and hope. The author is trying to show that the men carry more than just material goods. Personal reaction/ insight: I thought the list of items was extensive, like reading an intense shopping list. Carrying all that gear must be overwhelming on long treks into the jungle. -Pages 6 and 7, 11-13 Ted Lavenders death Quote(s): ââ¬Å"It was like watching a big rock fall, or a big sandbag or something- just boom, then downâ⬠(pg. We will write a custom essay sample on Things They Carried Reactions or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page 6) ââ¬Å"Kiowa kept explaining how you had to be there, how fast it wasâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ (Pg. 13) Meaningful words/phrases: superstition, boom-down, moral, thumb, tunnel Overall meaning/ authorââ¬â¢s purpose: Kiowa is in shock of Tedââ¬â¢s death, heââ¬â¢s not used to seeing someone dying in real life. He is curious at how itââ¬â¢s so fast and anticlimactic. The author shows here how these kids are alien to a world where their friends drop over dead like sand bags. Personal reaction/ insight: I have a feeling Kiowa is going to be very dramatized later in the story, although appearing fine in this passage. Page 13 and top of 14: conversation between Mitchell Sanders and Henry Dobbins Quote(s): ââ¬Å"You want my opinion, Mitchell Sanders said, thereââ¬â¢s a definite moral here. â⬠(Pg. 13) ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t see no moralâ⬠(pg. 4) Meaningful words/ phrases: moral, pebble, blood, Paladin, gift, superstition Overall meaning/ authorââ¬â¢s purpose: Mitchell Sanders bizarrely tries to teach a lesson in morals by using the example of a dead Vietnamese boy. Henry Dobbins is confused/frustrated at what moral Mitchell Sanders is trying to teach. The authors purpose is to show the bizarreness and frustration of the war. Personal reaction/ insight: I thought the cutting of the boys thumb was a bit gory/ unnecessary. I feel the same way as Henry Dobbins does, Iââ¬â¢m confused at what point Mitchell Sanders is trying to make. Pages 19-23 stage presence, odd behavior, etc. Quote(s): ââ¬Å"For the most part they carry themselves with poise, a kind of dignityâ⬠(p. 19) ââ¬Å"They would repair the leaks in their eyesâ⬠(p. 19) Meaningful words/ phrases: dignity, sobbed, awkwardly, shame, hard vocabulary, zapped while zip-ping. Overall meaning/ authorââ¬â¢s purpose: The author shows how the boys in Vietnam were putting on a show for each other. While trying to appear tough on the outside they were really terrified for their lives on the inside. They were not accustomed to such a harsh dangerous environment. So they would use humor, and hard vocabulary to lighten up harsh situations. Personal reaction/ insight: I can relate to this passage a lot. I often use humor to deflect many serious situations. However I find it hard to imagine being put into an environment like Vietnam without losing your cool, and defecating your pants. -Pages 23-26: the new Lt. Jimmy Cross Quote(s): ââ¬Å"Jimmy Cross crouched at the bottom of his foxhole and burned Marthaââ¬â¢s lettersâ⬠(p. 23) ââ¬Å"It was very sad, he thought. The things men carried inside. â⬠(p. 25) Meaningful words/ phrases: letters burn the blame, duties, laxity, daydreams Overall meaning/ authorââ¬â¢s purpose: Jimmy feels personally responsible for Lavenders death. He feels like if he wasnââ¬â¢t daydreaming about Martha he couldââ¬â¢ve saved his life. He Burns Marthaââ¬â¢s photographs, but cannot burn the blame he feels about Lavenders death. The author shows the fish out of water-ness of Jimmy, how he is not meant to be in a war, instead he should be back in NJ doing teenager things instead of playing army guy. Personal reaction/ insight: I feel for Jimmy, however I do not believe that it was his fault at all. I can understand how he feels guilty.
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