What is the ending of the things they carried?

What is the ending of the things they carried?

The book ends with a story titled “The Lives of the Dead,” in which Tim remembers his childhood love, Linda, who died of cancer when she was 9. Tim says that in a story, he can “steal her soul. I can revive, at least briefly, that which is absolute and unchanging,” and bring Linda back to life.

What is the last chapter of The Things They Carried?

‘The Lives of the Dead’ is the final chapter of Tim O’Brien’s novel, The Things They Carried. In this chapter, the narrator reminisces about his childhood friend, Linda, who died. He considers how stories serve to awaken the dead.

Does Rat Kiley die in The Things They Carried?

As the nights remain black, Rat sinks further and further down to the point of real fear. Rat was afraid of himself, a much more terrifying enemy than any in Vietnam. He was afraid of what he might do if he truly lost it. Finally, he shoots himself in the foot.

How does Kiowa die?

Kiowa’s death is symbolic of the senseless tragedy of war. He dies in a gruesome way, drowning under the muck of a sewage field about which his lieutenant, Jimmy Cross, has a bad feeling.

Why did Norman Bowker kill himself?

Bowker then suggested that O’Brien write a story about someone who feels that Vietnam robbed him of his will to live—he said he would write it himself but he couldn’t find the words. Eight months later Bowker hanged himself.

What did Kiowa carry emotionally?

Kiowa is the emotional compass of Alpha Company, the one who gets everyone else to talk. Kiowa tries to comfort “O’Brien” after he kills the North Vietnamese soldier, and it is to Kiowa that Dobbins opens up about his respect for the clergy. Kiowa helps “O’Brien” by easing his transitions.

What things did Kiowa carry?

Kiowa carried within him a distrust of white men (which he received from his grandmother). In his pack he also had an old hunting hatchet that had once belonged to his grandfather, as well as a pair of moccasins (which helped him to move more silently).

What did Norman Bowker carry emotionally?

He believes, according to O’Brien, that what marks men as courageous are medals and service awards. Because of and in spite of this belief, Bowker has an active emotional life, an intensity of feeling about the atrocities he experienced in Vietnam, especially Kiowa’s death.

What story did Norman Bowker want to tell his father but couldn t?

Norman imagines telling his father about how he nearly won the Silver Star. He would start by describing the Song Tra Bong river. Bowker would say he wasn’t brave enough, but his father would point out he got seven medals; he wasn’t a coward.

What does Norman want to tell his father and convince him of?

Norman wants to talk about Vietnam, and he imagines how he would tell his father about almost earning a Silver Star, but his father is too busy to listen. Norman wants to talk about nearly saving Kiowa’s life and about how he feels he failed in not doing so.

Why does Norman Bowker still feel inadequate with seven medals?

Why does Norman Bowker feel inadequate, even with seven medals? Bowker feels that his seven medals were for “common valor”, not “uncommon valor”. He feels that if he had been really brave, he would have earned the Silver Star. He imagines that his father might console him with the idea of the seven medals he did win.

What does Bowker realize when he returns from the war?

What does Bowker realize when he returns from the war? He’s emotionally scarred. He has nowhere to go. He disgraced his family.

What did Lee Strunk carry emotionally?

Emotionally/Psychologically Carries: His fear for the dentist. Important Events/Actions: Died from walking out into the sunlight. He passed out at the dentist and he came back later and asked the dentist to take out a perfectly good tooth to make himself feel better.

What does Dave Jensen carry emotionally?

Dave Jensen carries a toothbrush, dental floss, and soap. Ted Lavender (“who was scared”) carries tranquilizers. The emphasis is on Ted Lavender, the scared one, who carried tranquilizers.

What problem does Bowker describe in his letter to O Brien?

In spring 1975, O’Brien received a letter from Bowker describing his struggle to find a meaningful use of his life. Bowker had dropped out of community college and instead spent his mornings in bed, his afternoons playing pickup games of basketball, and his nights driving around aimlessly.

What is ironic about the Army dentist?

The irony of the story is that shortly after he gets up the courage to have a tooth pulled in order to reassure himself of his bravery, he is killed while playing catch with a grenade. His death is ridiculous and points out the uselessness of bravery.

Why does Tim O’Brien describe Elroy Berdahl as the person who saved his life?

Tim O’Brien describes Elroy Berdahl as the person who saved his life. Why? He gave him the space and time he needed to think about the war, the draft, and his true feelings all without ever saying a word about dodging the draft or the war.

What does Berdahl do that leads O’Brien to call him the hero of my life?

O’Brien calls Berdahl “the hero of my life”. Berdahl runs the Tip Top Lodge where O’Brien stays while trying to decide whether or not to join the war. Berdahl takes O’Brien in, keeps him busy with manual labor, but doesn’t pester him about his situation.

Why does O’Brien call himself a coward?

Tim choosing to go to the war because he had fear then transformed into a heart condition which brought forth a coward. He was embarrassed to be running away. He was embarrassed, and therefore a coward.

What does the narrator realize when he sees the emergency fund envelope?

What does the narrator realize when he sees the “EMERGENCY FUND” envelope? Elroy knows that the narrator has been drafted.