““The Things They Carried”The Things They Carried”

Hand grenadesHand grenades smoke bombssmoke bombs M-16 assault rifle (7.5 pounds, unloadedM-16 assault rifle (7.5 pounds, unloaded

with 8.5 to 14 pounds of ammunition)with 8.5 to 14 pounds of ammunition) M-16 maintenance gear: 1 poundM-16 maintenance gear: 1 pound Hatchet (7 pounds)Hatchet (7 pounds) flashlight (2 pounds)flashlight (2 pounds) Poncho (2 pounds)Poncho (2 pounds) Steel helmet (5 pounds)Steel helmet (5 pounds) Flak jacket (7 pounds)Flak jacket (7 pounds) jungle boots (7 pounds)jungle boots (7 pounds) M-60 (23 pounds, unloaded: 10-17 pounds of ammo)M-60 (23 pounds, unloaded: 10-17 pounds of ammo) PRC-25 radio (26 pounds)PRC-25 radio (26 pounds) Medic gear: 20 poundsMedic gear: 20 pounds M-79 grenade launcher: 6 pounds; 50 pounds of ammoM-79 grenade launcher: 6 pounds; 50 pounds of ammo

““The Things They Carried”The Things They Carried”

C-rations: 2 lbs C-rations: 2 lbs P-38 can openersP-38 can openers Pocket knife: 1 lbPocket knife: 1 lb Heat tabsHeat tabs WatchWatch Dog tagsDog tags Insect repellentInsect repellent Gum/candyGum/candy Cigarettes/lightersCigarettes/lighters salt tabletssalt tablets Iodine tabletsIodine tablets Kool-Aid packetsKool-Aid packets Sterno/matchesSterno/matches Sewing kitsSewing kits 2 or 3 canteens of water2 or 3 canteens of water

Total: 15 to 20 pounds, depending on the manTotal: 15 to 20 pounds, depending on the man

The Things They CarriedThe Things They Carried

The Things They The Things They (and we) Carry(and we) Carry

The metaphor of The metaphor of carrying gives weight carrying gives weight to the idea that the to the idea that the things we carry —things we carry —whether physical or whether physical or emotional —enable emotional —enable us to navigate life’s us to navigate life’s inconsistencies. inconsistencies.

The Things They CarriedThe Things They Carried

The notion that people carry heavy emotional The notion that people carry heavy emotional burdens is a universal one: O’Brien switching burdens is a universal one: O’Brien switching between first-person narrative and third-person between first-person narrative and third-person throughout the book reflects his belief that by throughout the book reflects his belief that by telling his own story, he is telling the story of many.telling his own story, he is telling the story of many.

The Things You CarryThe Things You Carry

OK, so now we apply the metaphor to our OK, so now we apply the metaphor to our lives – because as you have heard me say lives – because as you have heard me say so many times, that’s who I am. It’s what I so many times, that’s who I am. It’s what I do. do.

What are the things you carry? The What are the things you carry? The material goods, the memories, the hopes, material goods, the memories, the hopes, dreams, experiences, fears, interests, dreams, experiences, fears, interests, morals, convictions, burdens, stories -- morals, convictions, burdens, stories -- everything that forms who you are.everything that forms who you are.

The Things You CarryThe Things You Carry List as many as you can: then put them together in a free verse format (a List as many as you can: then put them together in a free verse format (a

poem that doesn’t rhymepoem that doesn’t rhyme): “I carry the burdens of a 21): “I carry the burdens of a 21stst century high school century high school student. I carry expectations that are impossible to achieve but honorable to student. I carry expectations that are impossible to achieve but honorable to strive for.”strive for.”

Don’t settle for the surface response. Go deep.Don’t settle for the surface response. Go deep. You know…depth? You know…depth? Yes, depth.Yes, depth. I like depth.I like depth. I like rolling in the depth.I like rolling in the depth. Knock, knockKnock, knock Who’s there?Who’s there? DepthDepth Must be typed! About a page to a page and a half should do it. Due Thursday. Want to hear a couple of samples?

The Things You CarryThe Things You Carry But wait.But wait. There’s more.There’s more. There’s always more.There’s always more. Pick one of the physical things you “carry” (parentheses because Pick one of the physical things you “carry” (parentheses because

you may not carry it with you every day): Make it an item that has you may not carry it with you every day): Make it an item that has some deep emotional significance to you.some deep emotional significance to you.

Bring it to class on Thursday.Bring it to class on Thursday. Show us. Talk about it. Show us. Talk about it. It’s grown-up show and tell.It’s grown-up show and tell.