The Things They Carried By Tim O'Brien - Character Baggage

Character

Physical Baggage

Mental Baggage

condoms (3), a PRC-25 radio (5), brass knuckles, a set of

“a silent awe for the terrible power of the things they carried” (7);

starched tiger fatigues for special occasions (14)

“they all carried ghosts” (10); the condoms and starched fatigues

Mitchell Sanders

reveal his desire to have contact with a woman/the need for a

connection; the condoms also show his need for sex; he is afraid of

Radio Telephone Operator

being vulnerable/defenseless – the brass knuckles are a weapon of

(pp 3, 5, 9, 14-15, 21)

last resort should he run out of ammunition

a diary (3), a dark-brown thumb cut from the decomposing

“a silent awe for the terrible power of the things they carried” (7),

corpse of a 15/16-year-old VC boy, presented to him as a

“they all carried ghosts” (10); the thumb is a reminder of death

Norman Bowker

gift by Sanders (13)

because it could’ve been his thumb – he uses it to remind himself

to stay alert and stay alive; the diary reveals that he is emotional

PFC – Private First-Class

and needs to express his feelings in order to keep his mind clear

(pp 3, 13-15, 21)

a canvas satchel filled with morphine, plasma, and malaria

“a silent awe for the terrible power of the things they carried” (7);

tablets (5), surgical tape (5), comic books (5), M&M’s for

“they all carried ghosts” (10); the responsibility of saving his fellow

Rat Kiley

especially bad wounds (5), brandy (9)

soldiers’ lives; fear of not being able to save his fellow soldiers

Medic

(pp 3, 5-6, 9, 14-15, 21)

an illustrated New Testament that had been presented to

“his grandmother’s distrust of the white man” (3); “a silent awe for

him by his father (3), his grandfather’s old hunting hatchet

the terrible power of the things they carried” (7); “they all carried

Kiowa

(3), a pair of moccasins for silence (9)

ghosts” (10); the feeling of not being dead (19); sympathy for

Cross (19); religious and wants to adhere to a moral code

PFC – Private First-Class

(pp 3, 7, 9, 14-15, 19, 21)

a slingshot – a weapon of last resort (7), tanning lotion

“a silent awe for the terrible power of the things they carried” (7);

(14)

“they all carried ghosts” (10); the slingshot represents his fear of

Lee Strunk

dying – a slingshot will never run out of ammunition

PFC – Private First-Class

(pp 7, 11, 14-15, 21)

The Things They Carried By Tim O'Brien - Character Baggage - Answer Key Page 2

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