CliffsNotes on O'Brien's The Things They Carried

by Jill Colella

Overview

The original CliffsNotes study guides offer expert commentary on major themes, plots, characters, literary devices, and historical background. The latest generation of titles in this series also feature glossaries and visual elements that complement the classic, familiar format.

In CliffsNotes on The Things They Carried, you discover Tim O'Brien's powerful and innovative novel about the experiences of foot soldiers during and after the Vietnam War. Drawing largely on his own experiences during the war, the author creates a fictional protagonist who shares the author's own name, and allows this fictional "Tim O'Brien" to relate disturbing war stories as he creates an indictment against the wastefulness of war.

Chapter summaries and commentaries take you through Tim O'Brien's very personal journey. Critical essays give you insight into the novel's historical context, the novel's narrative structure, and the theme of loss of innocence. Other features that help you study include

• Character analyses of the main characters
• A character map that graphically illustrates the relationships among the characters
• A section on the life and background of Tim O'Brien
• A review section that tests your knowledge
• A Resource Center full of books, articles, films, and Internet sites

Classic literature or modern-day treasure—you'll understand it all with expert information and insight from CliffsNotes study guides.

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Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780544184213
Publisher:	Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Publication date:	05/18/2011
Sold by:	Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Format:	eBook
Pages:	128
File size:	872 KB

About the Author

Jill Colella earned a master's degree at the University of Maryland in English literature, specializing in Vietnam War narratives in film and literature. Ms. Colella, the daughter of a Vietnam veteran, founded The Children of Vietnam Combat Veterans Project in 1997 to speak to the specific concerns of families of veterans. She is the author of After Vietnam: War Stories from a Veteran's Daughter, a memoir of the effects her father's service in Vietnam had on her family life.

Table of Contents

Life and Background of the Author.

Introduction to the Novel.

Critical Commentaries.

Character Analyses.

Critical Essays.

CliffsNotes Review.

CliffsNotes Resource Center.

Appendix: Map of Vietnam.

Index.