The Things They Carried

Most Important Passage (MIP) Template

This document is a place for you to keep track of the most important
parts of this novel and a place where you can organize your ideas about
what makes them important. For each MIP, include the following
information: Why did you select this passage as the “most important”?
What theme or topic is this passage helping to develop? What literary
devices or structural techniques is O’Brien choosing to use, and how do
they add complexity to the novel and themes or topics?
Possible topics (not a comprehensive list):
● The power of storytelling.
● The relationship between Memory and Guilt.
● Issues of masculinity and courage.
● The relationship between truth and fiction.
MIP #: “Sweetheart of The Song Tra Bong”

Passage location: Theme or topic: Literary Analysis: (answer the questions above in 200-400
include page and words/1-2 paragraphs. Please use literary terminology &
beg. and end of quotes)
words (20-40 lines)

P. 85-86 The relationship In the beginning of this chapter, Tim O’Brien, the narrator,
“Vietnam was between truth explains how Rat Kiley tells him a story, but he is unsure on
full of strange and fiction how much he should believe to be true. Tim O’Brien
stories…” to “This understands that this soldier’s story might not be fully
guy did it.” accurate as he is known for his exaggeration and
dramatization. In this excerpt, O’Brien, the author, reveals
the balance between truth and fiction and how it can impact
the reader’s understanding of the war.

The first literary device that O’Brien uses in this excerpt is a

high amount of visual imagery. He describes the girl in this
scene in detail which is used to add to Rat Kiley’s credibility.
Ray Kiley tries to prove that his story is fully accurate but
since he has a reputation for exaggeration, no one can trust
him fully. Tim O’Brien writes about Ray Kiley’s intentions of
telling these white lies when he said “He wanted to heat up
the truth”. Ray Kiley was simply looking for attention and
wanted people to feel the same feelings he felt in that
situation which makes the reader think that these small lies
and exaggerations aren’t necessarily a bad thing.

Along with this, the author uses an interesting tone which

makes the reader feel a sense of sadness at how the war truly
is. Most people are unaware of the mental and emotional
obstacles these soldiers endure during war. This gloomy
tone of not sure on who to trust and believe and how there is
quite a bit of gray area between truth and fiction results in
the reader gaining a better understanding of the situations
these soldiers went through. This tone and mood adds to the
ideology that creating details and making up the specifics to
a truthful historical is an essential part of storytelling. The
author goes as far as to write when he explains the ideology
behind Ray Kiley’s small lies that “It wasn’t a question of
deceit. Just the opposite”.

Additionally, Tim O’Brien uses the characterization of Ray

Kiley to demonstrate his idea of how fiction and truth can
overlap in storytelling and it is important for authors to
create their own details and alter stories to make them more
enjoyable for readers. Lastly, another literary device that is
connected to this same idea is the use of metaphors. When
describing Rat Kiley’s white lies, Tim O’Brien writes “burn
so hot that you would feel exactly what he felt.” Overall, Tim
O’Brien uses various pieces of literary language to convey
the theme of the overlap between truth and fiction in the art
of storytelling.