Welcome to ENGL 101W: Introduction to Fiction

Week #14:The Things They CarriedProfessor Poyner-Del Vento

1Kindly turn offAll cell phonesThe wireless component of any laptop computers

2Overview of lectureCourage and masculinityTrauma and memoryMetafictionBrief exam reviewAnnouncements

3Courage and masculinity4Too embarrassed to stand up for moral convictionsI was ashamed of my conscience, ashamed to be doing the right thing (OBrien 49).I was a coward. I went to war (OBrien 58).-defined by willing to go to the battle.-men have the courage to fight in the war.-narrator describes courage as an individuals conviction-Tim believes Vietnam war is wrong.5Courage as a form of embarrassmentThey carried all the emotional baggage of men who might die. . . . Rather, they were too frightened to be cowards. (OBrien 20-21)6Hard vocabulary of grunt lingoThey used a hard vocabulary to contain the terrible softness. Greased theyd say. Offed, lit up, zapped while zipping. It wasnt cruelty, just stage presence. They were actors. When someone died, it wasnt quite dying, because in a curious way it seemed scripted, and because they had their lines mostly memorized, irony mixed with tragedy, and because they called it by other names, as if to encyst and destroy the reality of death itself. They kicked corpses. They cut off thumbs. They talked grunt lingo. (OBrien 19)7Gendered languageCourage is masculineStainless steel balls (OBrien 64)Fear is femininePussies (OBrien 21)Pussy! (OBrien 57)8Masculinity as a constructionCharacters are doubtful of their courageTherefore theyre doubtful of their masculine identityHyper-masculine behaviorViolenceBravado / macho attitudeSexualized language

9Trauma and memory10Repeated traumatic scenesDeath of Curt LemonMainly in How to Tell a True War StoryBriefly mentioned in other storiesDeath of man killed by narratorMainly in The Man I Killed, Ambush, and Good FormBriefly mentioned in other storiesDeath of KiowaMainly in Speaking of Courage, Notes, In the Field, and Field TripBriefly mentioned in other stories11Death of man killed by narratorRepeats physical details of corpseStar-shaped hole for eyeDelicate fingersRubber sandals blown offInvents details about mans lifeScholarReluctant to fight12Death of KiowaTakes place in a shitfieldShitfield as symbolOf Vietnam WarOf memory13Death of KiowaKiowas death is blamed on different people:Norman Bowker in Speaking of CourageFirst person narrator in Notes Unnamed soldier In the Field14Metafiction15This book is fiction, right?Title page: The Things They Carried, a work of fiction by Tim OBrienENGL 101: Introduction to Fiction16Parts of this book are real, right?Narrator is named Tim OBrien, like the authorNarrator shares biographical details with the authorNarrator is a writerNarrator was drafted into war between university and graduate schoolNarrator wrote If I Die in a Combat Zone and Going after CacciatoBook is dedicated to characters named in its stories

17Narrator will deliberately draw our attention to books authenticityHow to Tell a True War StoryThis is true (OBrien 66)Good FormPage 71

18Definition from Merriam-Webstermetafiction: fiction which refers to or takes as its subject fictional writing and its conventions

Quoted from Merriam-Webster Online: www.m-w.com 19MetafictionIn many cases . . . beyond telling. (OBrien 68)20MetafictionWhat are the implications of the same story repeated in different versions?What are the implications of truth and fiction being so intertwined?What are the implications of storytelling being a main theme of this book?

-Metafiction will be on the exam.-Metafiction:-Questions the reliability of memory-Explores alternative narratives (reality vs imagined events)-Questions the assignment of guilt-Questions the assignment of blame for the war as a whole-Retelling the story to understand ones self bettermasculine identity-Cannot accept the truthhides it among other versions-Makes storey more dynamic, alive, real in memory-Shows how truth can be skewed-21Brief Exam Review22Exam is open book and open notesMust bring:Pen or pencilSFU student IDShould bring:Marked copy of The Things They CarriedNotes from lectureClose Reading sheetSpecially prepared notes for examScrap paper23Exam is open book and open notesMight bring:Dictionary Another book for reference (be sure to cite!)CANNOT bring:Anything electronic (e.g., laptop, electronic translator, cell phone)Anything potentially noisy or distractingAnything to share with classmates24Exam Format1 hour long2 questions, each worth 50%25Passage analysisYou will be given a choice of three passages from The Things They Carried.Choose two.For each passage you choose, write one or two paragraphs that analyze the internal complexities and ambiguities of the material, offering your own interpretations.Your analyses will probably discuss the passages significance to the entire book. Your answer should focus on an analysis of the passage, not merely a description of the passage or a list of observations about it.

26To prepare for examPractice Close ReadingChoose passages relevant to themes in lectureBring examples of Close Reading to office hours

27Room for ExamExam is scheduled on Saturday, August 13th, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.All students will be in SUR 260028Announcements29Please remember to submit Final Draft via WebCTDue date is Monday, August 8th during LECTUREAlso turn in via WebCT

30Lecture evaluations will be conducted todayYou will evaluate the lecture and tutorial components separatelyEvaluations are anonymous and will be NOT be opened until AFTER all grades are submittedPlease provide as much detail as possibleit helps us improve31Please comment on My skills as a lecturerThe assignment structureFour small exams instead of one cumulative examOne large essay assignment broken into steps32The Things They CarriedGood luck on Exam #4!Good luck on your exams in other classes!

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