Discuss how “The Things They Carried” differs from a “traditional” story. Do these things help or hinder O’Brien’s work? You might consider the elements of plot, point of view, self-awareness (meta-fiction), character development, symbolism, or any other

1. Essay should be approximately 3-4 typed, double-spaced pages, approximately 850-1000 words. Follow MLA format. 2. Be sure to have a clear thesis at the end of the introduction. You will prove the thesis in the body of the essay. 3. Avoid using first person “I” and second person “you.” 4. Be sure to use brief, relevant quotes from the story you are discussing. 5. Secondary Sources. You are to use at least one of the three articles in our ″Critical Contexts: TIm O′Brien′s ′The Things They Carried′″ chapter. These are: Steve Kaplan: ″From the Undying Uncertainty of the narrator in Tim O′Brien′s The Things They Carried″ p. 577-582 Lorrie N. Smith: ″″From ′The Things Men Do′: The Gendered Subtext in Tim O′Brien′s Esquire Stories″ p. 582-593 Susan Farrell: ″From Tim O′Brien and Gender: A Defense of The Things They Carried″ p. 593-597 You are allowed to use more than one of these articles. You should quote at least two times from the article(s) you select. Do not use any other outside sources. (But, be aware, if you do use any other sources you MUST cite them properly within the text of your essay and include them on your Works Cited.) 6. Include a list of Works Cited. Your list should include both the story and the article(s) used. 7. The final essay will be turned in directly to Turnitin.com. 8. Be sure to see my grade pointers at the bottom of this page.