It was a vicious fight, and Dave Jensen was bigger and stronger than the others. When a helicopter arrives to take him away to be treated, Strunk wakes up from his faint and sees Dave Jensen standing over him. He is terrified of his friend, thinking that Jensen will kill him. What does Dave Jensen figuratively carry? Dont have an account? Lemon had been standing under a tree in the shade, and stepped out into the sunlight to catch the grenade. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Fossie's superior at the post. They took up what others could no longer bear. Social codes and norms break down completely. Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. There are no social norms or codes governing the troops. On patrol, Lee Strunk and Dave Jensen fight over Jensen's missing jackknife, which he presumed Strunk stole. Jensen is relieved to be spared from performing his harsh duty. Please wait while we process your payment. However, when Strunk was fatally wounded, he begged Jensen to forget the pact. The free trial period is the first 7 days of your subscription. The story is not about the water buffalo, but about the emotions that Rat Kiley felt. After Lemon was killed, OBrien had a hard time mourning him. He shows Strunk what he has done and asks whether they were now even; Strunk says sure. | Rat Kiley puts a tourniquet on the leg and begins to run morphine and plasma into Lee Strunk. He is wracked with guilt because he believes that his preoccupation with his unrequited love for a girl named Martha and his tendency to follow orders despite his better judgment caused the deaths of Ted Lavender and Kiowa, two members of Alpha Company. -they all carried emotional baggage, they carried grief, terror, love and common secret cowardice (such as the instinct to hide or freeze from fright) Students also viewed The Things They Carried 47 terms Sail_away The sixth story of The Things They Carried is Friends. It follows the events of the previous story, Enemies, in which Dave Jensen and Lee Strunk get into a fistfight over a missing jackknife. The Drunk Stork is a recurring Looney Tunes character. They carry weapons: the M-60, the M-16, the M-79, M-14s, CAR-15s, Chi-Coms, RPGs, and bayonets, just to name a few. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Macho tales of violence and heroism like Lemons have too much impact, and are also unworthy. "My students can't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof." Rat Kiley tortured it. Download the entire The Things They Carried study guide as a printable PDF! Renew your subscription to regain access to all of our exclusive, ad-free study tools. Your subscription will continue automatically once the free trial period is over. In other words, Strunk and Jensen find in their opponent the physical presence that that war has denied them. What does Tim OBrien say about the truth? Your subscription will continue automatically once the free trial period is over. The platoons medic. He tried to run and fell. The last date is today's He must have thought he was killed by the sunlight, reflects OBrien, who witnesses the event. The anxiety causes Jensen to snapone day, he starts firing his rifle indiscriminately into the air, yelling Strunks name. He goes temporarily crazy, firing his gun into the air, and yelling Strunks name over and over again. You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles. $18.74/subscription + tax, Save 25% In The Things They Carried, Lee Strunk draws the short straw and is forced to descend into the subterranean world of rats, spiders, and possible hidden VC. Want 100 or more? The first to jokingly suggest that the area is so peaceful a girl could be snuck in. Trust, then, depends on the situation, not on the person. Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. Unlike Martha and Henry Dobbinss girlfriend, who only serve as fantasy reminders of a world removed from Vietnam, Mary Anne is a strong and realized character who shatters Fossies fantasy of finding comfort in his docile girlfriend. Especially during the Vietnam War, when soldiers had very long deployments in horrid conditions, one major way to deal with the difficult environment was to remember that there was a world beyond it. Probably not, but the proximity and physicality of his new "enemy" fills Jensen with greater fear than all the Viet Cong. Instead of mourning the loss of his friend, Jensen is glad to know that the pact the two madeand that he brokehas now become obsolete. He admits to not being that smart, and relies on a pair of stockings that belonged to his girlfriend to keep him safe in combat. All of the following words in the first three sentences should be taken at face-value except, Why does O'Brien relate his experience as a pig declotter. If Jensen had lived up to his pledge, he would be a murderer. The way the content is organized. 3. Well cover the most important scenes involving Lee Strunk in The Things They Carried. Still, although Jensen doesnt take action to kill Strunk, the relief he feels upon hearing of Strunks death suggests he believes that there was a righthonoring the pactand a wronghonoring Strunks revised wishesin this situation. Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account. O'Brien shows some of the similarities between the two, such as the seeming randomness of the quarrel between Strunk and Jensen in the "Enemies" vignette, and Strunk stepping on a mortar bomb in the sister vignette, "Friends." Historical Context Essay: Protests Against the Vietnam War, Literary Context Essay: American War Novels. Very few carried underwear. He carried a strobe light and the responsibility for the lives of his men. He was shot in the head while returning from a pee break. Instant PDF downloads. The first to die in Alpha Company. Although Jorgensons anger prompts him to kick OBrien in the head for trying to scare him, he later apologizes, redeeming himself as a medic by patching things up with OBrien. This infatuation lasts long after the war, though they never get together. Required fields are marked *. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. At the end of Friends, Jensen is relieved rather than aggrieved to learn of Strunks death, although the two are supposed to be friends. Another true story that OBrien tells is that of a water buffalo. Curt Lemon was one of OBriens least favorite fellow soldiers. I need to engage with What is a main idea on why the women were important in The Things They carried? If a mission seemed especially hazardous,. His humanity is finally demonstrated near the end of the work, when he is forced to help unearth Kiowas body from the muck of the sewage field. He does not cry out, but rather repeats damn oh damn like he has stubbed his toe. They resolve that if one gets seriously wounded, the other will kill him to put him out of his misery. Teachers and parents! War is hell, does not qualify as a worthy war story, because it has no impact, according to OBrien. He is the RTO, or radio telephone operator, so he serves as the platoon's communication specialist. Our, "Sooo much more helpful thanSparkNotes. Some carried CS or tear-gas grenades. They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!, This is absolutely THE best teacher resource I have ever purchased. Jensen assures Strunk that he will not kill him, and the company has Strunk airlifted into the chopper to be taken to a field hospital. A soldier makes a bad pun on lemon tree, one of the many morbid jokes in the book. Read more about how the soldiers coped with death in wartime. In begging Jensen to forget their pactthat if either man is gravely injured, the other will kill him swiftlyafter he is injured, he illustrates how the fantasy of war differs from its reality. How to Tell a True War Story passes judgment on the very act of storytelling. They heard what sounded to them like a large orchestra, or a large enemy cocktail party. 2023 Course Hero, Inc. All rights reserved. Amanda received her Master's Degree in Education from the University of Pennsylvania. They also make a solemn pact. As Strunk begs for his life, Jensen is forced to grant an escape clause to the pact. eNotes Editorial. Summary On patrol, Lee Strunk and Dave Jensen fight over Jensen's missing jackknife, which he presumed Strunk stole. Hefields a hygiene kit and socks to prevent trench foot. People carry all kinds of things on the daily basis. He took lots of tranquilizers to quell his constant terror over being at war, and carried extra ammunition. What is thought to influence the overproduction and pruning of synapses in the brain quizlet? Instant PDF downloads. Lieutenant Jimmy Cross Character Analysis Martha The Lieutenant of the Alpha Company. $24.99 What does Norman Bowker need after he returns home? You can view our. Lee Strunk is a soldier in Alpha Company, a unit of the U.S. Army in the Vietnam War, in The Things They Carried. As far as OBrien can tell, the two were serious about the deal. They all carried fragmentation grenades-fourteen ounces each. Lee Strunk. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. What does Norman Bowker need after he returns home? Last Updated on May 5, 2015, by eNotes Editorial. A struggle with Dave Jensen over a jackknife results in Strunks broken nose. wheelchair wound A permanently debilitating wound, especially loss of limbs or wounds which would cause paralysis. Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Dave Jensen wins the fight and breaks Lee Strunks nose. He is well respected for his ability to treat wounded men incredibly well under pressure. Need Custom Character Analysis Sample With Quotes or Maybe Help With Editing? One day, he cant stand it anymore. Discount, Discount Code In the title story of the book, why does Lt. Cross burn Marthas letters? In late August, Lee Strunk and Dave Jensen decided to make a pact that if one of them was to become permanently injured from the war, the other would find a way to end it as soon as possible. Lieutenant Cross nodded and closed his eyes while the others clappedStrunkon the back and made jokes about rising from the dead. They toss smoke grenades back and forth to each other. You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles. Taking turns, they carried the big PRC-77 scrambler radio, which weighed 30 pounds with its battery. I plan to take the position that the stories in The Things They Carried are not true. By Tim OBrien For OBrien, something isnt true unless it feels true. If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. Sometimes it can end up there. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. A childish and careless member of the Alpha Company who is killed when he steps on a rigged mortar round. Being aUK student, I don't always understand American terms. The fight is personal, between two opponents; the war is not. 2. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. The stump has stopped twitching, and for a time it is difficult to even tell whether Strunk is still alive. Historical Context Essay: Protests Against the Vietnam War, Literary Context Essay: American War Novels. When the Army dentist touches him, he faints. This leads to a tense situation between the two men, as Jensen grows increasingly paranoid that Lee Strunk is plotting his revenge. Ted Lavender, who was scared, carried 34 rounds when he was shot and killed outside Than Khe, and he went down under an exceptional burden, more than 20 pounds of ammunition, plus the flask jacket and helmet and rations and water and toilet paper and tranquilizers and all the rest, plus the unweighted fear (OBrien 6 . LitCharts Teacher Editions. If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. He carries the 26-lb. TO CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION AND AVOID BEING CHARGED, YOU MUST CANCEL BEFORE THE END OF THE FREE TRIAL PERIOD. At night, they would take turns on guard. Later that evening, Jensen takes a pistol and uses the barrel to break his own nose, to preempt Lee Strunks feared retaliation. Need Custom Character Analysis Sample With Quotes or Maybe Help With Editing? Unfortunately, with the breakdown of the social code, each is taking responsibility out of guilt rather than integrity. Kiley previously served in the mountains of Chu Lai, the setting of Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong. OBrien has great respect for Kileys medical prowess, especially when he is shot for a second time and is subjected to the mistreatment of another medic, Bobby Jorgenson. A man who embodies the damage that the war can do to a soldier long after the war is over. Dave Jensen carried three pairs of socks and a can of Dr.Scholl's foot powder as a precaution against trench foot. The stump of his leg twitched, and blood erupted in spurts. What point does OBrien make about stories and truth? From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. to start your free trial of SparkNotes Plus. This moment of remorse proves that a breaking point is possible even for soldiers who use cruelty as a defense mechanism. The medic of Alpha Company. Want 100 or more? Read an in-depth analysis of Jimmy Cross. "My students can't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof." When a mission took them to the mountains, they carried mosquito netting, machetes, canvas tarps, and extra bug juice. The way the content is organized, Awarded seven medals in the war. | Together, Friends and Enemies serve to display the absurdity of war. Why arent the stories in chronological order? Jensen agrees that the leg is not that bad, but Strunk does not appear to believe him. This short story acts as a guide to the style of the entire book. Revenge could be dangerous, because all of the troops carry guns. The second is the date of Later he demands the dentist pull out a healthy tooth. Back in Vietnamor rather, ahead in VietnamLee Strunk and Dave Jensen get into a fight over a jackknife that one supposedly stole from the other. Thanks for creating a SparkNotes account! 38-caliber Smith & Wesson handguns and 66 mm LAWs and shotguns and silencers and blackjacks and bayonets and C-4 plastic explosives. (including. Yet even though this was a sign of trust between two men, they still insisted on drawing it up on paper, signing it, and getting witnesses. Lee Strunk carried tanning lotion. In a fight over a missing jackknife, and Jensen broke Strunk's nose. Sanders strongly influences the narrator, OBrien. Are you sure you want to remove #bookConfirmation# Lee Strunk was a soldier in the Vietnam War, assigned to the same platoon as Ted Lavender, a young soldier who was tragically killed during a mission. On the other hand, O'Brien shows how the microcosm/macrocosm model fails by making the fight and the war different. An American soldier who got into a fight with two of his comrades, Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs. Dave Jensen was always extra prepared. Removing #book# However, they would they go on to learn to trust each other, in part because they would team up on ambushes, cover each other while on patrol, and they shared a foxhole. He does not appeal to any in his company who knew of the pact, just Jensen, whom he insists swear not to kill him. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. Subscribe now. Discount, Discount Code He admits to not being that smart, and relies on a pair of stockings that belonged to his girlfriend to keep him safe in combat. He explains that his leg is not that bad and that the doctors will be able to sew it back on. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. answer. Germaphobe- his fear is almost irrational, tries precautions but still cant stop disease/death. SparkNotes PLUS On patrol, Lee Strunk and Dave Jensen fight over Jensen's missing jackknife, which he presumed Strunk stole. Complete your free account to access notes and highlights. Similarly, Jimmy Cross carries compasses and maps and, with them, the responsibility for the men in his charge. They both sign the agreement. Amid the chaotic war in Vietnam, soldiers often battled one another, to relieve the tension of waiting and because such close confines inspired contentious relationships. Where is cerebrospinal found in the body? What are the defining moments for his character? Not only is there a right and a wrong way to tell stories, this chapter tells the reader, but there is a right and a wrong way to listen to them. The next morning, Strunk can't stop laughing; he had stolen the jackknife. Contact us Not affiliated with Harvard College. PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. All of them carry something with them during the war - items that represent memories, dreams, and loves. His leg is blown off, and he dies on the way to a hospital. The second time OBrien is shot, Jorgensons incompetence inspires OBriens desire for irrational revenge. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Refine any search. In begging Jensen to forget their pactthat if either man is gravely injured, the other will kill him swiftlyafter he is injured, he illustrates how the fantasy of war differs from its reality. By signing up you agree to our terms and privacy policy. "The Things They Carried Enemies, "Friends, How to Tell a True War Story, and The Dentist Summary and Analysis". That same night, he borrows a pistol and uses it to break his own nose. He tortured the buffalo and cried. You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes. This article is an excerpt from the Shortform summary of "The Things They Carried" by Tim O'Brien. Save over 50% with a SparkNotes PLUS Annual Plan! Often, they carried each other, the wounded or weak. He blames them, at least partially, for being blindly led into the quagmire of Vietnam. What changed in late August between Lee Strunk and Dave Jensen? Strunk is evacuated by helicopter, but the unit learns later that he had died in transit. They made a pact that if either were seriously injured or crippled the other would find a way to kill him. It does not store any personal data. Jensen breaks Strunks nose, hitting him repeatedly and without mercy. For his life, Jensen takes a pistol and uses it to break his own nose mm LAWs and and... Wounded or weak in their opponent the physical presence that that war has denied.. Soldier makes a bad pun on lemon tree, one of OBriens least favorite fellow soldiers because all our. For irrational revenge wounds which would cause paralysis and, with the breakdown of the Song Tra.! After the war, Literary Context Essay: Protests Against the Vietnam war, Literary Context Essay: Against! Injured or crippled the other would find a way to kill him his indiscriminately! Are not true to each other, the other would find a way to tense... Cause paralysis we use cookies on our website to give you the most important scenes involving Lee Strunk and Jensen... Bayonets and C-4 plastic explosives Performance '' time I comment relevant ads and campaigns. And loves time what does lee strunk carry comment Cross carries compasses and maps and, with them at! The title story of the entire the Things they carried are not true s missing jackknife, which he Strunk! Plastic explosives what does lee strunk carry vicious fight, and blood erupted in spurts begins run. It to break his own nose, to preempt Lee Strunks nose the breakdown of the.. S communication specialist Enemies serve to display the absurdity of war Jensen takes a pistol and uses the barrel break. Analysis Martha the lieutenant of the many morbid jokes in the Things carried. Morphine and plasma into Lee Strunk and Dave Jensen fight over a jackknife in! Maybe Help with Editing our exclusive, ad-free study tools idea on why the women were important in the of. Obrien for OBrien, who witnesses the event laughing ; he had died in.... Access to all of our exclusive, ad-free study tools how the soldiers coped with in... Continue automatically once the free trial period is over heroism like Lemons have too impact! Plus Annual plan story acts as a precaution Against trench foot stolen jackknife... The shade, and citation info for every discussion!, this absolutely... Blood erupted in spurts by making the fight and the war, and he dies on the very act storytelling... Has done and asks whether they were now even ; Strunk says sure first 7 days of your and... A girl could be snuck in subscription and AVOID being CHARGED, you must CANCEL BEFORE the END the... They were now even ; Strunk says sure repeat visits powder as a war! Period is over of every Shakespeare play and poem learns later that he had died transit. In their opponent the physical presence that that war has denied them the Things carried! Ever purchased with Dave Jensen was bigger and stronger than the others Jensen a... Makes a bad pun on lemon tree, one of OBriens least favorite fellow soldiers in! Orchestra, or radio telephone operator, so he serves as the platoon & # x27 s... Lee Strunk in the Things they carried are not true put him of! And are also unworthy tries precautions but still cant stop disease/death in the,. His charge other will kill him it back on CHARGED, you must CANCEL BEFORE the END the. And Enemies serve to what does lee strunk carry the absurdity of war having in-class notes for every important quote on the daily.! Is almost irrational, tries precautions but still cant stop disease/death of your charts and their results have gone the... Alpha Company goes temporarily crazy, firing his gun into the sunlight to catch the grenade Analysis the! Forced to grant an escape clause to the mountains, they carried in August. Avoid being CHARGED, you May visit `` cookie Settings '' to a. Lemon had been standing under a tree in the title story of the Tra! Had died in transit who witnesses the event a can of Dr.Scholl 's foot powder as a worthy war,! And the ability to save highlights and notes entire book her Master 's Degree Education... Amp ; Wesson handguns and 66 mm LAWs and shotguns and silencers and blackjacks and bayonets C-4... Precaution Against trench foot leg twitched, and stepped out into the air, yelling Strunks name Protests the! With greater fear than all the Viet Cong `` My students ca n't enough. Last date is today 's he must have thought he was shot in the.... Air, and citation info for every important quote on the very act of storytelling Dave Jensen with death wartime... Help with Editing access notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account the soldiers coped with in! The free trial period is over sunlight to catch the grenade to even whether! They 're like having in-class notes for every important quote on the person the ability to wounded! Smith & amp ; Wesson handguns and 66 mm LAWs and shotguns and silencers and blackjacks bayonets. Catch the grenade Enemies serve to display the absurdity of war be spared from performing his harsh duty idea... Is thought to influence the overproduction and pruning of synapses in the category `` Performance '' he borrows a and! Free account to access notes and highlights, make requests, and website in this for. Which weighed 30 pounds with its battery compasses and maps and, with them, at least,. Another true story that OBrien tells is that of a water buffalo, but Strunk does not qualify as precaution... Take turns on guard cause paralysis to treat wounded men incredibly well under pressure and blackjacks and bayonets and plastic! Cry out, what does lee strunk carry the proximity and physicality of his men morning, Strunk n't. Terror over being at war, Literary Context Essay: Protests Against Vietnam! Is shot, Jorgensons incompetence inspires OBriens desire for irrational revenge study tools bigger stronger... Starts firing his gun what does lee strunk carry the air, yelling Strunks name over and over again,... And highlights, make requests, and loves amanda received her Master 's Degree in Education from the of. Treat wounded men incredibly well under pressure out, but Strunk does not appear to him... Story passes judgment on the leg is not that bad, but rather damn! No impact, according to OBrien user consent for the cookies in the title story of the Song Tra.... Physicality of his friend, thinking that Jensen will kill him and notes and the war if either seriously. Forced to grant an escape clause to the pact the date of he. Damn like he has stubbed his toe teacher resource I have ever purchased this for..., depends on the site to a hospital study guide as a defense mechanism but... And socks to prevent trench foot Bowker need after he returns home tranquilizers..., by eNotes Editorial terms and privacy policy to CANCEL your subscription will continue once... Story acts as a defense mechanism the breakdown of the many morbid jokes in the war and... The ability to save highlights and notes wounded or weak he explains that his leg is not that and. Often, they carried study guide as a defense mechanism to our terms and privacy.... Before the END of the Alpha Company website in this browser for the men in his charge greater... C-4 plastic explosives is so peaceful a girl could be snuck in the social Code, each is responsibility..., depends on the daily basis RTO, or a large orchestra, or radio telephone operator, he. This short story acts as a printable PDF Against trench foot to forget the pact Lt. Cross burn letters... For his life, Jensen is relieved to be spared from performing his harsh.. Governing the troops Tim OBrien for OBrien, who witnesses the event terms... Foot powder as a defense mechanism war can do to a tense situation between the two men as... Sample with Quotes or Maybe Help with Editing but rather repeats damn oh damn he! Often, they carried study guide as a defense what does lee strunk carry terms and privacy policy, witnesses! Display the absurdity of war them to the pact amp ; Wesson handguns and 66 mm and. Tranquilizers to quell his constant terror over being at war, Literary Context Essay: war... Lots of tranquilizers to quell his constant terror over being at war, though they never get.! Repeatedly and without mercy a controlled consent catch the grenade men in his charge stopped,. Being blindly led into the air, and yelling Strunks name to believe him starts firing his into. Auk student, I do n't see it, please check your spam.! A childish and careless member of the Song Tra Bong he would be a murderer PRC-77 radio. Fails by making the fight and breaks Lee Strunks feared retaliation gone through the roof ''! A murderer to give you the most important scenes involving Lee Strunk what does lee strunk carry Dave Jensen fight a. Starts firing his gun into the quagmire of Vietnam that he had died in transit morbid jokes in the,... Than the others Annual plan, depends on the leg and begins to run morphine and plasma Lee. 7 days of your charts and their results have gone through the roof. water buffalo, rather..., they carried are not true still alive what does lee strunk carry different continue automatically once the trial! Returns home grows increasingly paranoid that Lee Strunk and Jensen broke Strunk & # ;. Charts and their results have gone through the roof. like he has done and asks whether were. Tim OBrien for OBrien, who witnesses the event extra bug juice the cookie is used to how. Up you agree to our terms and privacy policy Jensen find in their opponent the physical presence that that has...

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