The Things They Carried is a collection of short stories by Tim O’Brien that was first published in 1990. Read key facts, the full book summary, and important quotes.

Characters

See a complete list of the characters in The Things They Carried and in-depth analyses of Tim O’Brien, Jimmy Cross, Mitchell Sanders, Kiowa, Mary Anne Bell, Norman Bowker, and Elroy Berdahl.

Literary Devices

Here's where you'll find analysis of the literary devices in The Things They Carried, from the major themes to motifs, symbols, and more.

Quotes

Find the quotes you need to support your essay, or refresh your memory of The Things They Carried by reading these key quotes.

Essays

Get ready to ace your The Things They Carried paper with our suggested essay topics, helpful essays about historical and literary context, and more.

Further Study

Go further in your study of The Things They Carried with background information on Tim O'Brien and the book, movie adaptations, and links to resources on the web, and suggestions for further reading.