Vietnam
Nissa Alvarado
Summary
"Thanks" by Yusef Komunyakaa
In this poem, the narrator is giving thanks for being able to live. Because of the surprise attacks and traps Vietnamese had on them, he was lucky to be able to live through that.
"The Things They Carried" by Tim O'Brien
In this chapter, it talks about the things U.S soldiers carry during the war. They carry not only physical objects, but emotional thoughts too.
Important Passages
"First Lieutenant Jimmy Cross carried letters from a girls named Martha... they were not love letters, but Lieutenant Cross was hopings, so he kept them folded in plastic at the bottom of his rucksack." (Tim O'Brien)
This quote is important because it shows how the soldiers don't only carry the letters they recieve. They are also carrying the emotional thoughts about their loved ones at home.
"Thanks for the tree between me & a sniper's bullet... Thanks for the deflecting the ricochet against that anarchy of dusk... Thanks for the vague white flower that pointed at the gleaming metal." (Yusef Komunyakaa)
This quote is important because it shows how lucky this person is to be living. The person is giving thanks for the luck that they had during the war. Because he was close to dying many times.
Discussion Questions
The messege the authors of both readings are trying to convey to the readers about war is that it was tough to be in the war. It was hard on soldiers, especially since they were young and had little bit of training. The soldiers didn't just have physical troubles during the war, but emotional and mental rpoblems too. They became so paranoid with the surprise attacks and having to be aware of traps. The war has a huge impact on people because it has taken their loved ones, or close friends, away. It has also taken their life away because some are so paranoid/traumatized they can't get back to reality and work good.