BIG decision

On page 53, Tim must make a life changing decsion of whether to go to Canada and avoid the war, or leave home for the war. He must choose what he wants to do on his own. This decision reminds me of Julius Caesar and the Rubican River. He had to make a decsion where either outcome would change his life and cause a problem either way. Similarly, Tim is making a decision where he is about to change his life forever. Whatever he decides to do, he will not be the same person he once was. The reason I was reminded of Julius Caesar is when he says he crossed " that dotted line between two different worlds"(page 53). Caesar is the same way when he has to decide whether to cross the River or not. Both of these decisions are hugely important to the story. If Caesar hadn't crossed the river, the story would have been completely different. If Tim hadn't gone to war, there would be no stories about war, which means there would be not book called "The Things They Carried".

Literary Term #10

Hyperbole

• page 198: "I weighed less than nothing."

This hyperbole is obvious in this phrase. The reason I wanted to blog about this is the context it was in. It was used to show how Tim changed. He changed from hating Jorgenson and wanting revenge, to putting himself in his position. He begins to relate to the person he once hated with a passion. This hyperbole is effective because it provides a clear transition of Tim changing his feelings of the past to his newfound feelings and thoughts. He puts himself into a different point of view. In addition, this hyperbole reminds me of a Christmas Carol when Scrooge is like a ghost and goes to the past, present, and future seeing everything going on. I think of this part as the spirit, which is like a ghost, of Tim going and watching Jorgenson while his physical body is sitting there getting revenge. It is providing the reader with an understanding of why he changes his mind of the revenge.

Literary Term #7

Flashback

• page 55: "Chunks of my own history flashed by. I saw a seven-year-old boy in a white cowboy hat and a Lone Ranger mask and a pair of bolstered six-shooters;I saw a twelve-year-old Little League shortstop pivoting t o turn a double play.....My whole life seemed to spill out into the river.."

This is a great example of flashbacks. During an important life changing decision, Tim's life flashes before him because he is about to completely change. No longer will he be the person he once was. After his choice, he will alter himself and become a new person. Either way he will not be who he was in his youth. Flashbacks allow for the reader to become a part of the character. They start to feel their feelings and become engaged by wanting the character to pick a certain way. This is also important to the story becasue it reveals Tim's past in a clever way. I think this flashback allows for the reader to understand where Tim is coming from. Lastly, the flashbacks are an effective way of showing that change is about to occur.