#1 Motif

Throughout the whole entire book there are a few words that are repeated over and over to highlight the true theme. "The things they carried", or "they carried" are phrases that reoccur throughout the novel. By the title itself, the reader can infer that the author will embelish in the weapons, necessities, dangers, and other things that people carry throughout their life, and in this novel, the things carried in war. A motif is a reccuring image, word, or phrase throughout a work. To me, this motif stood out like a sore thumb. Almost in every chapter, you learn of things they carried or just stories and happenings that they carried with them in their day to day life. In the beginning chapters these phrases are used in almost every sentence to ensure the reader of the things that will be carried. However, as the story continues, the phrases appear only when necessary to show the true effects of what they carried. Tim O'Brien does a good job in making sure the story follows this motif throughout book.