The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien

How hard is The Things They Carried to read?

The Things They Carried scores 62 out of 100 for difficulty on ReadingRate, making it quite demanding. The score is a weighted composite of nine measures: four of how hard the prose is to parse, five of how hard the meaning is to extract.

Vocabulary: 48 out of 100

O'Brien's vocabulary is accessible, avoiding specialized jargon or archaic language. While he employs military terms (e.g., "SOP," "AO," "dustoff"), they are generally defined through context. The language is direct and unpretentious, focusing on conveying the raw experiences of soldiers.

Sentence structure: 50 out of 100

The sentences in "The Things They Carried" are generally straightforward, with a mix of short, declarative statements and longer, more descriptive passages. While O'Brien occasionally uses compound sentences to build tension or convey the weight of the soldiers' burdens, the syntax remains relatively uncomplicated. This contrasts with the more complex sentence structures found in works like "The Golden Bowl."

Abstraction: 60 out of 100

While the narrative is grounded in the concrete realities of the Vietnam War, O'Brien frequently delves into the psychological and emotional states of his characters. He explores themes of fear, guilt, love, and the burden of memory, moving beyond a simple recounting of events. This level of introspection elevates the abstraction beyond a purely concrete narrative, though it remains less abstract than philosophical works like "Waiting for Godot."

Information density: 55 out of 100

The book presents a moderate level of information density, balancing detailed descriptions of the soldiers' physical and emotional burdens with moments of reflection and introspection. While the text is rich in sensory detail and psychological insight, it avoids overwhelming the reader with excessive historical or technical information. Compared to "War and Peace," the plotlines are fewer and the historical backdrop less dense.

Narrative indirection: 70 out of 100

O'Brien employs a narrative style that requires readers to infer meaning and piece together the truth. The stories often blur the line between fact and fiction, leaving the reader to question the reliability of the narrator and the events being described. This ambiguity is similar to that found in "Lolita," where the reader must read against the narrator's self-serving account.

Symbolic density: 72 out of 100

The objects the soldiers carry take on symbolic weight, representing not only physical burdens but also emotional and psychological ones. The letters from Martha, the pebble, and the various items of superstition all carry meanings beyond their literal function. This is similar to the symbolic weight of the green light in "The Great Gatsby," though perhaps less pervasive.

Ironic distance: 60 out of 100

O'Brien uses irony to highlight the absurdity and contradictions of war. The soldiers employ dark humor and gallows lingo to cope with the trauma they experience, creating a gap between what they say and what they truly feel. This ironic distance is less pronounced than in a full satire like "The Sellout," but it is a significant element of the narrative.

Resolution withholding: 70 out of 100

The book resists easy closure, leaving many questions unanswered and the characters grappling with unresolved trauma. The cyclical nature of memory and the blurring of fact and fiction contribute to a sense of ambiguity that lingers beyond the final page. While the plot resolves in individual stories, the larger questions of war and its impact remain open, approaching the unresolved nature of "Crying of Lot 49."

Structural complexity: 60 out of 100

The narrative structure is not strictly linear, with stories and anecdotes woven together in a non-chronological fashion. The shifting perspectives and the blurring of fact and fiction contribute to a sense of fragmentation and uncertainty. While not as formally experimental as "Ulysses," the structure deviates from a straightforward chronological narrative.

How The Things They Carried is regarded

The Things They Carried holds a literary regard score of 79 out of 100, weighing its place in the canon, its critical reception, its influence on other writers, and the standing of its author. Regard is measured separately from difficulty: a demanding book is not necessarily an admired one.

About the author

Tim O'Brien