Teachers and parents! What kind of wound qualified for a mercy kill? In this story, social codes and contracts become arbitrary. Yet even though this was a sign of trust between two men, they still insisted on drawing it up on paper, signing it, and getting witnesses. Not affiliated with Harvard College. From his experience with Linda, OBrien learns the power that storytelling has to keep memory alive. Tim O'Brien and The Things They Carried Background, Read more about how the soldiers coped with death in wartime, Read more about the power of friendship as a theme. Example: A world atlas and an almanac (is, are) good sources of geographical information. Is everything square between them? When Strunk and Jensen fight, the quarrel becomes emotional and out-of-control because they have both yearned for a real enemy to touch, see, and destroy. At the end of Friends, Jensen is relieved rather than aggrieved to learn of Strunks death, although the two are supposed to be friends. A soldier in the Alpha Company and one of the few unsympathetic characters in the work. Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1699 titles we cover. What is Jimmy Cross's last request to Tim at the end chapter 2? Discount, Discount Code Jensens relief at Strunks death signals that he operates under a strict code of right and wrong, putting more stock in fidelity and promises than in friendship. This moment of remorse proves that a breaking point is possible even for soldiers who use cruelty as a defense mechanism. Which man cut off the thumb of a dead Viet-Cong boy? Complete your free account to request a guide. He hit him hard. These two stories describe the relationship between two soldiers, Lee Strunk and Dave Jensen. PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. In the title story of the book, why does Lt. Cross burn Marthas letters? How to Tell a True War Story. The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. In October, Strunk's lower leg gets blown off by a mortar round. Read an in-depth analysis of Mitchell Sanders. Dave Jensen and Lee Strunk did not become instant buddies, but they did learn to trust each other. You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes. She goes out and never returns, becoming a part of Vietnam. Sometimes it can end up there. Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account. Mitchell Sanders carries condoms, brass knuckles, and the unit's radio. The author remembers that beforeStrunkwas fatally hurt,Strunkand Dave Jensen had made a pact that if either man were irreparably harmed, the other man would see that he was quickly killed. You'll be billed after your free trial ends. Need Custom Character Analysis Sample With Quotes or Maybe Help With Editing? Instead of being upset by the news of his friends swift death en route to treatment, Jensen is relieved. Lavender is the first to die in the work. Unlike Martha and Henry Dobbinss girlfriend, who only serve as fantasy reminders of a world removed from Vietnam, Mary Anne is a strong and realized character who shatters Fossies fantasy of finding comfort in his docile girlfriend. They resolve that if one gets seriously wounded, the other will kill him to put him out of his misery. PDF downloads of all 1699 LitCharts literature guides, and of every new one we publish. O'Brien makes us wonder whom you can trust in a war. $18.74/subscription + tax, Save 25% He came up grinning, filthy but alive. After his first episode with the dentist, what did Curt Lemon do? are. The lieutenant of the Alpha Company, who is responsible for the entire group of men. What does Norman Bowker need after he returns home? -Graham S. The timeline below shows where the character Dave Jensen appears in. In begging Jensen to forget their pactthat if either man is gravely injured, the other will kill him swiftlyafter he is injured, he illustrates how the fantasy of war differs from . Who shares the story of the girlfriend in Vietnam? For any quotation requiring an end mark, include the closing quotation marks to show the proper placement of the end mark. Dobbins said it could be worse. The irony in these two stories is expressed by their titles. After all, should a soldier be more afraid of one of his own company, even someone with whom he has had an argument, than an entire country of men who would shoot him on sight? Dave Jensen carried empty sandbags that could be filled at night for added protection. Teachers and parents! Just as he assumes, in Enemies, that he has broken a social code by wronging Strunk and must therefore feel bad, so too in Friends does he feel he has broken a social code by not honoring the terms of his pact with Strunk, even though Strunk is the one who waves off the pact. Still, although Jensen doesnt take action to kill Strunk, the relief he feels upon hearing of Strunks death suggests he believes that there was a righthonoring the pactand a wronghonoring Strunks revised wishesin this situation. They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!, This is absolutely THE best teacher resource I have ever purchased. Please wait while we process your payment. Need Custom Character Analysis Sample With Quotes or Maybe Help With Editing? Where do the men camp in the chapter titled "Church?". Chapter 6 takes up the story of Dave Jensen and Lee Strunk's relationship. The blast of the explosion severs his right leg at the knee. Strunk gets his nose broken because of a fight, because his enemy relentlessly beat him and crushed his bones; he loses his leg for no reason other than where he stepped. If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. What word does Ted Lavender use to describe the war? Yet when news of Strunk's death comes to him, it "seemed to relieve Dave Jensen of an enormous weight." You Are One Click Away From Getting Your Work Done, Do the Right Thing by Spike Lee : Analysis? TO CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION AND AVOID BEING CHARGED, YOU MUST CANCEL BEFORE THE END OF THE FREE TRIAL PERIOD. Read more about deaths power as a theme. Jensens relief at Strunks death signals that he operates under a strict code of right and wrong, putting more stock in fidelity and promises than in friendship. Hefields a hygiene kit and socks to prevent trench foot. Refine any search. Free trial is available to new customers only. The author describes a lot of his relation withStrunk. SparkNotes Plus subscription is $4.99/month or $24.99/year as selected above. Becomes close with Jensen soon after and signs a pact that promises one will kill the other if either of them is wounded enough in battle that they are wheelchair bound. Trust, then, depends on the situation, not on the person. LitCharts Teacher Editions. They took up what others could no longer bear. Mitchell Sanders, Azar, Henry Dobbins, contact and Jorgenson kind of nodded at him, But looking at Jorgenson sitting with. Is everything square between them?. Complete your free account to request a guide. 20% from your Reading List will also remove any Dave Jensen is a minor character, whose guilt over his injury of Lee Strunk causes him to break his own nose. SparkNotes PLUS Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more. On the Rainy River, Next Why didnt Tim OBrien try to evade the draft by going to Canada? Berdahl serves as the closest thing to a father figure for OBrien, who, after receiving his draft notice, spends six contemplative days with the quiet, kind Berdahl while he makes a decision about whether to go to war or to escape the draft by running across the border to Canada. Kiley previously served in the mountains of Chu Lai, the setting of Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong. OBrien has great respect for Kileys medical prowess, especially when he is shot for a second time and is subjected to the mistreatment of another medic, Bobby Jorgenson. Kiowas death, when the company mistakenly camps in a sewage field, is the focal point of three stories. Another soldier in the platoon and a minor character. Instant PDF downloads. The free trial period is the first 7 days of your subscription. How is Henry Dobbins described by the narrator? For a while it went back and forth, but Dave Jensen was much bigger and much stronger, and eventually he wrapped an arm around Strunk's neck and pinned him down and kept hitting him on the nose. You'll also receive an email with the link. How do we know the narrator is the author, Tim O'Brien? Youve successfully purchased a group discount. Historical Context Essay: Protests Against the Vietnam War, Literary Context Essay: American War Novels. How did the jackknife incident change the relationship between Dave Jensen and Lee Strunk? OBriens closest friend and a model of quiet, rational morality amid the atrocities of war. By failing to do it, even at Strunk's behest, he proves himself no friend. When he snaps, Dave Jensen began to fire his weapon into the air while yelling Lee Strunk's name until he went through an entire magazine of ammunition. The next morning, Strunk is amused by the news, admitting that he did steal Jensens jackknife. Ironically, the oath is enough to appease Strunk, where earlier an oath would not suffice; the desperateness of his situation forces him to take Jensen's promise on faith alone. Dave Jensen Character Analysis Next Lee Strunk A soldier who becomes so plagued with guilt and fear of retribution after he breaks Lee Strunk 's nose during an argument, that Jensen breaks his own nose. Wed love to have you back! Which is not a benefit of being stationed in the area? This is another pair of slightly less important soldiers. Lieutenant Cross nodded and closed his eyes while the others clappedStrunkon the back and made jokes about rising from the dead. What does Dave Jensen carry? The things they carry are determined by superstition: Lieutenant Jimmy Cross' pebble, On a morning in late July, LZ Gator, Lee Strunk, and. It explains why the author decided to write the novel. LeeStrunkcarried tanning lotion. What animal does the platoon run into after Curt Lemon's death? What changed in late August between Lee Strunk and Dave Jensen? PDF downloads of all 1699 LitCharts literature guides, and of every new one we publish. What movie did Jimmy Cross and Martha see on their date before the war? Although OBrien alludes to having multiple children, Kathleen is the only one we meet. The "Friends" vignette wraps up with Jensen violating his original pledge and not killing Strunk. Amid the chaotic war in Vietnam, soldiers often battled one another, to relieve the tension of waiting and because such close confines inspired contentious relationships. Jensen easily overpowers Strunk, hitting him repeatedly and breaking his nose. O'Brien thinks this news brought relief to Jensen, who felt a heavy burden. OBrien contends that war is a time when fantasies are shattered and notions of honor are rendered obsolete in the frightening face of death. A medic in Rat Kileys previous assignment. Some things they carried in common. The next morning, Strunk can't stop laughing; he had stolen the jackknife. Later that night, he borrows a pistol and uses it to break his own nose in order to even the score. When was Ted Lavender killed outside of the village Than Khe? A minor character whose guilt over his injury of Lee Strunk causes him to break his own nose. Instead of mourning the loss of his friend, Jensen is glad to know that the pact the two madeand that he brokehas now become obsolete. Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1699 titles we cover. Write each word that should be followed by an end mark, add the appropriate end mark, and as needed, capitalize the first word of the sentence following the end mark. Summary and Analysis O'Brien forces us to question what is right and wrong in a war. Jensen kneels at his side and Strunk repeatedly begs not to be killed. Where is Lee Strunk when Dave Jensen shows his broken nose? The narrator says he wants to write a story about all of this. Did you know you can highlight text to take a note? How did Jimmy Cross get another photograph of Martha? But when Strunk is actually injured, he immediately wants to rescind the agreement made in a time when the prospect of its being enacted seemed unlikely. Although Mary Anne arrives in Vietnam full of innocence, she gains a respect for death and the darkness of the jungle and, according to legend, disappears there. Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more. Since it is a prime example of arbitrary, unforgiving cruelty in war, Kiowas death is given more prominence than his life. Though OBrien does not particularly like Lemon, Lemons death is something OBrien continually contemplates with sadness and regret. to start your free trial of SparkNotes Plus. Jensen tries to say some encouraging words, and swears not to follow their agreement and kill Strunk. Over the next month, Jensen and Strunk begin to pair up on ambushes together and cover each other on patrol. Read an Read an in-depth analysis of Kiowa. In October, Strunk's lower leg gets blown off by a mortar round. They make a pact that if one of them should get a wound so bad it would put him in a wheelchair, the other will kill him to put him out of his misery. OBriens daughter and a symbol of the nave outsider. The narrator and protagonist of the collection of stories. Your group members can use the joining link below to redeem their group membership. $24.99 And he didn't stop. OBrien explains that this behavior results from the immaturity of Jensen and Strunk, and of the immaturity of grunts in general. Who kills Tim Lavender's stray puppy with a Claymore? O'Brien makes us wonder which is worse. Struggling with distance learning? Removing #book# Previous Utilisez le, la, l, les, lui ou leur. bookmarked pages associated with this title. Jensens relief afterStrunks death is an illustration of the perspective soldiers are forced to assume. Enemies and Friends. Strunk also carries a pair of moccasins in addition to his . Why arent the stories in chronological order? For the next 7 days, you'll have access to awesome PLUS stuff like AP English test prep, No Fear Shakespeare translations and audio, a note-taking tool, personalized dashboard, & much more! At the beginning of Enemies, Jensen and Strunk are violently opposed to one another although they are fighting on the same side of a brutal war. else stood around without speaking. Why does OBrien become angry at Bobby Jorgenson and eventually want to get revenge on him? What does Dave Jensen ask Lee Strunk? Three men should pull them apart, andStrunkmust be thrown over the air for medical help. Strunks acceptance of the matter and the relief Jensen takes in his exaggerated gesture of settling the score show that both men are willing to take responsibility for their actions. "If you weren't humping, you were __________.". Struggling with distance learning? his chest, arms, and face were cut from shrapnel. What the war lacks is a visible opponent, a physical enemy. LeeStrunktakes his sling, saying that ammunition will always replenish on the spot. First, the fight is more personal and emotional, for example, than Strunk stepping on a mortar bomb. Over the next month they often teamed up on ambushes. By signing up you agree to our terms and privacy policy. Their pact to off each other if either of them receives a wheelchair-worthy wound isn't exactly the warm and cuddly kind of friendship we tend to prefer. army mandates, but also by each soldiers' personal quirks. and any corresponding bookmarks? Best summary PDF, themes, and quotes. Youve successfully purchased a group discount. Save over 50% with a SparkNotes PLUS Annual Plan! Genius is the ultimate source of music knowledge, created by scholars like you who share facts and insight about the songs and artists they love. What object is Mitchell Sanders described with each time he is talking? | Norman Bowker carries a diary. pull guard To be assigned to a sentinel shift, to keep watch. During the war, Bowker is quiet and unassuming, and Kiowas death has a profound effect on him. "My students can't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof." The medic who replaces Rat Kiley. What does Rat Kiley do to treat Lee Strunk's injury? Finally, crazed by apprehension, Jensen fires his gun into the air and calls out Strunks name. However, whenStrunkis actually hurt, he begs Jensen to spare him, and Jensen complies. Because of these qualities, he is a type of father figure. 2023 Course Hero, Inc. All rights reserved. How much money is the "Emergency Fund" envelope? Dave Jensen. Many periods and all exclamation points and question marks have been omitted from the following passage. for a customized plan. Discount, Discount Code Afterward, Jensen is nervous that Strunk will try to get revenge and pays special attention to Strunks whereabouts. One morning in late July, while we were out on patrol near LZ Gator, Lee Strunk and Dave Jensen got into a fistfight. We can then apply this model to Vietnam, seeing how the larger battle, no matter who wins or loses, will be meaningless. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. Read more about the power of friendship as a theme. Why didnt Tim OBrien try to evade the draft by going to Canada? It took three of us to pull him off. Mitchell Sanders was playing with his yo-yo, Norman Bowker and Kiowa and. What did he do that night after he fainted in the dentist tent? He laughs because Jensen breaking his nose has no meaning Jensen was justified in his attacking Strunk in the first place. What is Dave Jensen's decision with regard to the pact he made with Lee Strunk? Afterward, Jensen is nervous that Strunk will try to get revenge and pays special attention to Strunks whereabouts. We're sorry, SparkNotes Plus isn't available in your country. would have ended there, but because this was Vietnam where everyone had a gun. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. Her youth and innocence force OBrien to try to explain the meaning of the war. How does Jimmy ask Tim to portray him in the book he is writing? Dave Jensen and Lee Strunk learn to trust each other. Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong (Chapter 9), Type out all lyrics, even repeating song parts like the chorus, Lyrics should be broken down into individual lines. My students love how organized the handouts are and enjoy tracking the themes as a class., Requesting a new guide requires a free LitCharts account. How did Dave Jensen and Lee Strunk agree on the pact? How does Lee Strunk first react after his injury? 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After Curt Lemon do end of the village than Khe by apprehension, Jensen and Lee Strunk and Jensen... Publish and the ability to save highlights and notes was Ted Lavender outside! Timeline below shows where the character Dave Jensen and Lee Strunk to redeem their group membership since is! To Tim at the end mark by Spike Lee: Analysis requiring an end mark, include closing... He wants to write the novel LitCharts does the frightening face of death carried empty sandbags could! Best teacher resource I have ever purchased were n't humping what does dave jensen ask lee strunk? you CANCEL... Begin to pair up on ambushes together and cover each other his sling, saying that ammunition will replenish!, are ) good sources of geographical information, OBrien learns the of! Of men signing up you agree to our terms and privacy policy,.