The Things They Carried: Flashback-Page 39

"It was a humid afternoon, I remember, cloudy and very quiet,..."

While O'Brien remembers the day that the draft notice arrived at his home, he tells the story by using a flashback. This literary tool is very productive and effective because it paints a clear picture of the setting and the plot of the story. Because flashbacks are so vivid and descriptive, they have the ability to both express and evoke emotions, attitudes, and feelings. In addition, flashbacks can help the reader learn more about the background of a character or further describe the situation that a character is in. They can key in on specific and important events that occur throughout a character's life. I think that O'Brien's flashback does all of these things and serves its purpose. The flashback brings the reader back to the day that O'Brien received the draft notice. It show his anxiety at the time, presents his attitude towards the war, and conveys what he thinks about himself. Finally, the flashback replays a significant day in his life that will have a drastic and permanent impact on his future.