The opening to The Things They Carried describes what O’Brien and his fellow soldiers carried – or “humped” – with them throughout Vietnam. Sometimes they carried required objects,
sometimes they carried emotionally necessary objects, sometimes they carried just the weighty
emotions themselves, and sometimes they carried overpoweringly burdensome worries of the
world.

Consider your own daily lives and the burdens that you choose to carry or that are thrust upon
you – by necessity or otherwise. In 3-6 well-written and carefully thought-out paragraphs,
describe and explain what you “hump” with you on a daily basis - and why. Your 3-6
paragraphs must discuss the following:

- What you carry willingly and by choice
- What you carry by necessity
- What you carry by inheritance (what your parents/family members have given
you to carry)