PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder): A psychological disorder that can develop after experiencing or witnessing traumatic events like war. It often involves symptoms such as flashbacks, nightmares, and anxiety.
Metafiction: A literary technique used by Tim O'Brien in which he blurs the line between fiction and reality by acknowledging his own role as an author within his stories.
Symbolism:A literary device used throughout "The Things They Carried" to represent abstract ideas or concepts through tangible objects or actions.