The CliffsNotes version for "The Things They Carried" has all the standard CliffsNotes information in it. I found it definitely helped me notice the larger themes and meta fictional writing which enhanced my reading. The novel uses a complicated form with the fictional author having the same name as the actual author. Being able to read the CliffsNotes helped me notice and understand that better.

The character analysis also helped me to understand what the character's themselves represent in the novel (a basic example is the loss of innocence portrayed in the Mary Ann character).

One of the best accounts I have read on the Vietnam War. O'Brian is a master storyteller and pulls the reader into the book with uncanny ease.

I tried using this for a quiz back in high school. It was my sophomore year, I believe it was during a fall night, most likely a Wednesday when I was more occupied with watching the latest South Park episode then reading some "Things They Carried" (Don't get me wrong, it was a very good book, I'm just blaming me undeveloped teenage brain.) The next day during class, I remember this vivid sense of pride, for I being a super genius used Spark Notes. To my surprise, the next class my quiz was returned to me. 6 out of 10 baby!!