Analyzing Crane's Passage From 'The Red Badge Of Courage'

*1. Describe what was fresh in Crane's approach to writing about war.

Crane wrote this story in first person through the eyes of one soldier. He created a new sense of realism by doing this and by avoiding any romanticism or anything artificial, which hadn’t really been done before.

*2. Which passage below comes closest to giving the reader the feeling he is actually experiencing the event? In what ways?

I chose a passage from The Red Badge of Courage that was similar to Pleasonton’s passage. The passage from Crane’s story comes closest to making the reader feel as though we are experiencing the event because it is in first person and makes the reader feel like they are in the moment more so than something in third person.

*3. What do we

learn from Boyer about "the thickest of the fight?"
We learn that the war was at its worst when Boyer uses the phrase, “the thickest of the fight.”

*4.

What do we learn from Crane's passage?

We learn that Henry is very self obsessed and believes his life holds more value than the other soldiers.

VIVID IMAGERY

Locate a brief passage (about a paragraph in length) from The Red Badge of Courage that offers vivid imagery to describe events in a battle. Contrast it with The Artillery at Hazel Grove, a description of one small part of the Chancellorsville battle that emphasizes military strategy. The Artillery at Hazel Grove is very specific in its description of the movements of troops and equipment.

*5. What is the purpose of the writer's actions during the Chancellorsville battle?

The purpose of the writer’s actions during the Chancellorsville battle was to be the first one to attack before the enemy was able to attack once he was out on the plains.

*6. What is Crane's purpose? (author's purpose)

Crane’s purpose was to describe the happenings of the battle in a clear and relatable way so that readers could understand what the soldiers felt during the battle.

*7. How does each passage differ in its effect on the reader?

Each passage in the Red Badge of Courage has a different effect on the reader emotionally. Sometimes it is a feeling of fear, courage or

hope.

A MINIMUM OF LINKING NARRATIVE
*8. What is the purpose of Gordon's account?
The din in front swelled to a tremendous chorus. The youth and his fellows were frozen to silence. They could see a flag that tossed in the smoke angrily. Near it were the blurred and agitated forms of troops. There came a turbulent stream of men across the fields. A battery changing position at a frantic gallop scattered the stragglers right and left. A shell screaming like a storm banshee went over the huddled heads of the reserves. It landed in the grove, and exploding redly flung the brown earth. There was a little shower of pine needles. Bullets began to whistle among the branches and nip at the trees. Twigs and leaves came sailing down. It was as if a thousand axes, wee and invisible, were being wielded. Many of the men were constantly dodging and ducking their heads. The lieutenant of the youth's company was shot in the hand. He began to swear so wondrously that a nervous laugh went along the regimental line. The officer's profanity sounded conventional. It relieved the tightened senses of the new men. It was as if he had hit his fingers with a tack hammer at home. He held the wounded member carefully away from his side so that the blood would not drip upon his trousers (Crane, 2005).
Gordon tries to show how there were some very difficult decisions the soldiers had to make. The commanding officer is given unclear instructions that could potentially put his team at risk. At the same time, he stands to carry the blame in a case whereby the mission would fail and those in power would pass through sketch free in case the mission had actually turned out unsuccessful.

*9.

What is the purpose of Crane's account?

Crane’s purpose was to reveal the occurances of the soldiers lives. He wanted to reveal the emotions they felt on the field.

IN THE STYLE OF DOCUMENTARY REPORTAGE

Locate a brief passage (about a paragraph in length) from The Red Badge of Courage that offers writing in the style of documentary reportage (a kind of "you are there" approach that recounts events by letting people and events speak for themselves through the liberal use of quotations, a focus on details, and a lack of commentary). Compare it to the following excerpt from an English journalist's reports about the Union troops at the Battle of Bull Run, on Page 741 of Recollections of the Civil War - V by Sir William Howard Russell, Ll.D., Special Correspondent of "The Times" (London). .

At that very moment Mr. Lincoln and Mr. Seward were passing through the ruck of the straggling debris. The President soon had a striking proof of the terrible disorganization. An officer of the regular army was endeavoring to get the crowd in Fort Corcoran into order. He was menaced with death, because he threatened to have an officer of the Sixty-ninth shot for disobeying his

orders.

The men of the battalion rushed to the President and complained that Sherman—for it was he—had insulted their officer. When the President inquired into the cause of the tumult Sherman replied: "I told the officer that if he refused to obey my orders I would shoot him on the spot! I repeat it now, sir; if I remain in command here, and any man refuses to obey my orders, I will shoot him on the spot." This firmness in the presence of the President overawed the mutineers, and they set about the work that Sherman had ordered them to execute.

*10. How do the passages resemble one another? In other words, what do these passages have in common?
For a time the youth was obliged to reflect in a puzzled and uncertain way. His mind was undergoing a subtle change. It took moments for it to cast off its battleful ways and resume its accustomed course of thought. Gradually his brain emerged from the clogged clouds, and at last he was enabled to more closely comprehend himself and circumstance. He understood then that the existence of shot and countershot was in the past. He had dwelt in a land of strange, squalling upheavals and had come forth. He had been where there was red of blood and black of passion, and he was escaped. His first thoughts were given to rejoicings at this fact. Later he began to study his deeds, his failures, and his achievements. Thus, fresh from scenes where many of his usual machines of reflection had been idle, from where he had proceeded sheeplike, he struggled to marshal all his acts. At last they marched before him clearly. From this present view point he was enabled to look upon them in spectator fashion and criticise them with some correctness, for his new condition had already defeated certain sympathies (Crane, 2005).
The passages resemble each other because they were at the same time and in the form of a report. They are being reported as if it were happening as we read, so the reader gets a first hand experience.

*11. What differences are found? In other words, how are these passages different? This is a contrast, in which you must identify differences between the two passages.
Crane’s passage is explaining the past occurances of the youth as a reflection, while the other passage is explaining it as if it were happening for the first time.

*12. A Day in the Life of _______
Create a first-person account that employs the basic stylistic characteristics of The Red Badge of Courage. Begin with a series of five or more images about a specific event: original sketches, family photographs, historical images, or images from magazines and newspapers. Then create your own illustrated, impressionistic account of a particular event. Your event should be a minimum of 200 words. The only sounds you could hear were the birds singing in the trees. The trees swayed back and forth gently. That was about the only peace that day. The teargas was so strong I could barely see a few feet in front of me. My heart was racing and my palms were dripping with sweat, yet at the same time I was strangely calm. “QUIET. Do you want this bullet in your back next?” our officer bellowed. I had been preparing for this for years now at the academy but I didn’t expect my third day in office to be the one where I die. The rebels wanted the government to withdraw support from the Iraq war, they believed they government was spending a lot of money on finances that were not necessary. The protesters were out of control today. They even disguised themselves. They were so angry. We were wrong when we thought shooting at the crowd might settle it but the response we got was that they were willing to die for their country and people. As this was all occuring I began questioning my choice to join the law enforcement to protect the very people who posed as danger and were ready to die right in front of me. I thought to myself “I’m not ready to die.” There was so much I wanted to do, have a good day in office for one. My train of thought broke when I heard a gunshot nearby. Someone had shot at our officer. One of the rebels had drew a gun and shot our commander. The blood that oozed from his back was more blood than I has seen in my whole life. In an attempt to save him, I tore the sleeve off of my shirt and tried to stop the bleeding. I felt sick to my stomach. Luckily he made it in time to the hospital. We arrested the rebels from all sides in an ambush. The situation was controlled at last, but it was a day I will never forget.

*13. It is generally accepted that Crane’s purpose in The Red Badge of Courage was to communicate a complete and realistic picture of one soldier’s experience of battle. Describe how he accomplishes this.
Crane narrates the story from a first person perspective which gives the reader a clear understanding of what times were like for the soldiers. Through the use of the first person of the soldier in the field, the reader is able to see things from his eyes and get to experience what they undergo out there in the field. Crane reveals the experience of a soldier by the use of his perception by narrating the event of the war in first person of a soldier. This soldier reports everything as a real time event. Because of this, the reader is able to get a sense of what the soldiers undergo while fighting in war.