The Drummer Boy Of Shiloh Summary

Do you know what a Drummer Boy is? They only have a drum and no weapons during a battle. Drummer boys will drum out a beat that is a command from the general. In “The ‘Drummer Boy of Shiloh” by Ray Bradbury, a boy named Joby ran away from his home to be a drummer boy. The soldiers were camped at a peach orchard waiting for the battle in the morning. Everyone was restless that night, not knowing if they’d die or live. That night Joby was scared to fight because he wasn’t prepared. The General realized this and comforted him. When you read the story you can tell there are many signposts of literature written into it. Some signposts that might catch your attention are Aha Moment, Words of the Wiser, Again and Again. Aha moment is when a character realizes something important,Words of Wiser is when someone that is older in age and has gone through stuff gives advice to a young character. Also, Again and Again is when something is repeated a lot in the story, emphasizing it is important.

In the Aha Moment, Joby realizes something that

changes his mind about the war. The General said, “Now boy you are the heart of the army. Think of that the heart of the army” (334, lines 115-116). This makes Joby realize he can’t back out now, and that the army needs him. He will sound the General’s orders so the rest of the army knows what to do. “If he Joby beat slow tomorrow, the heart would beat slow in the men. They would lag by the wayside. They would drowse in the fields on their muskets…. But if he beat a sure, steady ever faster rhythm, then, then their knees would come up in a long line down over the hill, one knee after the other, like a wave on the ocean shore” (334-335 lines 119-125). He keeps the soldiers awake and orderly. This realization causes Joby to decide he needs to stay and be their drummer boy.
Another signpost is Words of the Wiser; in this part it helps Joby realize being afraid is okay. The General says, “You want to cry some more? Go on ahead. I did the same last night” (333, line 78). Joby realizes it is okay if he cries, because no one knows if they will die in the battle or live. No one even knows if they’ll see their family again. The General saying this also makes him realize even experienced people cry.
Finally a great signpost is again and again.

Again and again is when something is mentioned several times throughout the story. Since, it’s mentioned so many times you have to assume it’s important. Sometimes you have to interpret what it means in the story. For example, the peach blossoms are used in the beginning, middle, and end of the story. On page 333, lines 43-45, it says, “The boy turned on his side. A moth brushed his face, but it was peach blossom. A peach blossom flicked him, but it was a moth. Nothing stayed out nothing had a name. Nothing was as it once was.” That means nothing is as it seemed to be since he left home. He was scared, confused, and lost. He hadn’t realized what he’d gotten himself into. Also on page 335, lines 164-165, it says that the peach blossoms fell on the drum. The peach blossoms are young, so you can only interpret that it represents the young soldiers who will

fall.
In conclusion “The Drummer Boy of Shiloh “ teaches that bravery isn’t not being scared; bravery is doing something even when you are scared. This story also helps learn how to read between the lines. The signposts that stood out the most were aha moment, words of the wiser, and again and again. These signposts really help connect to the story.