The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane
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What other books did he write?
Despite his short life (he died from tuberculosis at the very young age of twenty-eight), Stephen Crane was a prolific essayist, poet, short-story writer and novelist. His first book was called Maggie: A Girl of the Streets (a grim, realistic story of slum life which he researched by living on the streets himself), and was published at his own expense in 1893. This was followed by The Red Badge of Courage which became renowned as the first modern war novel. Crane’s travels as a journalist inspired a poetry collection called The Black Riders and Other Lines (1897) and what is said to be his finest short story, ‘The Open Boat’.
DID YOU KNOW…?
* The American Civil War, which lasted from 1861 to 1865, was the bloodiest conflict in US history during which as many as 620,000 soldiers were killed in the many battles between the northern and southern states.
* There were a number of causes: a group of states in the south (known as ‘the Confederacy’) wanted to be independent, while the government and the states in the north (known as ‘the Union’) wanted to keep the USA as one country. With the government based in Washington D. C., the north was gaining more power and the southern states decided that this was not fair. Another issue being fought over was slavery. Southern farmers needed slaves to help them in the cotton fields and in their households, but the people in the north didn’t approve of this at all. They wanted to abolish slavery and begin to create racial equality.
* Abraham Lincoln led the Union during the Civil War and issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 to abolish slavery. After the conflict ended in 1865 he gave a speech in which he urged ‘malice towards none’ and ‘charity for all’. He is considered by many to have been the greatest American president.
* Ulysses S. Grant was major-in-chief of the Union army from 1864–5. He later became the eighteenth president of the USA.
* The Confederacy was led by Jefferson Davis, and served by General Robert E. Lee. Thomas ‘Stonewall’ Jackson was another important general fighting for the South. He got his nickname when he was spotted by a fellow general standing straight and tall, like ‘a stone wall’. Jackson died when he was accidentally shot by one of his own men.
* John Brown was an abolitionist (a person who wanted an end to slavery) who tried to free as many slaves as he could by giving them weapons so they could make their way to freedom in Canada.
* The weapon most commonly used by the Union soldiers was the musket. Swords and sabres were also used by the cavalrymen on both sides but these were soon replaced by rifles and huge guns called cannons, which needed a team of up to six people to prepare to fire. Landmines were also planted which, when tripped, could kill many soldiers at once.
* The Union’s uniforms were blue. The Confederate’s were grey – hence the nicknames of ‘Blue’ and ‘Grey’ for the northern and southern armies.
* There were several major battles during the war, the most famous being the Battle of Gettysburg where more men died than in any other battle of the Civil War. It was won by the Union and said to be the turning point of the war.
* On 9 April 1865 Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House in Virginia. The bloody Civil War had finally come to an end.
WHO‘S WHO IN THE RED BADGE OF COURAGE
Henry Fleming – the young farm boy whose romantic dreams of becoming a hero lead him to enlist in the army as a Union soldier. Referred to as ‘the youth’ throughout the novel, he soon becomes plagued by doubts and fears, but eventually learns the true meaning of courage and what it is to be a man.
Jim Conklin – (the tall soldier/the spectral soldier). Jim is a strong, quiet, even-tempered and self-assured soldier who lifts the spirits of the new recruits. But he is mortally wounded in the regiment’s first battle and Henry watches him die. His death has a profound effect on Henry.
Wilson – (the loud soldier). Wilson is Henry’s friend. Opinionated, full of bravado and naive about the harsh realities of war, he changes into a caring and compassionate soldier after surviving a battle.
Lieutenant Hasbrouck – (the Lieutenant). Henry’s commander in battle. Young and confident, he represents the Union officers who are always shown as strong leaders.
The Tattered Soldier – Henry comes across the tattered soldier in the column of wounded men. Henry feels guilty and deserts him in a field.
The Cheery Soldier – he befriends Henry after he receives a head wound and points him in the right direction to return to his regiment.
Simpson – (the Corporal). A corporal in Henry’s regiment who questions where Henry has been. Henry is angry because he can’t answer the question honestly.
Colonel MacChesnay – (the Colonel). The commander of Henry’s regiment.
The Captain – a dedicated officer in Henry’s regiment who is killed in the first battle.
SOME THINGS TO THINK ABOUT…
Why do you think Henry Fleming signed up for the army? Would you have joined if you were him?
In the novel, Henry makes a journey of self-discovery. What do you think he learns about himself from his experiences?
What do you think the author means by ‘the red badge of courage’?
The author uses many images to describe Henry’s surroundings at camp and on the battlefield. For example, the enemy campfires look like the ‘red eyes’ of a ‘row of dragons’. See if you can find some other descriptive images such as these.
Are wars ever right? Think about your reasons for and against.
SOME THINGS TO DO…
Write a review of the novel and say what you like or dislike about it.
Imagine you are a soldier in the Union army like young Henry Fleming and write a letter home, describing your living conditions and your experiences on the battlefield.
Do some research on what it was like to be a soldier during the American Civil War. What kind of uniform would you have worn? What would you have eaten and where would you have slept? What weapons did they use then?
Draw the flags which represented the armies of the Confederacy and the Union.
See if you can find a copy of the 1951 film The Red Badge of Courage on DVD.
Pretend you are the director of a remake. Who would you cast as the main characters?
GLOSSARY
battery – a set of heavy guns
brigade – a unit of the US army comprising two or more regiments
bushwhacker – a confederate soldier
Captain – an officer above first lieutenant and below major
cavalry – mounted troops
Colonel – a high-ranking military officer, below brigadier general
color sergeant – a sergeant who carries the flag for the unit
company – a body of troops
corporal – the lowest-ranking officer, below sergeant
facings – the collars and cuffs of military coats
fresh fish – a derogatory term for new soldiers
General – highest-ranking officer, above colonels
gumin – a street urchin
Jim-dandy – a person who is top notch
Johnnies – a nickname for the Confederates
Lieutenant – an officer above second lieutenant and below Captain
order-arms – to bring one’s rifle to an upright position with the butt on the ground by the right foot
philippic – a bitter verbal attack
private – the lowest rank of soldier in the US army
Rebel army (the Rebs) – the Confederate army
regiment – a military unit consisting of two or more battalions
Richmond – capital of the US state of Virginia and of the Confederacy
skirmish – minor fight involving small groups of soldiers
swad – a large number
the colours – the flag
Yank – a Yankee, a Union soldier
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