Characteristics of Realism in Stephen Crane’s “An Episode of War”
Stephen Crane’s “An Episode of War” portrays the characteristics of Realism, for
although he wrote story a number of years after the Civil War had already taken place,
Crane wished to capture the harsh realities facing soldiers during this tumultuous period
of great pain and suffering. For instance, Crane uses historical details from the time
period of the Civil War, such as a soldier trying “to sheathe a sword held by the left hand,
at the middle of the blade, in a scabbard hung at the left hip,” to make the story believable
(Crane 477). During the Civil War, the use of swords was common, and this is a detail
which brings a sense of Realism to a story from this era. Furthermore, a description of a
wounded lieutenant shows that the soldier “hung his head, feeling, in this presence, that he
did not know how to be correctly wounded” (Crane 480). This gives the reader a glimpse
into the true feeling of what being wounded may actually be like for a soldier who has had
such an experience; the wound may not be a sign of heroic glory, as many might assume,
but it might instead be a badge of confusion and shame. Finally, Crane depicts a realistic
setting with “a dispute of some kind raging on the steps of the schoolhouse” and a man
resting “with his back against a tree…serenely smoking a corncob pipe” (480).
Realistically, every event that happens during wartime may not necessarily be as one
depicted in a painting or a scene from a movie where all soldiers are engaged in bloody
battle against the enemy. There may in fact be various events occurring simultaneously,
such as the ones here in which people are arguing and some are even resting. Thus,
Stephen Crane’s “An Episode of War” successfully illustrates the qualities of Realism,
which seeks to portray the harsh and true realities of everyday life.
8 Sentence Paragraph Instructions
1. Topic sentence that mentions author’s name, title of story, and topic you chose (Realism or
Naturalism)
2. Transition, lead-in “Direct Quote” (Crane 480).
3. Explanation of how quote shows characteristics of time period.
4. Transition, lead-in “Direct Quote” (Crane 480).
5. Explanation of how quote shows characteristics of time period.
6. Transition, lead-in “Direct Quote” (Crane 480).
7. Explanation of how quote shows characteristics of time period.
8. Transition, concluding sentence with final thought or insight about your topic.
**A separate works cited page must be included. MLA citation for a work from an anthology
(collection of stories, poems, etc. edited by someone else):
Last name, First name. “Title of Work.” Title of Anthology/Collection. Ed. Editor’s Name(s). City of
Publication: Publishing Company, Year Published. Page Numbers of Work. Print.
8 Sentence Paragraph Instructions
1. Topic sentence that mentions author’s name, title of story, and topic you chose (Realism or
Naturalism)
2. Transition, lead-in “Direct Quote” (Crane 480).
3. Explanation of how quote shows characteristics of time period.
4. Transition, lead-in “Direct Quote” (Crane 480).
5. Explanation of how quote shows characteristics of time period.
6. Transition, lead-in “Direct Quote” (Crane 480).
7. Explanation of how quote shows characteristics of time period.
8. Transition, concluding sentence with final thought or insight about your topic.
**A separate works cited page must be included. MLA citation for a work from an anthology
(collection of stories, poems, etc. edited by someone else):
Last name, First name. “Title of Work.” Title of Anthology/Collection. Ed. Editor’s Name(s). City of
Publication: Publishing Company, Year Published. Page Numbers of Work. Print.
8 Sentence Paragraph Instructions
1. Topic sentence that mentions author’s name, title of story, and topic you chose (Realism or
Naturalism)
2. Transition, lead-in “Direct Quote” (Crane 480).
3. Explanation of how quote shows characteristics of time period.
4. Transition, lead-in “Direct Quote” (Crane 480).
5. Explanation of how quote shows characteristics of time period.
6. Transition, lead-in “Direct Quote” (Crane 480).
7. Explanation of how quote shows characteristics of time period.
8. Transition, concluding sentence with final thought or insight about your topic.
**A separate works cited page must be included. MLA citation for a work from an anthology
(collection of stories, poems, etc. edited by someone else):
Last name, First name. “Title of Work.” Title of Anthology/Collection. Ed. Editor’s Name(s). City of
Publication: Publishing Company, Year Published. Page Numbers of Work. Print.