The Red Badge of Courage
by Stephen Crane
Chapter 1
1. What is the main character’s reaction to the war which is taking place?(p.3) He is excited to be a part of the war; patriotic,
astonishment. He thinks it is the greatest affair on earth.
2. What is the significance of Crane making historic references such as to Homer and the Greeks? It is an allusion to past struggles in
our history, similar to this war.
3. Comment on the dialogue and vocabulary thus far in the story. What does it tell you about place and time? Why is it important
that it never be altered, should be story be reedited and updated? There is a big difference in educational levels; soldiers I general
do not have much education. It should remain the same – true to the times.
4. What does Henry’s mother tell him about his duty when enlisted? (P.5) She told him to choose his company wisely – don’t drink
or swear. She also told him not to shirk his responsibilities
5. What juxtaposition of imagery is found on p. 6? This type of contrast will be found often throughout this story. Why is this an
effective technique to use? Amid the chaos and killing a young, innocent girl was watching him. It is used to show contrast.
6. The first of many references to color is made on p.7. To what does “a part of a vast blue demonstration” refer? The Union army,
wearing blue uniforms (the Confederate Army was dressed in gray.)
7. How does the author consistently refer to his main character, instead of using his name? Why would he have done this? He calls
Henry “the Youth” because he is young and has little experience with war
8. Define foreshadowing. An example of foreshadowing, again a commonly used technique, is found on pgs. 7-8. Where is this
example, and why is it foreshadowing? Why is the wording of this example important to the technique of foreshadowing?
Foreshadowing is a hint about what will happen later in the story. The boy made a friend on the other “side” and temporarily
regretted the war.
9. Many terms will be used which, historically, you might not be familiar with. To what/whom do the words ‘Yank’ and ‘Johnnies’
refer to? Yank refers to the Yankees or the Union troops from the North; Johnnie refers to Johnny Reb, or the Rebels, the
Confederate troops from the South.
Chapter 2
1. Define metaphor. Metaphorically, to what is the youth comparing bravery and battle? p.11 A comparison of two unlike things
without using like or as. The author compares Henry’s learning to fight in battle to a chemist who requires mental slate and pencil to
get answers. In other words, you need to actually do it to figure it out.
2. The youth fears two things. What are they? P. 12 Henry fears that he will not be as good of a soldier as the others, and that he will
lose his courage.
3. Explain the line, “He was convicted by himself of many shameful crimes against the gods of traditions.” p. 12 Henry felt guilty that
he was not a true soldier.
4. Throughout this chapter, as with the novel, color is an important factor. Find three passages where colour is employed to
effectively capture/establish mood. Cite the passages with their page numbers. Great blue demonstration, red reflection of fire
5. Define personification. Find an example of personification. Cite the passage, and its page number. P.16, 18 Treating a non-human
object as a person. Examples are: fog, stillness of night
Chapter 3
1. Explain the passage on p. 21: “...he instantly saw that it would be impossible for him to escape from the regiment. It enclosed him.
And there were iron laws of tradition and law on four sides. He was in a moving box.” What figurative device is this? Metaphor: he
feels that he has been forced to go to war, and that the leaders are stupid. Fear is overtaking him.
2. What evidence is there that the youth’s fear of battle and his own merit within battle are increasing? He ran, but he came back
3. What reassurance does the youth try to give himself that he will be able to stand in battle? P.24 after marching, he realizes that
he is as capable as the other soldiers.
Chapter 4
1. What discussion takes place at the beginning of this chapter? Gossip about the generals; discussion of battles
2. Define simile. Find two examples of this device within this chapter. A comparison using like or as; shells screaming like a banshee,
cursed like a highwayman
3. What mood is left for the youth and the reader at the end of this chapter? fearful, confusion How is this achieved? The lieutenant
was wounded
Chapter 5
1. Of what does the youth have a memory at the beginning of the chapter? How is this blended in with the reality of his current
situation? Parade in his hometown. He compares this to the soldiers marching.
2. Find two more examples of simile. Why do you think this is such a recurring device used by Crane? Scold you like a wet parrot,
3. How does the youth initially react when faced with the reality of a battle? p.33 he thinks he is a part of something big
4. What is ‘war atmosphere’? danger and death
What is ‘battle sleep’? sleeping in the field Would both phrases be specific only to this civil war? Explain your response. Applies to
all wars, even today.
5. Find an example of repetition on p.36. Why would this style device be used?the word tiny – to show the distance between them
and to show the great number of soldiers
6. What contrast does the youth himself note at the end of this chapter? The beauty of nature in the midst of devilment
Chapter 6
1. Why is the youth compared, metaphorically, to a ‘jaded horse’? Why is this description appropriate? As the second attack began,
he felt used-up or worn down, feeling unable to go on with the fight.
2. List 5 words or phrases from p.39 which capture the vision and mood of what the youth saw and felt. How do these choices help
to explain his decision to flee? Dragons, horrified, monster, pursued, these things are bigger than him, and he feels helpless.
3. Why did the youth run on this occasion, not during the first encounter? Fears death; overwhelmed
4. How does the mood of the youth, as he flees, contrast with the mood of those fighting? Give proof. P 37 they are serious; he is
fearful for his life
5. Explain the passage on p.40: “Death about to thrust him between the shoulder blades was far more dreadful than death about to
smite him between the eyes.” Facing death head-on rather than being hit in the back as a coward.
Chapter 7
1. What is a moral dilemma? Explain the effectiveness of the first line of this chapter. How does it focus the reader on the issue of
moral dilemma? An internal conflict – the first line of the chapter explains that he cringed as if discovered in a crime. This means
that he knows that the Union had won the battle, but he had no part in the victory.
2. Why does the mood and thinking of the youth turn against his comrades, who stayed and fought? Henry feels a sudden
resentment toward those in his regiment who did not run but, rather, defeated the enemy without him; he feels betrayed by their
stupidity. To assuage his own feelings of guilt and incompetence, he assures himself that any thinking man would have realized that the
best interest of the army lay in each soldier’s own self-preservation
3. An image of sanctuary is given on p.45. Cite the passage which holds this image, and explain the concept of sanctuary. Where else
in the chapter is this image seen? He stumbles into a forest grove whose high ceiling of leaves makes it resemble a chapel.
4. How is the peace of the youth’s surroundings shattered? He had seen death before. Why did this have such a dramatic effect
upon him? There he discovers the dead body of a soldier in a tattered blue uniform much like Henry’s
He realizes the emptiness of his belief that glory is bestowed almost automatically upon individuals who meet battle
squarely and fiercely when he observes “a singular absence of heroic poses.”
Chapter 8
1. What contrasting images are seen at the beginning of this chapter? In what way is this effective for both the reader and theyouth?
2. Define irony? What irony does the youth see in his own actions at the beginning of this chapter?
3. The colors blue and gray are recurrent throughout this novel. To what do they literally, and sometimes figuratively, refer?
Consider the history of this story carefully before selecting your answer. What is the difference between literal and figurative?
4. What dilemma faces the youth at the end of this chapter?
Chapter 9
1. From what does this novel gain its chosen title?
2. What does juxtaposition mean? What juxtaposing thoughts does the youth have about wounded persons?
3. Why do you think Crane chose to identify his characters by name only during dialogue, and in third person with descriptors such
as ‘tall’, ‘ loud’, and ‘tattered’?
4. What double meaning could there be in the line (p.55), “...they perceived that his face wore an expression telling that he had at
last found the place for which he had struggled”?
5. Explain ‘philippic’, found on p.57. You must not just copy a meaning for the word; rather, research to determine other words
which could take its place for meaning. Why is this word appropriate for the changing mood of the youth? What has caused this
mood to change thus?
Chapter 10
1. Describe the character of the ‘tattered’ soldier, based on the dialogue he has in this chapter? Why is dialogue an effective style
device for Crane to use, based on the narrative he is relating?
2. What can the reader tell about the personality of the youth, based on this chapter?
Support your observations with examples from the chapter.
3. Explain the statement on p.60: “The simple questions of the tattered man had been knife thrusts to him.”
Chapter 11
1. Define pathos. Find the use of this term in this chapter and explain it.
2. This story is not one of man vs man conflict, although the American Civil War was just that. What is the dominant form of conflict
in this story? Find two examples from this chapter to support your choice.
3. What did the youth hope would happen, to save him from his own fear of surviving with his cowardice?
4. What state of mind is Fleming in by the end of this chapter? What is causing this?
Chapter 12
1. In what terms does the youth express the horror he is feeling about battle? Give 4 examples of words and phrases which reflect
this horror.
2. Throughout this story, Crane has attempted to appeal the senses of the reader. Give 3 examples, of sight - sound - smell - which
reflect this sensory style. Why is this an important element of Crane’s style, based on the fact that: he is depicting a real war;
and, he did not himself participate in that war.
3. The youth has yet another flashback. Of what? And why?
4. What is the importance of the last paragraph of this chapter?
Chapter 13
1.The youth was wounded in chapter 12. How? What irony is involved with this wound in this chapter?
2. What role does the ‘loud’ soldier play with regard to the youth?
3. As with the ‘tattered’ soldier, what do learn about the ‘loud’ soldier based on the dialogue between him and the youth? What do
we learn about the youth in this case?
Chapter 14
1. Based on the early conversation between the youth and the loud soldier, what irony does there seem to be in the description
‘loud’ continuing to be applied to the second young soldier?
2. How has the ‘loud’ soldier changed? What has caused this changed?
3. Explain the chapter ending.
Chapter 15
1. Explain the following, found on p.84: “The latter (the youth) felt immensely superior to his friend, but he inclined to
condescension. He adopted toward him an air of patronizing good humor...His self-pride was now entirely restored.” What is the
message being delivered by Crane through the youth, and the narrative?
2. The sentence structure and vocabulary throughout this novel will, in many cases, be new to readers. Describe, with reference only
to this chapter, how sentence structure varies differently from that which a more modern audience might be used to, and give
examples of 5 words or phrases with contextual meaning, again only from this chapter. What is the overall effect of the structure
and the vocabulary on: the reading of the book; the appropriateness to the storyline; the drama of the story?
Chapter 16
1. What metaphor is used to begin this chapter?
2. Describe, in your own words, the battle scene the youth is observing.
3. How does the youth’s guilty conscience again catch up with him?
4. What does the general morale of the troops tell you about the tone of this war?
5. Explain the final simile of this chapter.
Chapter 17
1. How is animal imagery used effectively in this chapter? Identify no less than two examples.
2. Is this chapter the climax of this story? If so, why? If not, why not, and where would the climax be?
3. Historically, what is the copyright date of this story? In terms of the contents of this chapter, why is the date an important factor
to remember when reading?
Chapter 18
1. What is implied by having a ‘geographical illusion’(p.97)?
2. In what way does the tone/mood of this chapter alter from chapter 17? Give two examples to reflect this change.
3. Explain the last paragraph of this chapter.
Chapter 19
1. Compare and contrast the sense of battle within this chapter to that found in chapter 16.
Why is there a difference here?
2. Is this chapter the climax of this story? If so, why? If not, why not, and where would the climax be? (Compare and contrast with
your answer in chapter 17.)
Chapter 20
1. What irony of shame does the youth experience in this chapter? Does he recognize this irony? Why or why not?
2. What is the mood of this chapter? Give 4 examples of where this is clearly reflected in the words/phrases/descriptions of the
author.
3. What are your impressions of the youth as he observes/participates? What led to these impressions?
Chapter 21
1. What perception of time and place does the youth experience following the battle, and return to camp? What does this tell you of
war?
2. What are your impressions of the youth in this chapter? Do these impressions compare/contrast to your previous impressions?
Explain.
3. What lessons of war are learned?
Chapter 22
1. Which images of war are poignant in this chapter? (This is not the same as the lessons learned in chapter 21.) Refer to specific
examples, with page numbers.
2. How does the tone of this chapter contrast to the previous?
Chapter 23
1. Explain the following:(p.122) “There was new and unexpected force in the movement of the regiment. A knowledge of its faded
and jaded condition made the charge appear like a paroxysm, a display of the strength that comes before a final feebleness.”
2. P.124 How is possible for a person to center “the gaze of his soul”? What do these carefully selected words tell you about the
youth and the situation?
3. How is color an important device in this chapter?