Stephen Crane’s
The Red Badge of
Courage
1895
Setting
American Civil War
1865
Battle of
Chancellorsville
Characters
• Henry Fleming, the youth
• Jim Conklin, the tall soldier
• Wilson, the loud soldier
• Henry’s mother, farm woman & widow
• Tattered man, wounded soldier
• Cheery-voiced soldier, mysterious soldier
Character Descriptions
Henry Fleming
• the youth
• the main character
• confused private in the Union army
• has inner conflict about running and
leaving the tattered soldier
Jim Conklin
• the tall soldier
• a friend of Henry’s who seems confident
about the fighting
• his courage and death are symbolic of a
Christ figure
• three religious references (wounds, initials
JC, communion)
• dies and is lead off the road by Henry
Wilson
• the loud soldier; later the friend
• first is pompous and brash; later is
compassionate and humble
• gives Henry packet of belongings to
send home to family
• cares for Henry when he is
wounded
Henry’s Mother
• strong farm woman and widow
• accepts Henry’s enlisting and
gives motherly advice
• feels Henry would have been
more useful at home on farm
Tattered Soldier
• a wounded soldier that
accompanies Jim and Henry
• upsets Henry by asking about
a wound
• Henry’s abandonment of him is
symbolic
Cheery-voiced Soldier
• a mysterious character who
guides Henry back to his
regiment
• Henry never sees his face;
could be a guardian angel
figure
Officers
• they neglected to stand in
picturesque attitudes; were not
perfect as Henry expected
• called the soldiers mule drivers
• were called lunkheads by the
soldiers
• gave reprimands and reproaches
What makes the war appealing to a
young person such as Henry?
The Civil War
Multiple Causes
• War resulted from decades of sectional
conflict.
• South produced cash crops for the
North.
• South depended on North for financial,
manufacturing, commercial services.
• South relied on nearly four million slaves
as its labor force.
• North valued power of federal
government; South believed in states’
rights.
The Civil War
New Forms of Warfare
• Infantry carried new, more accurate
rifles.
• Cavalry riders faced certain death
attacking infantry.
• Toll of frontal and
cavalry assaults led
to use of trench
warfare.
• More than 600,000
soldiers died.
The Civil War
End of Slavery
• Emancipation
Proclamation declared
that slaves in Confederate
states were free.
• Thirteenth Amendment
freed all slaves in the
U.S.
• Even though slaves had
been freed, fight for
equality was just
beginning.
“Deep River”
The Civil War
Literature
• The primary forms of war literature were
journals and letters.
• None of the prominent writers of the
time served in the war.
• The horror of war
required a new
literary form—
realism.
Chapter 1 Activity
•List at least five
events/causes
leading to the Civil
War.
Chapter 2 Journal
• What makes a person an
adult in today’s society?
How was that different
during Henry Fleming’s
day in the Civil War era?
Chapter 3 Journal
What is
courage?
Building Character through Courage
Video
Analyze Henry’s Character
Henry
Mother
Veteran
Soldiers
Jim
Conklin
Classmates
Think about Henry’s feelings toward his mother, his
classmates, the veteran soldiers, and Jim Conklin in
Chapters I-V. Think about their feelings toward Henry,
as well. Summarize the relationships between each on
your own diagram. Which do you think influences
Henry the most?
Poster Collage Activity
100 point assignment
Must contain the following:
• Title and author of the book
• Images from the book or the Civil War
• Words such as character names or
themes found from the book
• Summary of images on poster or chapters
• Poster should be covered with images, not
skimpy
Never Turn Back
Military Jargon
• Regiment – a group of approximately
one thousand soldiers – 304th regiment
• Brigade – formed from three to five
regiments
• Division – formed from two or three
brigades
• Corps – formed from two or three
divisions
Poster Collage Activity
100 point assignment
Must contain the following:
• Title and author of the book
• Images from the book or the Civil War
• Words such as character names or
themes found from the book
• Summary of images on poster or chapters
• Poster should be covered with images, not
skimpy
Missing Home
Chapter 6 Letter Writing Activity
I’m in the Army
Make up a letter that Henry might
have written to his mother a week
or two after his departure. Has
his attitude about war changed?
How does he think he will do in
battle?
Patriotic Singing
What Is Patriotism?
Love of country; devotion to the
welfare of one's country; the
virtues and actions of a patriot;
the passion which inspires one
to serve one's country.
Chapter 9
Songs for the Struggle Activity
What patriotic songs do
Americans sing today?
What do those songs
suggest about our heritage,
our values, or our hopes?
Partner Poster Collage Activity
•
•
•
•
•
100 point assignment
Poster must contain the following:
Title and author of the book
Images from the book or the Civil War
Words such as character names or
themes found from the book
Summary of images on poster or chapters
Poster should be totally covered with
images, not skimpy
Comparing and Contrasting
Henry’s
Expectations
Henry watches the rebel force
attack again. (page 42)
Henry discovers a chapel-like
clearing in the woods. (page
49)
Henry joins a procession of
wounded soldiers. (page 53)
Henry meets up with Jim
Conklin. (page 57)
Actual
Outcome
Comparing and Contrasting
Henry’s
Expectations
Henry watches the rebel force
attack again. (page 42)
Henry discovers a chapel-like
clearing in the woods. (page
49)
Henry joins a procession of
wounded soldiers. (page 53)
Henry meets up with Jim
Conklin. (page 57)
Henry sees soldiers heading
into battle. (page 68)
Actual
Outcome
Poster Collage Activity
100 point assignment
Must contain the following:
• Title and author of the book
• Images from the book or the Civil War
• Words such as character names or
themes found from the book
• Summary of images on poster or chapters
• Poster should be covered with images, not
skimpy
Religious Symbolism
“The red sun was pasted in the sky like a wafer.” This
sentence, which appears at the end of Chapter 9,
contains probably the most famous image in The Red
Badge of Courage. The image is a topic of much
debate. Some critics believe that Crane is making a
comparison between the red sun and a communion
wafer. In the Christian sacrament of communion,
participants recognize the death and sacrifice of Christ
by receiving both bread and wine as symbols of
Christ’s body. Readers who accept this interpretation
of Crane’s image also see Jim Conklin as a Christ-like
figure who helps to redeem, or save, Henry. They point
to his initials and to other elements of Christian
imagery, such as the same location of the wounds, that
occur in Chapter 9 as justification for this interpretation.
As you read, think about the role Jim Conklin plays in
the novel and about his effect on Henry Fleming.
A “Religious” Death Activity
The mortally wounded Jim Conklin
(Chapter 9) sometimes is
interpreted as a Christ figure, and
not only because “Jim Conklin” and
“Jesus Christ” have the same
initials. Write at least three
sentences describing the three
elements of Jim’s death that lend it
a religious aura.
A “Religious” Death Activity
The mortally wounded Jim Conklin
(Chapter 9) sometimes is
interpreted as a Christ figure, and
not only because “Jim Conklin” and
“Jesus Christ” have the same
initials. Write a brief analysis of the
elements of Jim’s death that lend it
a religious aura. (See your notes on
chapter 9 Question 11.)
Name _____________
Poster Collage Grading Criteria
____ Title and author of the book (spelled correctly)
____ Images from the book or the Civil War
____ Words such as character names or themes found
from the book
____ Summary of chapters
____ Poster collage should be covered with images;
not skimpy; no blank spaces
____ Poster is neat and attractive
/100 points
Desertion Video
Skulkers and Cowards
Desertion was a great problem
throughout much of the Civil War.
Have you ever felt you were about
to “git swallowed” by an
unpleasant turn of events that you
could not escape? How did you
deal (or how would you deal) with
the situation? What punishment
do you think soldiers who were
found guilty of desertion received?
Skulkers and Cowards
Desertion was a great problem
throughout much of the Civil War.
Have you ever felt you were about
to “git swallowed” by an
unpleasant turn of events that you
could not escape? How did you
deal (or how would you deal) with
the situation? What punishment
do you think soldiers who were
found guilty of desertion received?
Battlefield
Medicine
Battlefield Medicine Video
Battlefield Medicine Journal
During the Civil War, many aspects of
medical care that we take for granted
today were not yet in practice. After
hearing the description of the
battlefield medicine practices, write a
Civil War-era editorial that either
praises or condemns the state of
battlefield medicine.
Internal and External Conflicts
Describe three of Henry’s external conflicts and
three of his internal conflicts. Explain how each
conflict is resolved or why it remains unresolved.
External Conflict
1.
2.
3.
Internal Conflict
1.
2.
3.
Resolution
1.
2.
3.
Resolution
1.
2.
3.
What Are Guardian Angels?
• Guardian Angels are thought to be spiritual beings that
are "assigned" to assist people here on Earth in
various ways. Whether there is one angel per person,
one angel for several persons or several angels for
one person is open to question. But whether you
believe in them or not, or whether you want one or not,
believers insist that you do have a guardian angel.
• The cheery voiced soldier is a mysterious character
who guides Henry back to his regiment. Henry never
sees his face; therefore, critics argue he could be a
guardian angel figure. Do you think Henry by chance
got help by this soldier or was he like an angel helping
Henry along his way. Give your answer and an
explanation using evidence from the text.
A Sound Idea
There are two film versions of The Red Badge
of Courage—one from 1951, the other from
1974. If you were to produce a new film
version, what would you want its soundtrack to
be like? Think about this possibility:
• Top hits from today (from one or more types of
contemporary musical styles) that you think
relate to Henry’s physical or emotional journey
Explain why your musical ideas do a good job
of representing Henry.
Holding Out for a Hero
by Bonnie Tyler
(from Footloose)
I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the end of the night
He's gotta be strong
And he's gotta be fast
And he's gotta be fresh from the fight
I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the morning light
He's gotta be sure
And it's gotta be soon
And he's gotta be larger than life
Character Traits
Copy the chart without the words
Example 1
Example 1
Example 2
Example 3
Trait 2
Trait 1
Henry
Example 3
Example 2
Example 1
Character Traits
Trait 3
Example 2
Example 3
The Flag As a Badge of Honor
Flag or Color-Bearer
The soldier who carried the regiment’s flag, or
colors, was exposed to great danger on the battlefield.
The regimental flag was a badge of honor and pride.
Therefore, the color-bearer had to carry the flag visibly,
in front of the action, as an inspiration to the fighting
men. Because the flag symbolized defiance and
aggression to the enemy, the color-bearer was always
a first target. The color-bearer had the shortest life
expectancy in the unit. Several color guards in
succession might be killed in the same battle. Civil War
battle accounts are full of stories of the exceptional
bravery and sacrifice of the color guards. In your
journal tell how Henry may have felt carrying the flag.
Why did he desire the enemy flag?
Closing Imagery
Analyze the image in the novel’s final
sentence. “Over the river a golden
ray of sun came through the hosts of
leaden rain clouds.” How is it similar
or different from other references that
Crane has made to the sky? What
might this image symbolize?
Thoughts on Imagery
In this image, a golden ray of sunshine
pierces a bank of leaden clouds. Unlike
the sky images that conclude chapters 5
and 9 by contrasting the sky with violence
on earth, this sky image seems to concur
with Henry’s thoughts and offer a measure
of peace and tranquility.
External and Internal Conflicts
• Henry’s internal conflicts
• Henry’s external conflicts
Henry’s Internal Conflict
• Man vs. Himself – Henry’s
internal struggle about running
and about leaving the tattered
soldier
• Struggle is resolved through Henry
staying and fighting bravely at end
of novel
Henry’s External Conflicts
• Henry vs. Nature – The
soldiers are out in the
elements in the forest; their
physical needs for food, etc
• Henry vs. Other Soldiers –
the battle itself and the
soldier’s struggle among
themselves