Analysis In a key passage in this chapter, Crane tells the reader that Henry “could hear the tattered man bleating plaintively.” Henry’s reaction to the tattered man’s whining is to abandon the disoriented soldier. Ironically, Henry doesn’t recognize that he has been the one doing the greatest bleating (if only […]
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Henry is overcome with grief at the sight of Jim’s condition. Jim recognizes Henry and tells him that he has only one fear — that he may be run over by a battery coming along the road. He asks Henry to get him out of the road, to keep him […]
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Analysis For human beings, as well as for nature’s other creatures, curiosity may be stronger than fear, and Henry’s curiosity gets the better of his fear. The battle sounds are too intriguing to ignore, so Henry reverses his retreat and heads back to the front. Crane writes, “He saw that […]
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He further rationalizes his retreat when he sees a squirrel scamper away from him as he moves through the forest. He thinks that all creatures in nature move to safety when their existence is threatened. As a result, he rationalizes that he was only doing the natural thing when he […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 7Summary and Analysis Chapter 6
As the “red and green monster” comes closer, Henry throws down his gun and runs “like a rabbit.” As he flees from the front line, he notes that the batteries continue to fire. He overhears the conversation of a general and his initial irritation with the deployment of his troops, […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 6Summary and Analysis Chapter 5
Summary As Henry waits for his regiment to enter the battle, he thinks about earlier days and people he has known. His thoughts are interrupted by the words, “Here they come!” The enemy initiates its charge, and the battle rages as Henry’s regiment tries to repel the enemy forces. Henry […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 5Summary and Analysis Chapter 4
Summary The entire brigade finally stops near a grove of trees, and the soldiers watch other regiments of other brigades do battle ahead of them. As they watch and wait, they share rumors regarding how other companies, regiments, battalions, individual soldiers, and officers have been doing in battles. There is […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 4Summary and Analysis Chapter 3
Summary The regiment rests during the second day of their march, and that night, they cross a bridge and sleep again. On the morning of the third day, they again move out and march to a forest. They remain there for several days. On “one gray dawn” the whole regiment […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 3Summary and Analysis Chapter 2
Summary The regiment continues to rest, and Henry remains deep in his own thoughts, contemplating the possibility of battle and questioning his ability to cope with battle when it comes. The other soldiers, in Henry’s view, don’t seem to share his worries. Indeed, some are jovial and appear to be […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 2Summary and Analysis Chapter 1
Summary As the novel opens, the soldiers of a regiment are waiting for battle. After one of the men, a tall soldier, suggests that a battle is imminent, other soldiers argue against the notion. One of the young soldiers, Henry, a private, returns to the hut where the regiment is […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 1