The Red Badge of Courage 2-3
As I said in the last entry, Henry is running towards the sound of the battle. When he comes to where he can overlook the field, he sees a bunch of injured soldiers. Many of the soldiers are making fun of the injured ones, especially the ones they don't care for. Anyway, Henry runs down and joins a bunch of soldiers standing around. One of the generals was shot and he recalled what his wife had told him about being carefull. Another of the officers had been shot in the leg. He was being carried by one of the soldiers who obviously wasn't being carefull enough for the officer with the officer's leg. The officer told him his leg wasn't made of iron and if he couldn't carry him, then he was to find someone else. Anyways, none of the soldiers seem to relize that Henry ran away from the fight because they keep asking him questions about the battle. One of the soldiers told him that it was good fightin'. Then at the end of the chapter one of the injured soldiers asked Henry where he had been hit. Henry can't reply because he keeps studdering because he ran away from that battle where everyone was injured-----that didn't run anyway, however. Well, Hopefully that all makes sense, but it does to me. I think Henry is in a tough situation, but I think he will be okay.
The Red Badge of Courage 2-2During Henry's flee from the battle, he came upon another battery. He got closer to the general, hoping to overhear his conversation. The general had said that they held them. Henry's regiment had held off the enemy! Henry felt horrible, weak, and like a coward because he had run away from fear while some other stayed and fight and won. Henry walked away from the soldiers, away from the noise, and away from the battles. He walked into the thicker woods because he felt that he had let his regiment down. He wanted to get away from all of the noise; he couldn't take it. He compares himself to a squirrel that ran away from him when he threw a pine cone at it. Then, Henry sits against a tree and a dead man starts walking towards him. I don't understand this part at all. Anyways, Henry runs away from the corpse as he did the battle field. Then he hears a loud noise. He starts running towards the noise and the battle. Thats quite ironic that he is running towards the war instead of away from it.
The Red Badge of Courage 2-1
Henry's regiment was stationary when a stampede of the enemy came down the hill. They were being ambushed. All of the soldiers get into position and wait for the right shot. During all this havoc, Henry can't remember if he loaded his gun or not. Turns out it was loaded and he shot at the enemy. That would have sucked if Henry forgot to load his gun. I don't know what I would do in that situation; probably just test it out on the enemy as Henry did. Anyway they finally get the enemy to stop their offensive movement. Henry and the rest of his regiment, that are alive, are very proud of themselves for holding them off. Many of the soldiers were running away, however. Just when things were fine and dandy, the enemy attacked again. Again, the soldiers ran away, and this time, so did Henry.
Third 30
Sure does feel good to be done with the first week of reading. Ninety minutes, nice. Well, Henry's regiment is disputing at the beginning because they are not getting any action. They have been walking for miles and no fighting has taken place, yet. After a while, they come upon some more of their troops. They talk and yell at each other. Rumors are flying faster than the speed of light. Who knows what the actual truth is.
Anyway, the soldiers' wishes finally come true. They stumble upon enemy forces and firing takes place. One of Henry's lieutenants was shot in the hand. Many of his soldiers thought it was funny because they didn't like thier leaders. Seems to be that Henry's fellow troops aren't exactly winning the fight. Many of them are retreating, and Henry says that if he had intelligent controll of his legs he could outrun the best of them.
Second 30Well, I still feel that Henry is the main character. Anyways, Henry's regiment is finally called upon to move. Many of the soldiers were shocked at the order, but went on anyways. Another important soldier always called "the tall soldier" was anxious to get on with the move. He usually didn't like moving because there was never a battle after it, but this time a battle was expected and he was thrilled. Henry and the tall soldier talk to each other a lot during the march, and while they were talking Henry asks him if he would ever run away during a battle. The tall soldier with much pride, courage, and dignity said NO, never, and not a chance.
It goes on talking about the battle field, even thought it wasn't much of one. It was more of mountains with tough marching terrain.
First 30
So far so good. This book is pretty interesting, and creates some good images in my head. Anyways, Henry's regiment is stationary right now and has been for like two weeks. Henry is the young gun of the group, and seems to be the main character right now. One of his fellow soldiers, Jim, came back from washing his clothes in the river, and told the rest of the soldiers that they were moving on the morrow. Many of the soldiers figured it was a lie, because Jim overheard this rumor when he was down by the river. The book flashes back to Henry's life before the war. It basically talks about how and why Henry enlisted for the war. His mom tells him not to get caught up with all the bad things that the men get up with during the war, to be a good boy, and to always write her. Thats about it. Feels good to be done with the first 30.
Buzi
Stephen Crane
I guess this was already supposed to be done, but I didn't know that or maybe I just wasn't paying attention. Sorry, Mrs C. Anyways, Stephen Crane was born in Newark, New Jersey on November 1, 1871. He lived an exciting life, from going to school at Syracuse University and being the star on the baseball team to living in New York City writing novels. It doesn't sound to exciting to me, but Im sure it was to him. He wrote The Red Badge of Courage on a bet with his friend and he that he wouldn't be able to write a better war novel than Emile Zola's The Downfall. However, he won the bet and continued his life traveling about the world to various battle fields. This stressful job is probably what led to his death. Stephen Crane died in Bandenwiler, Germany, on June 5, 1900 at 28 years old. Poor fellow.