RBOC Questions Flashcards
From whose point of view is the story written?
Third person limited omniscient
What did the loud soldier (Wilson) give the young soldier at the end of chapter 3?
A yellow envelope for his family
What does the loud soldier believe will happen in battle?
Wilson thinks he will die in battle
Why does Henry think it would be better to get killed directly?
He is overwhelmed by fear and sees death as a quick way to end his mental torment and the agonizing anticipation of battle
What made Henry feel like a mental outcast
No one else seemed to be worried about running from battle
What was the reaction of each soldier to the news? (tall soldier, youthful private, loud soldier)?
Tall soldier: happy to bring the news
Youth: watched and listened
Loud Soldier: argued that they wouldn’t be moving
What question caused the youth great concern?
If when battle presented itself, he would run from battle
What news did the tall soldier bring from the river?
The regiment would soon be moving into battle.
What was the outcome of the youth’s first battle?
The regiment won the battle, and he did not run as he expected
What is Crane emphasizing by having “the officers neglect to stand in picturesque attitudes”?
The war isn’t glorious as depicted, but rather gruesome and full of unorganized chaos.
Why did the youth feel wronged?
Because he thought everyone was running from battle so he ran, but everyone stayed and came out victorious.
What did the youth find deep in the woods in the chapel?
He found the corpse of a union soldier
Identify the tattered man, and why the youth didn’t want to speak with him
He is a wounded soldier, Henry didn’t want to talk to him because he felt guilty for running
What does Henry promise Jim Conkin in Ch. 9?
He promises not to let him die by getting ran over by the artillery wagons
What was the youth’s opinion of himself after the battle?
He was proud of himself and his actions.
What is significant about Jim’s initials?
His initials are the same as Jesus Christ, he serves as the Christ figure in the novel
Why did the youth wish that he, too, had a red badge of courage?
It was a sign of courage, and if he had one, he wouldn’t be seen as a coward
Why did the squirrels running make him feel better?
It shows that it is a natural instinct to run from danger, validating him fleeing from the second battle
What unexpected thing happened after the first battle?
The enemy attacked a second time
Explain: “He had slept and, awakening, had found himself a knight.”
During the battle, Henry didn’t think he just reacted and fought, he was no longer a coward. The avid fierceness and courage was always within him.
Explain the conflict of Henry vs. himself
He is his own worst enemy, he wants to be a hero, but in reality, is a coward
Why did Henry fumble with the buttons on his jacket?
Because he is lying about his wound and is feeling the pressure of his shame and neglection of duty
What change does Henry notice in Wilson?
He is no longer a ‘Loud Soldier’ but is matured and self-confident.
Why and how was Henry’s pride restored?
He realizes that he has Wilson’s yellow envelope, signifying that all soldiers get scared and he is not alone.
What is Henry’s lie?
Henry lies that he was shot in the head, when in actuality, he was hit with the butt of a fellow soldier’s gun
What did the tattered man want from Henry and why did he keep talking to him?
He was in need of companionship, so he kept talking to Henry
Henry is finally wounded, by whom and how?
He was in hit the head with a rifle butt by a Union soldier
Why did Henry wish he were dead?
He wouldn’t have to face his troubles of wanting to run away and wishing he had been wounded
What made Henry suddenly a modest person?
The sarcastic soldier commented that Henry must have fought the whole battle by himself
How is ‘man’ defined?
A man is one who has faced death and learned to lead a better life
Explain: “Yet gradually, he mustered force to put the sin at a distance.”
He realized he couldn’t do anything about his past, so he decides to move forward and live a good life
After evaluating himself, what does Henry decide about his public deeds in battle and his treatment of the tattered soldier?
His deeds in battle were good but his treatment of the tattered soldier made him feel guilty and shameful.
What did Thompson tell Henry and Wilson, and what effect did it have on them?
They told them that the colonel said they should be Major Generals by the way they fought. This made their hearts swell with grateful affection.
How does Henry’s attitude during the battle in CH. 22 contrast with previous battles?
In previous battles, he was a coward and battling himself, now he is described as a brave soldier.
Explain why Henry can think this as grabs the flag from the dead sergeant?
The flag is a symbol of their cause, and no harm can come to it.
What effect does winning the battle following retreat have on the morale of the regiment?
The morale of the regiment is boosted.
How did the men react to the conversation between the officer and the Colonel?
They called him a “Lunkhead” because they felt they had fought hard
What information did Henry and Wilson bring back to the regiment after they had gone to look for water?
They were being sent into battle and were not expected to survive
Explain: “And they were men”
They were no longer inexperienced soldiers, now they were wiser as veterans of war.
