The Red Badge Of Honor

Story map

Name: Daniel Madrid date: Jan. 29, 2013

Story name: THE RED BADGE OF HONOR

Character: Henry Fleming, Tom Wilson, Jim ConklinBeginning: Bored with farm life, and anxious for some excitement, Henry Fleming sets off to join the Union troops fighting the Civil War. An inexperienced fighter, he is anxious to get into battleto prove his patriotism and courage. He swaggers to keep up his spirits waiting for battle, but when suddenly thrust into the slaughter he is overcome with blind fear and runs from the field of battle.He is ashamed when he joins the wounded, for he has not earned their "red badge of courage" and becomes enraged when he witnesses the death of his terribly maimed friend. In a confused struggle withhis own army's retreating soldiers, he is wounded but not by enemy gunfire. In an effort to redeem himself in his own eyes, he begins to fight frantically and, in the heat of battle, automaticallyseizes the regiment's colors in a daring charge that proves him truly courageous.


Climax: Shortly after enlisting, the reality of his decision sets in. He experiences tedious waiting, not immediateglory. The more he waits for battle, the more doubt and fear creep into his mind. When he finally engages in his first battle, he blindly fires into the battle haze, never seeing his enemy. As thenext enemy assault approaches, Henry's fears of death overwhelm him, and he runs from the field.Henry continues his retreat for some time, even after he overhears that his regiment repelled the enemy.When he finally slows and rests, he hears the sound of a renewed battle and, ironically, he returns to the battle from which he has fled. He comes upon many wounded men returning from the front to getmedical assistance. One of these wounded soldiers, identified as "a tattered soldier," befriends Henry and begins a conversation with him; however, when the tattered soldier asks Henry where he is...