An Episode of War

by

Stephen Crane

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The Forest Symbol Icon

The forest that looms on the outer edge of the battlefield symbolizes the insignificance and frailty of human beings compared to the vastness and power of nature. The forest’s role in the story unfolds in three stages. First, it hides fundamental truths about the world. When a bullet strikes the lieutenant’s arm, it’s clear the enemy is hiding in the distant wood. The men scan the forest for any sign of the enemy but find only “little puffs of white smoke” (evidence of gunfire). This is the first clue that the wood, “which veiled [the lieutenant’s] problems”—and nature more broadly—hides important truths from people. Second, because Crane never shows readers the enemy forces, the wood begins to feel like an aggressor in its own right. Crane calls it “the hostile wood” and shows men glancing nervously at it over their shoulders. This vague fear immediately positions people as something weak in the presence of nature. Third, Crane contrasts the permanence of the forest with the protagonist’s moments of inadequacy: the lieutenant repeatedly looks at the wood as he fumbles “awkwardly” with his sword, feeling “puzzled” and “helpless” as nature stands immovable in the distance. By reminding the lieutenant of nature in these moments, Crane sets up a sharp contrast between human smallness and nature’s infiniteness. In these three roles—as a barrier to the world’s truths, as a seemingly hostile force, and as a reminder of human insignificance—the forest helps solidify Crane’s argument that humans and their struggles are tiny in the grand scheme of things.

The Forest Quotes in An Episode of War

The An Episode of War quotes below all refer to the symbol of The Forest. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Rank vs. Human Judgment Theme Icon
).
An Episode of War Quotes

Turning his eyes from the hostile wood, he looked at the sword as he held it there, and seemed puzzled as to what to do with it, where to put it. In short, this weapon had of a sudden become a strange thing to him. He looked at it in a kind of stupefaction, as if he had been endowed with a trident, a scepter, or a spade.

Related Characters: The Lieutenant
Related Symbols: The Forest
Page Number: 653
Explanation and Analysis:

As the wounded officer passed from the line of battle, he was enabled to see many things which as a participant in the fight were unknown to him. He saw a general on a black horse gazing over the lines of blue infantry at the green woods which veiled his problems. An aide galloped furiously, dragged his horse suddenly to a halt, saluted, and presented a paper. It was, for a wonder, precisely like a historical painting.

Related Characters: The Lieutenant
Related Symbols: The Forest
Page Number: 654
Explanation and Analysis:
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The Forest Symbol Timeline in An Episode of War

The timeline below shows where the symbol The Forest appears in An Episode of War. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
An Episode of War
Inexperience and Shame Theme Icon
War, Clarity, and Beauty Theme Icon
Nature and Human Insignificance Theme Icon
...himself so he can stand in silence, staring out over the breastwork at the distant forest where “little puffs of white smoke” appear. Only the lieutenant’s “hoarse breathing” is audible. His... (full context)
Inexperience and Shame Theme Icon
Nature and Human Insignificance Theme Icon
...a scepter, or a spade.” All the while, he has been staring at the “hostile” forest. Soon deciding the sword is useless, however, he tries to sheathe it. This is even... (full context)
Nature and Human Insignificance Theme Icon
...lieutenant waves him away “mournfully,” looking “helpless.” He stares again over the breastwork at the forest before sauntering off, holding his wrist “tenderly” as the men glance back and forth between... (full context)
War, Clarity, and Beauty Theme Icon
Nature and Human Insignificance Theme Icon
...a general on a “black horse” meeting the “lines of blue infantry” against the “green woods which veiled his problems,” all of which looks like a “historical painting.” (full context)