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Metaphors
Definition of Mood
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes in the reader. Every aspect of a piece of writing... read full definition
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes in the reader. Every aspect... read full definition
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes... read full definition
Chapter 19
Explanation and Analysis:
The mood of The Red Badge of Courage is bleak and chaotic, impressing upon the reader the brutal reality of war and the moral and psychological confusion that soldiers endure. As low-ranking soldiers, Henry and his comrades are told nothing about the logic of troop movements or the progress of the overall war; they simply follow orders to march, set up camp, and fight, and they never know when an attack might put their lives at risk. Because Crane keeps the narrative rooted in Henry’s perspective and never divulges any information the protagonist doesn’t know, the reader remains just as confused as the novel’s characters, relying on dubious rumors spread by soldiers to interpret the implications of a particular skirmish. This narrative method creates battle scenes that are grimly evocative yet also vague. At the start of a charge towards the end of the novel, Crane writes:
He was unaware of the machinery of orders that started the charge, although from the corners of his eyes he saw an officer [...] come galloping, waving his hat [...] The line fell slowly forward like a toppling wall, and, with a convulsive gasp that was intended for a cheer, the regiment began its journey.
Related Themes:
