The Red Badge of Courage
by Stephen CranePage 1 of 2
 First published in 1895, The Red Badge of Courage is the amazing Civil War story of a farm boy turned soldier. Henry Fleming is a young Union soldier struggling with the horrors of war and the destruction of lives and property. Over the span of a few days, Henry must decide whether he is courageous enough to remain in the war, or so cowardly that he must flee and hide. | ||
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Enrichment ActivitiesInternet ResourcesBooks by Stephen Crane
Enrichment Activities
- Act Out a Scene
Assign students, in groups of three or four, to act out a scene from The Red Badge of Courage. - Book Cover Design
Get students thinking about the main message of the book by having them design a new book cover. You can also have your class analyze the many book covers that the novel has been published with. - Classroom Lincoln-Douglas Debate
Hold a Lincoln-Douglas style debate and help students learn about major political issues. - Emancipation Proclamation
On January 1, 1863 President Lincoln presented the Emancipation Proclamation to free slaves. Read and analyze the entire speech with your students, as a whole class or small group activity. - Famous Abolitionists
Share with your students reference articles on Frederick Douglas, Sojourner Truth, and Harriet Tubman. - Three Famous Americans in the Civil War
Students read several paragraphs about three Civil War heroes, and then answer questions.
Internet Resources
The American Civil War Homepage
Grade Levels: Middle, Secondary
A comprehensive collection of resources on the Civil War.
http://sunsite.utk.edu/civil-war/warweb.html
Online Version of Book
Grade Levels: Middle, Secondary
An online version of the 24-chapter novel by Stephen Crane.
http://www.literature.org/authors/crane-stephen/the-red-badge-of-courage/
Selected Civil War Photographs
Grade Levels: Middle, Secondary
Over 1,000 photographs of military personnel, preparations for battle, Confederate and Union officers and soldiers, and more.
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/cwphtml/cwphome.html
Stephen Crane Biography
Grade Levels: Middle, Secondary
Crane was only 23 years old when The Red Badge of Courage was published. On this site you'll find more information about the life of this fascinating author.
http://portjervisny.com/craneroots.htm
Teaching Books with Movies
Grade Levels: Middle, Secondary
A teacher's guide on how to use the 1951 film in combination with the novel.
http://www.teachwithmovies.org/guides/red-badge-of-courage.html
