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Genre  

Psychological novel, war novel

Narrator  

The narrator speaks from the third-person limited omniscient point of view, relaying the thoughts and feelings of Henry but not those of the other characters.

Climax  

Henry Fleming and Wilson lead the 304th Regiment to an unlikely victory over the rebels, seizing the enemy’s position and their flag.

Protagonist  

Henry Fleming

Antagonists  

The Confederate Army; the Union general who calls the soldiers of the 304th Regiment “mule drivers” and “mud diggers”

Point of View  

Henry Fleming’s

Setting  

An unspecified time during the Civil War; the battle described in the novel is most likely a fictional account of the Battle at Chancellorsville, which took place May 2–6, 1863.

Falling Action  

After capturing the enemy’s flag, Henry reflects on his experiences in battle and decides that he is a man of courage.

Tense  

Past

Foreshadowing  

Henry’s early conversations with Jim Conklin and Wilson establish the choice he will later face in battle: whether to fight or flee; Henry’s encounters with death (the corpse in the woods and Jim Conklin) anticipate Henry’s acceptance of the universe’s indifference.

Tones  

Detached, journalistic, realistic, sardonic, humorous, violent

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Popular pages: The Red Badge of Courage

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