Episode+of+War

I think that this story is pretty cool. I actually am looking forward to reading about the Civil War. This was always my favorite subject back in middle school history class. I always found it so interesting how a country can become so divided in their ideas and ways of life that it would lead to war. I also thought that the fact that the author, Stephen Crane, wasn't even part of the Civil War. He hadn't even seen on battle. I think it's cool how he can make a story sound so real like it actually happened, but the story was actually made up. He writes this story just how I would imagine life in the Civil War being like. In conclusion, this poem was very enjoyable and it discribed everything just like I pictured the Civil War to be like- soldiers getting shot somewhere and then their wounded limbs having to get amputated and then going home after the War was over and having to deal with their family's reaction to his amputated limb. This, to me, is what a lot of the Civil War was about to people and soldiers of the time. Crane did an excellent job in writing this story. 1204076336

I agree because i liked this peom by Stephen Crane. It may be just because it is about the civil war, but i love talking and reading about the civil war. This is one thing you can count on me doing work on because it is so interesting. I know i dont say this much but here it goes br. tom i liked the way he taught the civil war topic today because he did not just lecture us all class you gave us some visual data and i liked the way you described everyhting. From not being able to touch the ground for hundreds of yards. This really showed me how real this topic really is and even though i like it i really need to let the meaning sink in. I just thought br. tom taught us reallly well today and i hope he keeps using visual aids to keep our attention. 1204079103

I thought this story was a great description of what it was like during the Civil War. The idea of getting a limb amputated really scares me and i think it would really tear me up inside to have to lose a limb. Crane shows that even these tough soliders from the Civil War had some of the same fears. I thought it was a good showing of the fear and finality of even a pretty minor wound in todays sense. it shows how different war has moved from back then to today. I really didnt understand the ending though. I really dont know what anybody should have shamefaced about. He was a wounded veteran in a war, he should have been treated with respect and been proud of himself for giving a big part of himself for what he believed in. And i think that this story has absolutley no relation to the meaning of life. I really don't think you need to go any deeper than the surface to find what Crane was trying to say. The Civil War sucked for everyone. 1204154170

I have to agree with agr, becaesu this story is a very good description of life during the Civil War. Probably the most accurate part of this depiction was the mention of amputation. When someone was shot during the Civil War, the only treatment option was amputation. It was not uncommon to see piles of severed limbs outside of military hospitals. The lieutenant had no choice but to have his arm amputated when he got shot. At the end of the story he is actually ashamed that he lost his arm. He was very resistant when the surgeon tried to get him to the operating table. The lieutenant had to be tricked into getting his arm amputated. This story shows how unpredictable war, and life as well, can be so unpredictable. They say that you control your own destiny. This is true except when those completely unexpected moments (death of a loved one, injury, etc.) occur. You have not control over those moments. Because of this, you are forced to take them as they come. Overall, I liked this stroy because of the accuracy of the depicion of the Civil War.1204157507

I thought this was one of the best poems I've ever read all year(not just saying that). This book was bout how a lieutenant struggled trying to get some help when he got shot in his right arm. It's amazing too that something unexpected like that can change a whole mess of plans for the future, for only dividing little square bits of coffee ground and out of the blue getting shot in the arm for no perfectly good reason. He seeks for help from one of his soldiers and he tied a rag around his around to pressure it from bleeding, yet it was too late for that. So he went passed the lines and sought to a surgeon for help. When he realized he had to get his arm sawed off, it was too much for him to handle that kind of breaking news to him. He had no choice to go, but showed resistance to give in. People have to be careful what they are getting thierselves into. I know they didn't have a choice to go to war at that time, but right now people do and they need to think twice of what they're doing and commit theirselves into doing what's neccessary for their country. People need to take precautions and stick together(like a buddy system) in order to reduce the chance with dealing with more dead bodies and lost ones. This story was very informative and got my attention. I really do like the moral of the story that you can't predict things that would be life threatning or devastating that's going to happen1204159132

I think this story shows that the meaning of life hides behind bravery. Just by reading the title, I get a courageous picture in my head of soldiers, Generals, and Lieutenants fighting for our country. I also think that life is very unexpected. This story shows how little control we have over our lives. Also, maybe Stephen is trying to warn us about taking for granted. In class today, we disscussed how the Lieuntant lost his arm, an important part of his body has been taken away from him. But, sometimes those tragic accidents are the times in our lives when we learn the most. Maybe, Crane is symbolizing the philosophy of life. No matter how hard life can be to us, there is always a way to find happiness. Life is tough, don't take is for granted because you never know what tomorrow will bring. 1204161494

Stephen Crane's view on the meaning of life would be just to roll with the punches and accept and be thankful for what god has given you. Fore example, when the leutenant finally goes home after the war to his family with his amputated arm, he just basically says, "Oh well, the whole war was more important than my amputated arm." Crane is also saying that the whole war was more important thatn what happened to the leutenant. This also shows how life is often not fair, but just have to accept the fact that sometimes life is not easy and that the unexpected can happen at any time, so you should be thankful for everything that you have and never take anything for granted. 1204163715

Life. I think that within the first paragraph or so, Stephen Crane depicts the key element that life is short. The lieutenant cries out because he is shot. This shows that unexpected things can quickly put an end to everything good someone has going for them. Most people think life is a game, and that power is life. This statement/thought is the focal point of what this short entry is all about. For someone to risk their whole life over a war about who gets control over someone else is no doubt brave; but in a way not very wise. To risk your life; everything important to you; your sight, hearing, taste, touch, and smell; your family and friends is courageous but to throw away the good things over something that will not last forever, I think is an immature choice. Also, after discussing what the class, as a whole thought about what the short story meant, I came across that life isn't fair. Not everything in our life is going to be in our favor. The world doesn't care about me or you as an individual. We have to take life from the world. We have to take the important things seriously, and the good things for good reasons. Life is short and it is tough and unfair; but we cannot forget that life is a gift, and we have to be grateful for the life that we are ABLE to live. 1204173193

Stephen Crane's story an episode of war tells the story of a company of soldiers who see their lieutenant get shot while he was handing out the coffee. The reaction the troops had to their lieutenant getting shot was like seeing someone you thought to be immortal become mortal right before you. They lieutenant has to have his arm amputated but refuses to have it amputated. In the end his arm is cut off. The lieutenant feels embarrassed in front of his troops and to his family in a way. He has embarrassed his family in his mind by being shot and becoming a cripple because he won't have an arm. He has embarrassed himself in front of his troops by letting himself look vulnerable and human. This story dipicts the smaller yet almost more overwhelming tradgeies of war. The loss of an offier in war can be very rattling to the other men because they look up the officers like fathers or in some cases like gods that always knew what to do and what the right thing to do was. Also that with the god figure that he couldn't die. As if the bullets and cannon fire flew around him but will never touch him. The shocking reality of that not being true can be horrifying to a young soldier as most were. In the story life is precious and can be taken away from anybody at any moment. Although the lieutenant didn't die it still was tragic for the other soldiers who got the message that they were never safe from attack or even death itself. 1204252329

I think Stephen Crane talks about the meaning of life as being individual. Its how you use your life ans waht you do with it. You got to have pride in your life and live it to the fullest. You have to do what is expeced and more. We have to be thankful and appreciative of the life we have. It can be unpredictible and has twist. Something bad could happen but you got to see it as a gift and do something about it. We can't control something but we can work off of it and what life hands us. 1204239847

I liked this story. It was very interesting and taught good aspects that some poeple will never understand. It showed how war really is. You can never relax or be completely safe. YOu may find a false snese of security in war ,but no matter what you can never be completely safe when someone is out to get you. I like how it showed that aspect, the lieutenant was dividing the coffee rations at a time were he thought he was safe. He let his guard down and allowed others to do so and it showed what happened as a result. The story also depicted what its like to get shot. Your world is thrown in disarray at an instant. He was practically helpless for the first few moments after the shot, he pranced around, he was bleeding, he depended on others to do something to help him or he would have died. War is all about those to aspects, never let your guard down and the people you fight against are your brothers, your family you need them and they need you. 1205091649

I thought that this was a good story. It told people what it was like to be shot in the civil war. The result was almost always amputation. The lieutenant was shot unexpectadely, no one had any idea what had happened. Eventually they could see blood and immediately took action because it seemed like it was an ambush. The soldiers were shooting back at the woods where the enemy had been shooting from. The lieutenant was looking for the medical hospital but had no idea where he was supposed to go until he ran into one soldier who knew exactly where it was. The lieutenant then reached the medical hospital and told the doctor that he wanted to keep his arm. The doctor said that he would keep it but then the result ended up being that he actually did lose his arm, but then he came to think that it was not that bad because some people had lost their lives and he just lost his arm.

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I thought this story was a good description of what it was like to live during the Civil War. If only the technology and sanitary conditions we have now not as many soliders would have died. Because they thought if you shot your limb must be amputated. Even brave soliders had close to the same fears. The ending was difficult to understand because dont know what anybody should have embarrased about. He was a hurt solider of war, everyone should be thanking him and shaking his hand. He did this for his country, and no one should put him down for that. 1205108133

This story just reminds me of something I would like to say. Just a littlle background information that there were so many wounded and killed soldiers in this war than in anyother. A solidier always had the idea in the back of his head if he ever got shot he probably will loose a limb. Its just sad becuase I couldnt imagine not having an arm. Just think how depressed you would be for that first three weeks. You have to do everything differnt now. Another sad thing I would hate to do is just be a nurse or someone in that posistion and just walk by all these white tents and just to see all these gassed soliders that just look like they want to die. I would hate to be a solider at this time. Its just scary how Stephen Crane goes into such detail, its like im getting my own arm cut off and its just something I dont want to imagine. I hate sharp around me and I couldnt even start to begin how these soldiers managed to get there arm cut off with no numming or anything like that. They just got drunk and bite on wood or a piece of cloth. Another thing is look how far we have come medically its very cool just to see how we can remove a bullet and we dont have to remove the arm. Personally I dont want to invision this story to much in detail. Overall, gave me a look from behind the enemy lines. 1205188389Ale2

I think that Stephen Crane in the first paragraph or so is trying to tell us that life is short a precious and we shouldn’t take advantage of it. When the lieutenant cries out because he is shot this shows that unexpected things can happen and end someone’s life. Life is like a game but it is impossible to conquer it but you can control what you do that may change your percent of victory. For you to go to war yes it is brave but it is very dangerous and the chances of survival are slim. Would you want to risk everything you have, own, and love or go fight and kill others, is it worth fighting for? We have a life and only one of them we should make the best of it and live it to the fullest. 1205202105

I also thought this story was a great description of what it was like during the Civil War. The idea of getting a limb amputated is very scary to me and i think I would have a really hard time living if I was missing a limb. Crane shows that even these tough soliders from the Civil War had some of the same fears. I thought it was good showing of the fear and finality of even a pretty minor wound in todays sense. it shows how different war has moved from back then to today. I really didn't understand the ending though. I really dont know what anybody should be shamefaced about. He was a wounded veteran in a war, so he should have been treated with respect and been proud of himself for being a big part of what he believed in. And i also think that this story has absolutley no relation to the meaning of life. I really don't think you need to go any deeper than the surface to find what Crane was trying to say in this poem. 1205283200

I agree with dte, I thought that this story was a great depiction of what it was really like during the Civil War. If someone shot me while I was just going about my daily duties and they had to amputate my arm would scare the crap out of me. Plus I would want to do things with that arm because I would want too just cause I don’t have it anymore. Having arms and legs are just another thing that most people take for granted that is until you have to have one cut off. I think that Crane is showing us that these tough guy soldiers who fought in the big war at the time had these fears. I thought it was strange what they had to do for just a small wound by today’s standards. I think this really show how war has changes from then to today. I thought the ending was pretty good and strange at the same time. I thought it was weird that his family was ashamed that he was shot and had to have his arm cut off. He was an injured soldier in a huge war that really altered our country. I think that he should have been treated with respect and people should have been proud of him for fighting and doing what he did. I liked the way he handled confronting his family thought he saw them and they were just in awe and were “shamefaced” and he just like what ever it happened and it isn’t growing back get over it which I thought was a pretty cool way of handling it. 1205361627

I thought that this story was a great description of what it was like during the Civil War. The idea of getting a limb amputated is very scary to me and i think I would have a really hard time living if I was missing a limb. I would also want to use that missing limb even more if I had it amputated because I would no longer have it. I guess you really don't know how lucky you are to have limbs, until you loose one. Crane shows that even these tough soliders from the Civil War had some of the same fears. I thought it was good showing of the fear and finality of even a pretty minor wound in todays sense. It shows how different war has moved from back then to today. I really didn't understand the ending though. I really dont know what anybody should be shamefaced about. He was a wounded veteran in a great war that changed our country, so he should have been treated with respect and been proud of himself for being a big part of what he believed in. And I also think that this story has absolutley no relation to the meaning of life. I really don't think you need to go any deeper than the surface to find what Crane was trying to say in this poem. 1205445078