The sounds, visions, and actions of war are all elements that make a terribly wonderful topic on which many novels, short stories, and poems are based. Stephen Crane is an author who has published this type of literature. Comparison and contrast of literary devices is used to show how ironic tone, graphic imagery, and heroism can create great compositions such as "War is Kind" and "A Mystery of Heroism".
Situational irony is used by Stephen Crane to add an element of humor and surprise to a seriously written drama. The effort of Fred Collins in "A Mystery of Heroism" is splashed out with a surprise element of situational irony. Collins had run through the heat of battle to get a bucket of water; out of necessity, or fear, or what he had to prove, we don't know. Then, just before it could be drank, another officer said, "Don't Billy, you"ll make me spill it," it then was knocked out of his hands. This shows how Collins risked his life for nothing. Another example of situational irony is when Collins stopped to give a dying man his last drink. The man had asked Collins for the drink, but Collins had ran past him then doubled back to return to the dying man with compassion. In "War is Kind" Crane uses verbal irony to relieve stress from war with the phrase "Do not weep maiden, for war is kind." We all know that war is definitely not kind. It is death mixed with bombs, guns, and blood, none of which are remotely near kindness. Although, death and blood can seem kind to the suffering by ending the pain, but that is not the point in this case.
The graphic imagery Stephen Crane uses in his writing also has a profound effect on his work. For example, in "War is Kind," he uses one stanza to display an image as clear as day. "Hoarse, booming drums of the regiment, Little souls who thirst for fight, These men were born to drill and die. The unexplained glory flies above them, Great is the Battle-God, great, and his Kingdom-A field where a thousand corpses lie.
In "A Mystery of Heroism," by Stephen Crane, this question is explored. In this story, we read about Fred Collins, who is a union solider in the Civil War. He is a simple man who is shameful, childish, and who is thrown into a war that has no place for him. ... Although Collins is only a simple man with many mistakes, he uncovers the mystery of heroism. ... Heroism comes from within. ...
Stephen Crane's "Mystery of Heroism" is a story about war. There are a lot of stories about war, but this one is quite unlike most. And unlike a lot of war stories, this is not a story about the glory of war, or how everything turns out okay against all odds, but a story about the bleakness of war. ... You read all this and it makes you think that there are good things in war, heroic things in war. ... War isn't heroic, war isn't nice. ...
Heroism Heroism and acts of heroism are found all through our modern day society in movies books, comics, news, songs and games. ... Is this outlook on heroism a new thing? ... If we look at both the story of Moses and Luke Skywalker in Star Wars, we can probably conclude that our modern heros do reflect the value system from the ancients. ... If we compare this to Luke Skywalker of Star Wars, we can draw many similarities. ... For example, we know that Moses was a kind man who in turn had great people skills. ...
Literary Analysis of "A Mystery of Herosim" The theme of "A Mystery of Herosim" is the foolishness and pointlessness of war. ... He also contemplates heroism, and contemplates that as his motive. ... The desires of thousands of men at war to be heros and their confusion about wether or not they actually are heros, is represented by Collins consideration of heroism. ... Although war stories of heroes are often glorified, their harsh reality is horrible. ... The hopelessness and pointlessness of war is made clear by Cranes use of the symbol water. ...
He shows heroism by defeating the beast Humbaba, killing the Bull of Heaven, and also by discovering the plant of eternal life. Gilgamesh shows heroism when he defeats Humbaba. ... Gilgamesh was very kind-hearted when it came down to his kingdom and shows many signs of being a hero. ... Utnapishtim is willing to give him something for his journey back home, which is a "mystery and secret of the gods" (195). ... They valued things like heroism in which they had a king that would protect them and in return for protection they gave their loyalty. ...
True Heroism Throughout history, there have been many significant figures that have made an amazing impact on their own lives, and others. ... The Islamic prophet Muhammad displayed heroism when he spread a monotheistic religion to the Makkans. ... Asoka was not an ordinary ruler, instead, he was a kind-hearted man with tremendous character and great will. ... Nonetheless, Asoka was a kind-hearted hero that utilized his authority to benefit his subjects. ... The brave prophet Muhammad, the ambitious Theodora, the intelligent Pythagoras, the kind-hearted Asoka, and the defiant Mart...
In comparison, it is also clear how the concept of heroes changed from the time of Beowulf, possibly written as early as 1100 AD, to Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, composed around 1400 AD. ... It is evident through their many differences how the concept of heroism changes from the time of Beowulf to Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. ... He has no idea of the arts of war, of shield or sword-play, although he does posses a wild strength. ... It is simple to see how the concept of heroism changed from Beowulf to Sir Gewain and the Green Knight. ...
The environment in Maggie and "A Mystery of Heroism molded the respective characters causing them to make crucial decisions. ... In the short story "A Mystery of Heroism" the environmental persuasion is the ignoring of one soldier's common sense due to peer pressure. The Civil War Unit was in the middle of being bombarded by artillery. ...
