The Red Badge of Courage
Chapter 1
Questions / Difficulty / Common CoreWhat season is being described here? / Regular / 6-8.RL.1
What do you think would lead the private to believe the time of wars was past? / Challenging / 6-8.RL.3
Explain in your own words what theory is captured in this paragraph. / Regular / 6-8.RL.2
What inspired Henry to enlist? / Regular / 6-8.RL.1
Which side of the civil war will Henry fight for? / Regular / 6-8.RL.1
Explain in your own words what effect all of the praise and attention had on Henry. / Regular / 6-8.RL.3
What distinction is Henry drawing in his self-awareness? / Regular / 6-8.RL.3
What is the major message in this chapter? / Regular / 6-8.RL.2
Chapter 2
Questions / Difficulty / Common CoreExplain in your own words the doubts and beliefs that were assailing the youth. / Regular / 6-8.RL.2
Why would the regiment turn on one of its own in this way? / Challenging / 6-8.RL.3
Why would Henry lash out at his comrade in this way? / Challenging / 6-8.RL.3
Chapter 3
Questions / Difficulty / Common CoreWhat is the significance of these distinctions between untried and veteran regiments? Why might these be important to the troops? / Regular / 6-8.RL.1
Think back to the story of Henry's enlistment and assess the accuracy of this statement. / Regular / 6-8.RL.1
What is the distinction between the skirmishers and the main body of troops? / Regular / 6-8.RL.1
What do you think is "the Question"? / Challenging / 6-8.RL.4
What stopped Henry from making his speech? / Regular / 6-8.RL.3
What might have caused this change of heart? / Regular / 6-8.RL.3
Compare the attitude of the veteran soldiers to those who are untried. / Challenging / 6-8.RL.3
What could have brought about such a profound change in the "loud soldier"? / Regular / 6-8.RL.1
Chapter 4
Questions / Difficulty / Common CoreThis battle, although fictional, is based on the Battle of Chancellorsville. Below is a map of that battle. Based on the upcoming description, attempt to determine what area of the battlefield Henry is fighting on. / Challenging / 6-8.RL.1
What is Henry's regimental number? / Regular / 6-8.RL.1
In the face of this rapid retreat, why do you think Henry decided to wait and see the enemy? / Regular / 6-8.RL.3
Chapter 5
Questions / Difficulty / Common CoreWhat thought concerned Henry in the seconds before his first engagement? / Regular / 6-8.RL.1
Explain, in your own words, what Henry is feeling during this first experience of battle. / Regular / 6-8.RL.3
Describe, in you own words, Henry's first encounters with battle. / Regular / 6-8.RL.2
Why would it be surprising that nature had continued in the face of the battle? / Challenging / 6-8.RL.1
Chapter 6
Questions / Difficulty / Common CoreExplain this sudden change within the regiment from contentment to horror. / Regular / 6-8.RL.3
Explain this paragraph in your own words. / Regular / 6-8.RL.1
What are these guns engaged in at this moment? / Regular / 6-8.RL.1
Explain what has happened since Henry ran from his line. / Regular / 6-8.RL.3
Chapter 7
Questions / Difficulty / Common CoreDo you think this is a fair way to look at what had occurred? / Regular / Other
Henry was looking for solace and justifications for his actions. Do you think he found them? What is the significance of his finding a dead body instead?
Chapter 8
Questions / Difficulty / Common CoreWhat realization has Henry arrived at here? / Regular / 6-8.RL.3
What makes Henry uncomfortable in this place? / Regular / 6-8.RL.1
Why would Henry not want to talk about the battle? / Challenging / 6-8.RL.3
Do you think there is a central moral or theme in this chapter? Why not, or what is it? / Challenging / 6-8.RL.2
Chapter 9
Questions / Difficulty / Common CoreWhat is the significance that the story's title is a term for a wound? / Challenging / 6-8.RL.2
Why did they have to get Jim off the road? / Regular / 6-8.RL.1
Think back to Jim's comforting words before the battle. Do you see any similarities here? / Challenging / 6-8.RL.3
Why do you think the author included such a detailed scene of Jim's death? / Challenging / 6-8.RL.6
Chapter 10
Questions / Difficulty / Common CoreWhy would the corpse be described as laughing? What is the author trying to capture here?
Why did Henry leave this wounded man? / Regular / 6-8.RL.1
Chapter 11
Questions / Difficulty / Common CoreWhat separates Henry from this column of infantry? / Challenging / 6-8.RL.1
What is it that prevents Henry from going back to the front? / Challenging / 6-8.RL.3
What is Henry's line of reasoning through the last several paragraphs? / Challenging / 6-8.RL.6
What theme does Henry dwell on throughout this chapter? / Regular / 6-8.RL.2
Chapter 12
Questions / Difficulty / Common CoreWhy might Henry be so surprised at the retreat of the Union forces? / Regular / 6-8.RL.1
What do you think the state of the battle is? / Regular / 6-8.RL.1
What caused this injury? / Regular / 6-8.RL.1
What struggle does this paragraph refer to? Who are they struggling against? / Challenging / 6-8.RL.1
Chapter 13
Questions / Difficulty / Common CoreDo you think Henry's story will be believed by his comrades? / Regular / Other
Who is going to take care of Henry? / Regular / 6-8.RL.1
What does this phrase refer to?
Summarize what took place in this chapter. / Regular / 6-8.RL.2
Chapter 14
Questions / Difficulty / Common CoreDo you think there is any significance that even the living soldiers look like corpses? / Regular / 6-8.RL.3
Explain, in your own words, the changes that have come over Wilson during the battle. / Challenging / 6-8.RL.3
What does this last exchange indicate about how Henry is perceived by his comrades? / Challenging / 6-8.RL.3
Chapter 15
Questions / Difficulty / Common CoreDo you think this is a fair path for Henry to take? / Regular / Other
Paraphrase the theme of this paragraph. / Regular / 6-8.RL.2
Think back to Henry's own musings on war before he left home. Could this last sentence apply to his own thoughts as well? / Challenging / 6-8.RL.4
Chapter 16
Questions / Difficulty / Common CoreWhat is Wilson doing while they wait? / Regular / 6-8.RL.1
Why would Henry feel guilty saying this? / Challenging / 6-8.RL.4
Why is Henry so upset by this remark? / Regular / 6-8.RL.3
Consider how Henry and Wilson behaved before their first battle and how they relate now. What has changed? / Challenging / 6-8.RL.3
Summarize the events in this chapter. / Regular / 6-8.RL.2
Chapter 17
Questions / Difficulty / Common CoreParaphrase the sensations and thoughts occurring to Henry in the lead-up and throughout the battle. / Regular / 6-8.RL.3
Consider how Crane has worded this paragraph. Do you think the rest of Henry's regiment views him as a hero? / Challenging / 6-8.RL.4
What does this exchange indicate about the author's views on women and their role in the world? / Challenging / 6-8.RL.6
Chapter 18
Questions / Difficulty / Common CoreWho was shot? / Regular / 6-8.RL.1
Why might there have been confusion about the location of a stream? / Regular / 6-8.RL.1
What does this final sentence suggest about Henry and Wilson's perception of what happens in war? / Challenging / 6-8.RL.4
Compare the earlier assessment of the 304th's fighting prowess given by the lieutenant with the assessment in this paragraph. / Challenging / 6-8.RL.5
Why do you think Henry and Wilson did not share the fact that the officers think they will be annihilated? / Challenging / 6-8.RL.1
Chapter 19
Questions / Difficulty / Common CoreParaphrase the central point of this paragraph. / Regular / 6-8.RL.2
What actions started the advance again? / Regular / 6-8.RL.1
Why do you think the youth is suddenly so anxious to lead the regiment in a charge? / Challenging / 6-8.RL.3
Chapter 20
Questions / Difficulty / Common CoreExplain in your own words the sentiment that is being expressed in these paragraphs. / Regular / 6-8.RL.2
Why do you think Crane would use this phrase? Does it tell us anything about him or his own beliefs about politicians and soldiers? / Challenging / 6-8.RL.4
Based on this final statement, what qualities does Crane feel are necessary for someone to be considered a "man"? / Challenging / 6-8.RL.4
Chapter 21
Questions / Difficulty / Common CoreWhy might Henry feel he has the right to look down on his fellows? / Challenging / 6-8.RL.3
Which officer attempted to defend the actions of the 304th? / Regular / 6-8.RL.1
Summarize what was said in this paragraph. / Regular / 6-8.RL.2
Explain in your own words why Wilson and Henry are suddenly so happy based on a rumor of a conversation. What importance would this hold for them? / Challenging / 6-8.RL.3
Chapter 22
Questions / Difficulty / Common CoreWhy do you think Crane describes guns and flags as if they are human? / Challenging / 6-8.RL.6
Consider these descriptions of the battle. Does it seem organised or chaotic? What made you arrive at your conclusion? / Regular / 6-8.RL.1
What were the rebel forces hiding behind? / Regular / 6-8.RL.1
Based on the events of the battle thus far, what do you think will be done in response to this crisis? / Regular / 6-8.RL.1
Chapter 23
Questions / Difficulty / Common CoreExplain in your own words what is meant by this final sentence. / Challenging / 6-8.RL.4
How many prisoners were taken? / Regular / 6-8.RL.1
Distinguish between facts and opinions in the descriptions of the prisoners. / Challenging / 6-8.RL.4
Consider the changing descriptions of Wilson. First, he was the "loud soldier," then he was "Wilson," and now his is "his friend." What does this suggest about how battle has changed Henry and Wilson? / Regular / 6-8.RL.3
Chapter 24
Questions / Difficulty / Common CoreWhich direction is the regiment marching? / Regular / 6-8.RL.1
Do you think the battle is over? Why or why not? / Regular / 6-8.RL.1
Research the significance of purple and gold in war or as an accolade. Why would this phrase be used to describe Henry's deeds? / Challenging / 6-8.RL.4
Explain why Henry feels so much regret. / Challenging / 6-8.RL.3
What conclusion has Henry reached through his inner musings? / Challenging / 6-8.RL.3
What is the main theme of this story? Is there a moral or a message that Crane is trying to put forward? / Challenging / 6-8.RL.2