One of the things I really enjoyed about teaching Red Badge or any of Crane's stories is discussing his extensive use of symbolism. In the novel there is so much to consider: use of religious symbols, colors, animals, nature.
After spending an entire class period exploring the novel and picking out passages which contained great symbolism, one of my students asked, "Mrs. Siemens, did Crane try to put all of this in here on purpose or was it just an accident?" What do you think? Did he? Did the words just flow out of him once he started and lo and behold---the symbolism was there?
I like to tell the story about Troy, one of my quiet students. We were 'acting out' the scene where Henry, Jim Conklin, and Wilson were going up the hill toward Jim's death and the resulting line of 'The sun was pasted in the sky like a wafer.' So much religious symbolism in that chapter. So much. Of course I couldn't teach religion in a public high school, but we could discuss how this passage resembled the trek to Calvary, the THREE men, the wounds, the rite of communion. What I hadn't thought of, at that point, was the significance of the initials. Troy had sat in the back of the classroom that day, quietly watching our re-enactment of the scene, listening to the students' discussion of the symbolism. Then I heard a voice. "Mrs. Siemens? (pause) What about this? (pause) Jim Conklin. (pause) Jesus Christ. (pause) J.C. (smile)" One of you mentioned that in the discussion board. The initials.
Kevin also wrote about those three characters in one of his papers. The three represent The Father (Jim), the Son (Henry), and the Holy Spirit (Wilson). I hadn't thought of that before.
What also put a smile on my face was reading the posts about color, nature, and animals. Many of my favorite passages and usual examples were selected.
I hope that all of the students in the class read the posts as I do. Much can be learned from the sharing of ideas, thoughts, and observations of others.
Once again...Happy Reading!
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