Student Queries 2003

Queries  2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2000-2002
Student Queries 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2000-2002
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Stephen Crane and Modern Literature
Bibliography on "The Blue Hotel" 
Crane, God, and Deism (X)
Help with "The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky"
Spelling of RED BADGE (x)
Symbolis
m in Red Badge
Funnel-shaped tracks
Crane and Realism
Criticism on Crane's Poetry (X)

Color in Crane's Writing
Resources on "An Episode of War" (X)
How many works did Crane complete?
Crane and Literary Impressionism (X)
Crane's Middle Name?
Influences on Crane

Authoritative Biography of Crane? (X)
"The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky": Autobiographical?
Criticism on Crane and Existentialism (X)
Crane and Bierce

Questions Replies
Characters in The Red Badge of Courage

 

QUESTION: Who are the main people in The Red Badge of Courage? What part did they play in the war and how did Henery know them?

Shana MAthis Shanabug@charter.net

11/13/03

 
"A Dark Brown Dog"

I am writing a paper on the short story A Dark Brown
Dog...there is not much information on this story so i have a few
questions.

1. What is the meaning of the story?
2. What events if any in Crane's life influenced the story?
3. Why does he not describe the setting, but goes into detail about the
characters thoughts?

Pattie 12/1/03

 


QUESTION: i have a few questions......
1. What was the excat date of Mr.Crane's birth and death??
2. what was the accomplishments/schooling??
3. What was his family life/background like??
4. Motavation for writing??
5. Novels/stories he has wrote??

allison

11/9/03

These are questions that can be easily answered by looking at an encyclopedia article on Stephen Crane or by reading one of the books written about his life, such as The Crane Log or Badge of Courage. He was born on November 1, 1871 and died on June 5, 1900. You can find a brief biographical sketch that will answer most of these questions at this link.

Short Story about Two Soldiers?

I am looking for a short story by Stephen Crane about two men in the American Civil war. They are friends walking along a road, and when it comes time to choose which way to go they go separate ways. Any suggestions are most welcome!

Tricia Rees 11/2/03

Criticism on Poem

Does anyone have any critiques about the poem "A man feared that he might find an assassin?"Jillian Yarter 11/2/03

Crane and Bierce

I'M A FRENCH STUDENT AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT ARE THE MAIN DIFFERENCES AND THE SIMILITUDES BETWEEN THE FAMOUS BOOK BY STEPHEN CRANE " The Red Badge of courage" and AMBROSE BIERCE STORY CHICKAMAUGA (1891)?

Nora, calimero45100@yahoo.fr 10/28/03

 

Criticism on Crane and Existentialism

Hello Professor Wertheim... I am a graduate student at William Paterson University... I'm having a hard time finding any articles (in journals or books) that may discuss the existential aspect of Crane's Open Boat (or Maggie, Blue Hotel, Bride/Yellow Sky)... Are you aware of any publications that have approached an existential reading of Crane? Thank you... Assunta Trischka 10/21/03

******

i just wanted to say thank you to dr. wertheim for the reply to my crane/existentialism question... i have read the buitenhuis article, and one or two others... i just thought there'd be so much more... anyway, i very much appreciate his thoughtful response... assunta trischka 11/2/03

The English Department at William Paterson University rarely allowed me to get close to graduate students, so I am grateful for this singular opportunity.

Since Crane often stressed the importance of chance and environmental factors in determining human destiny, he is more often associated with naturalism than with existentialism which stresses freedom of choice and individual responsibility. Nevertheless, during the height of the Existentialist movement in the 1950s and early 1960s, critics often noted that in works such as Maggie and The Red Badge romantic illusions and false values more than the external environment influence the actions of Crane's characters. This point of view was applied especially to "The Blue Hotel," where it is apparent that the Swede's paranoia and misconceptions in large part create the environment that destroys him. In their study of "The Open Boat" critics also found that Crane was as compelling as Camus in his treatment of the themes of initiation into an indifferent universe and the necessity for social cohesion. See especially Peter Buitenhuis. "The Essentials of life: 'The Open Boat' as Existentialist Fiction." Modern Fiction Studies 5 (1959): 243-50. You should be able to find the journal containing this essay in the William Paterson library, if the librarians haven't "weeded" it yet.

--Stanley Wertheim

"The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky": Autobiographical?

QUESTION: I am writing a fiction essay by September 26th on Stephen Crane on the story, The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky. The topic of the essay is to state whether or not most of what he wrote in that story is autobiographical or not. Any information that can be provided or direction to where to do some research will be appreciated. Nilsa N. Clarke 9/15/03

 
Authoritative Biography of Crane?

I was wondering if someone could tell me what the most authoritative biography of Stephen Crane is.

Christopher Geglia cgeglia@radford.edu
9-7-03
***********

QUESTION: Which Biography is the most authoritative? Benfry or Davis? bailey

 

The best and most factually accurate book is The Crane Log by Paul Sorrentino and Stanley Wertheim. If you would like to read a narrative account to get a sense of Crane's life, you might also try Linda Davis's Badge of Courage.
--Donna Campbell

Influences on Stephen Crane

I need to know 3 major influences that inspired Stephen Crane!!! PLEASE HELP!!!

Thanks in advance.
Kim

 

Crane's Middle Name

QUESTION: What's stephen crane's middle name?

5/12/03

You can find the answer to this by looking in any of the Crane biographies or The Crane Log. None of these sources lists a middle name.

"The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky" I need of information about the Work The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky of Stephen Crane, this information that about tha characteristics of Realism and Naturalism in the work

Renata, rennatafiuza@yahoo.com.br

4-14-03

 

Crane and Literary Impressionism

I'm curious about Crane's relation to literary impressionism; does anyone know how and why he became branded as such, and how it is evident in his works?
Austin Johnson, austinismyname@hotmail.com
4-5-03

You might try James Nagel's Stephen Crane and Literary Impressionism (Penn State U P, 1980).

Some other works on Crane and literary impressionism are listed in the current bibliography and the 1980-1995 bibliography. You can also find these by using the Search  feature at this site. After you find the page or pages, use your browser's Find feature (under Edit, Find in Internet Explorer) to search the page for the term impressionism.

How Many Works Did Crane Complete?

I am doing a research paper, and I need to know how many completed works that Stephen Crane wrote in his life time?? Can anyone please help. Tina, tinabyates@aol.com

4-5-03

 

Resources on "An Episode of War"

QUESTION: I am a college senior. I am writing a paper on Stephen Crane's "An Episode of War." I was wondering where I can find more resources on the subject. What about the imagery of the glass arm? Is it a direct link to Crane's view of wars in general? Sasha, 3/19/03

The Search  feature shows that there are some articles in the 1980-1995 bibliography on this subject. Also, you might try Chester L. Wolford's Stephen Crane: A Study of the Short Fiction. (Boston: Twayne Publishers, 1989), , Michael W. Schaefer's A Reader's Guide to the Short Stories of Stephen Crane. (New York and London: G.K. Hall, 1996), or The Stephen Crane Encyclopedia. .
Color in Crane's Writing

Hello- I need help with figuring out a way that i can write a research paper about the use of color in his writing- I know that he use very decriptive words about color and how it all blends together, but it has to be argumentative and I am not sure how to do that- some information about this would be great or where I can find something about this- thanks- boks

Bradley Bokal 3/19/03

 
Crane, God, and Deism

QUESTION: i'm writing a paper on deism and Crane's work and life. I was looking for information supporting what religious beliefs Crane may have held. His work, especially his poetry, seemed to showed a deistic view of the world and God. Deism is the belief in God being responsible for the creation of the universe, but other than that he doesnt really do anything. Do you know of any information i could use for my paper or am i completely off the mark with this thesis?Abigail D. Gastaldi, wateverlolawntz@hotmail.com
12/9/02

Crane did not share the anthropomorphic, omnipotent conception of God held by his Methodist forbears, and some of his poems reflect the deistic conception that whatever force created the universe somehow lost or relinquished control of a creation that subsequently degenerated into purposelessness and chaos. This is reflected in the following poem from The Black Riders:


God fashioned the ship of the world carefully
With the infinite skill of an All-Master
Made He the hull and the sails,
Held He the rudder
Ready for adjustment.
Erect stood He, scanning His work proudly.
Then-at fateful time-a wrong called,
And God turned, heeding.
Lo, the ship, at this opportunity,
slipped slyly,
Making cunning noiseless travel down the ways.
So that, forever rudderless, it went upon the seas
Going ridiculous voyages,
Making quaint progress,
Turning as with serious purpose
Before stupid winds.
And there were many in the sky
Who laughed at this thing.

--Stanley Wertheim

Controlling Metaphor in "The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky"
QUESTION: I'm doing an assignment on "The bride comes to yellow sky", but i can't seem to find the controlling metaphor... please help! Susan
Some of the questions and answers on this page may help you to find the answer to this question.
   

Crane and Realism

I am doing a research paper on Steven Crane. I have to write about his use of realism and naturalism, and his use of war themes. Can you offer me anything good on these topics? I having problems finding a good starting place.Ciera Allen

 
Funnel-shaped tracks

QUESTION: I am doing a presentation concerning the last sentence of "The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky":
"His feet made funnel-shaped tracks in the heavy sand." I need to know what the significance of this sentence is to the naturalistic theme.
Please help. Jennifer L., jenel21@aol.com

Stanley Wertheim's overall take on the story seems to make sense. Along these lines, in spite of the fact that the guys cowering in the bar had well-established hiding places, I believe that highly dangeorus Scratchy is described, more or less, as "the last of his kind."

The notion that a "Wild West" marshal would take a wife suggests that his town had achieved a level of tranquility and domesticity perhaps not seen before. The first part of the story focuses a lot on how shocked the town was going to be when they learn that Potter had, essentially, eloped.

And so, does that mean that Wild West marshals had typically been single...??

Steve Vitoff
vitoffs at aol.com 6/21/07
QUESTION: I am a high school sophomore & I am required to write a research paper on Stephen Crane. One of the requirements is to find 3 main influences why he wrote "The Red Badge of Courage". The 3 I came up with are newspaper articles, conversations with war veterans & the book "Battles & Leaders of the Civil War". Now I need specific examples such as the name of the newspapers, the name of some of the veterans & where to get a copy of the book. I have looked everywhere & am hoping you can help me. My project is due within the next week. Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Thank you in advance.
 
Criticism on Crane's Poetry

QUESTION: I am writing a paper comparing some of the war poetry of Stephen Crane to the war poetry of Galway Kinnell. Part of the assignment is to find literary criticism on the poets and I am having trouble. Almost everything seems to be about Red Badge of Courage and his other stories. I am specifically looking for something written on the poems begining "Do not weep, maiden, for war is kind" and "All-feeling God, hear in the war-night"(Both from War is Kind). I am starting to wonder whether there is anything out there, but anything anyone has come across would be of great help.

Adam, Zarquant@aol.com

You might want to try The Poetry of Stephen Crane by Daniel Hoffman (1956) and Joseph Katz's edition of Crane's poems. Several dissertations from the late 1960s and early 1970s deal with Crane's poetry, and it is mentioned in other criticism.

   
Why is the poem sometimes spelled The Red Badge of Courage, and others, THE RED BANDGE OF COURAGE? (Notice that the second one is in all caps, and "badge" has an "N" in it.)
 Mark Abbey-Lambertz,
 Mark53189@aol.com (my e-mail address) 
"Bandge" is an incorrect spelling (probably a typo) for "badge."

 

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