ENGLISH Why does the author use a chronological structure? Adapted from The Red
ID: 235224 • Letter: E
Question
ENGLISH
Why does the author use a chronological structure?
by Stephen Crane
[1] He had, of course, dreamed of battles all his life—of vague and bloody conflicts that had thrilled him with their sweep and fire.
[2] He had burned several times to enlist. He had read of marches, sieges, conflicts, and he had longed to see it all.
[3] But his mother had discouraged him. She had affected to look with some contempt upon the quality of his war ardor and patriotism.
[4] At last, however, he had made firm rebellion against this yellow light thrown upon the color of his ambitions. Almost every day the newspaper printed accounts of a decisive victory.
[5] One night, as he lay in bed, the winds had carried to him the clangoring of the church bell as some enthusiast jerked the rope frantically to tell the twisted news of a great battle. Later, he had gone down to his mother's room and had spoken thus: “Ma, I'm going to enlist.”
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[6] Across the smoke-infested fields came a brown swarm of running men who were giving shrill yells. They came on, stooping and swinging their rifles at all angles. A flag, tilted forward, sped near the front.
[7] As he caught sight of them the youth was momentarily startled by a thought that perhaps his gun was not loaded. He stood trying to rally his faltering intellect so that he might recollect the moment when he had loaded, but he could not.
[8] He got the one glance at the foe-swarming field in front of him, and instantly ceased to debate the question of his piece being loaded. He threw the obedient well-balanced rifle into position and fired a first wild shot.
[9] Presently he began to feel the effects of the war atmosphere—a blistering sweat, a sensation that his eyeballs were about to crack like hot stones. A burning roar filled his ears.
[10] Following this came a red rage. He developed the acute exasperation of a pestered animal. He had a mad feeling against his rifle, which could only be used against one life at a time.
[11] Buried in the smoke of many rifles his anger was directed not so much against the men whom he knew were rushing toward him as against the swirling battle phantoms which were choking him, stuffing their smoke robes down his parched throat.
[12] The lieutenant of the youth's company had encountered a soldier who had fled screaming at the first volley of his comrades. The man was blubbering and staring with sheeplike eyes at the lieutenant, who had seized him by the collar and was pommeling him. He drove him back into the ranks with many blows.
[13] The men dropped here and there like bundles. The babbling man was grazed by a shot that made the blood stream widely down his face. “Oh!” he said, and ran. Another grunted suddenly as if he had been struck by a club in the stomach. He sat down and gazed ruefully. In his eyes there was mute, indefinite reproach.
[14] At last an exultant yell went along the quivering line. The firing dwindled from an uproar to a last vindictive popping. A sentence with variations went up and down the line. “Well, we've helt 'em back. We've helt 'em back.” The men said it blissfully, leering at each other with dirty smiles.
[15] Under foot there were a few ghastly forms motionless. They lay twisted in fantastic contortions. Arms were bent and heads were turned in incredible ways. They looked to be dumped out upon the ground from the sky.
[16] But, of a sudden, cries of amazement broke out. “Here they come ag'in!”
[17] The shells came swirling again, and exploded in the grass. They looked to be strange war flowers bursting into fierce bloom.
[18] The men groaned. The slaves toiling in the temple of this god began to feel rebellion at his harsh tasks.
[19] “We ain't never goin' to stand this second banging. I didn't come here to fight the hull rebel army.”
[20] Into the youth's eyes there came a look that one can see in the orbs of a jaded horse. His neck was quivering with nervous weakness and the muscles of his arms felt numb and bloodless. His hands, too, seemed large and awkward as if he was wearing invisible mittens. And there was a great uncertainty about his knee joints.
[21] A man near him who up to this time had been working feverishly at his rifle suddenly stopped and ran with howls. A lad whose face had borne an expression of exalted courage blanched, threw down his gun and fled. He ran like a rabbit.
[22] Others began to scamper away through the smoke. The youth turned his head, shaken from his trance by this movement.
[23] He ran like a blind man.
The Red Badge of Courage, Stephen Crane, 1895
Why does the author use a chronological structure?
Explanation / Answer
Correct option is C .Author used chronological structure to give reader historical view of event of war.
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