The Red Badge of Courage

The Red Badge of Courage tells the story of a fictional soldier in the Civil War. The author, Stephen Crane, presents the main character as "the youth." This book was written more like a biography, and less as a book that shows the entire picture. The story starts out at a camp where a regiment stops to rest. "The Youth" has a problem: he doesn't know how he will react to fighting in a battle (e.g. whether he will run or fight). Soon, the regiment moves, and the veterans can't wait to start fighting. Then, they get involved in a battle. During this long fight, the youth discovers this strengths, and weaknesses, in him.