red badge of courage, the: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

No, it is a work of fiction. Stephen Crane had not experienced battle when he wrote it; he conducted extensive research and used veterans' accounts to create a psychologically realistic portrayal.

The protagonist is Henry Fleming, often referred to as 'the youth', a young Union soldier in the American Civil War.

Its everyday use is rare and highly allusive. Using it metaphorically (e.g., 'My scar from the surgery is my red badge of courage') will likely be understood only by those familiar with the literary reference and may sound pretentious if used without irony.

It is celebrated for its innovative, realistic, and psychological depiction of war from a single soldier's perspective, breaking from the romanticized war literature of its time. It is a key text in American literary Naturalism.

The title of a classic American novel by Stephen Crane, published in 1895. It is a phrase referring to a wound received in battle, specifically in the context of the American Civil War, symbolizing proof of a soldier's courage.

Red badge of courage, the is usually formal, literary, allusive in register.

Red badge of courage, the: in British English it is pronounced /ðə ˌred ˌbædʒ əv ˈkʌr.ɪdʒ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ðə ˌred ˌbædʒ əv ˈkɝː.ɪdʒ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.