ipl-logo

Louisa May Alcott Analysis

769 Words4 Pages

The three texts, “The Drummer Boy of Shiloh” by Ray Bradbury, Soldier’s Heart by Gary Paulsen and Civil War Journal by Louisa May Alcott share the common theme of importance of an individual’s contribution during the Civil War. The main character, Joby, from “The Drummer Boy of Shiloh’ contributed to the Civil War by leading the whole army of soldiers into battle. Charley from Soldier’s Heart contributed during the Civil War by volunteering to fight in the war, as a soldier. Louisa May Alcott, the main character and author of Civil War Journal aided the wounded soldiers, as a nurse. Therefore, these three stories all bring the significance of an independent’s Civil War contribution to life.
Joby in “The Drummer Boy of Shiloh” contributed by …show more content…

An example from the text is, “A strange day, but I did my best; and when I put mother’s little black shawl round the boy while he sat up panting for breath, he smiled and said, ‘You are real motherly ma’am.’” This shows the reader Louisa’s contribution because she is a very comforting and supporting nurse. She makes sure that all of her patients stay calm and feel welcomed. As well as this the text states, “But all were well behaved; and I sat looking at the twenty strong faces as they looked back at me,--hoping that I looked ‘motherly’ to them; for my thirty years made me feel old and the suffering around me made me long to comfort everyone…” This, once again, demonstrates that Louisa May Alcott was a very good nurse, since she hoped that everyone was consoled and she had all of her patients best interests in mind. One last example from the text is, “A solemn time, but I’m glad to live in it; and am sure it will do me good whether I come out alive or dead.” This is a clear illustration of Alcott’s contribution to the Civil War because it emphasizes how dedicated she was to helping the soldiers who were, unfortunately, wounded in the war. She is very selfless and is always thinking about what 's best for the patients. Therefore, Louisa May Alcott’s contribution of being a nurse and taking care of the soldiers that were in pain is

Show More
Related
593 Words | 3 Pages

When Charley joined the First Minnesota Volunteers he along with many others wanted to help support his country during war. Everyone from the Union and the Confederacy thought that the war would be over soon but sadly they were wrong. The war that Charley had just joined would be bloodiest American war yet. Charley found out in this book that war changes people and that it is often not what people make it out to be.

Read More
535 Words | 3 Pages

The civil war not only had an effect on the government, foreign policy, finances, but also the people that fought in the war or had loved ones in the war. Reading biographies and first hand recounts of the civil war is the best two ways to understand how it felt to live during this time in history. It’s an important insight that helps paint a picture of how living during the war was, and how people lived. The first recount of the civil war comes from William Stewart Price.

Read More
700 Words | 3 Pages

The American Revolution marked the history of many heroic events that immaculately stand as true inspirations for the generations to come in the United States. Even today, the gallantry of a few soldiers that won independence for the country is not only kept in the hearts of the people but run in the American blood to demonstrate acts of valor at times of war and hardships. One such story recorded in the history dates back to 1776, about a sixteen-year old juvenile, Joseph Plumb Martin, joined the Rebel Infantry and recorded his tribulations about forty-seven years in a memoir titled as “A Narrative of a Revolutionary Soldier”. The book mainly focuses on the sufferings through the tough situation he went through.

Read More
156 Words | 1 Pages

In chapter one of What They Fought For, I learned about the letters and diaries of the Confederate soldiers. The themes of the letters were home-sickness, lack of peace, and the defense of home against their invading enemy. The thought of soldiers fighting for their homes and being threatened by invaders, made them stronger when facing adversity. Many men expressed that they would rather die fighting for a cause, than dying without trying and this commitment showed patriotism. Throughout the letters, soldiers claimed their reason for fighting, was for the principles of Constitutional liberty and self-government.

Read More
1091 Words | 5 Pages

The United States Civil War is possible one of the most meaningful, bloodstained and controversial war fought in American history. Northern Americans against Southern Americans fought against one another for a variety of motives. These motives aroused from a wide range of ideologies that stirred around the states. In James M. McPherson’s What they fought for: 1861-1865, he analyzes the Union and Confederate soldier’s morale and ideological components through the letters they wrote to love ones while at war. While, John WhiteClay Chambers and G. Kurt Piehler depict Civil War soldiers through their letters detailing the agonizing battles of war in Major Problems in American Military History.

Read More
1759 Words | 8 Pages

Innately people can be selfish, so in times when not only their own livelihood is in danger, but the lives of thousands is when a spotlight illuminates from the writer’s pen of Shelby Foote. The Civil War was not fought by superheroes, but by soldiers and he makes this clear. Foote shows us that being heroic can only be in instances and gives cases where soldiers were unheroic to paint the entire picture for readers to make their own conclusions. Dramatic irony is drawn from his toolbox to further drive home this point. Shakespearean moments that Foote could not even dream of are included for both the pleasure in telling the story and telling more about the war itself, even more specifically the Seven Days Battles.

Read More
752 Words | 4 Pages

In the very end of the excerpt Alcott writes, “That way the fighting lies, &long to follow…” (paragraph 22). Alcott is a very brave women that goes to war knowing that she could die. However, she wants to help the Union and start new experiences. She feels like it is necessary to help in the war. 6.

Read More
430 Words | 2 Pages

Have you ever heard of the story the “Drummer Boy of Shiloh?” If you have you know the story. If you haven't then you should read it it's a good story. This story was written by Ray Bradbury .

Read More
1404 Words | 6 Pages

He reveals the actions and intentions behind the everyday confederate soldier who suffered and lived through this horrific and costly war; their youth gone up in a whirl wind and lost forever. He does a magnificent job of hashing out the thoughts running through most of the men’s minds. For example, when describing the battle of Shiloh, “I had heard and read of battlefields, seen pictures of battlefields, of horses and men, of cannons and wagons, all jumbled together, while the ground was strewn with dead and dying and wounded, but I must confess that I never realized the “pomp and circumstance” of the thing called glorious war until I saw this. Men were lying in every conceivable position; the dead lying with their eyes wide open, the wounded begging piteously for help, and some waving their hats and shouting to us to go forward. It all seemed to me a dream; I seemed to be in a sort of haze, when siz, siz, siz, the minnie balls from the Yankee lines began to whistle around our ears”

Read More
516 Words | 3 Pages

Do you ever contemplate about what it would be like to be in combat in the Civil War because if so readers can get a good outlook of what it would be like to fight on the union side in both of these books The Red Badge of Courage and the Soldier’s Heart. In this essay one will be contrasting the two stories mentioned earlier. As well in this essay one will be comparing these two very informational and exciting stories about the civil war and the characters as well as how ironically the two characters have very many resemblances. While reading this essay one comprehends the two stories similarities and differences, also the reader will acquire knowledge about how the main characters in both of the stories have very similar points of view. There are very few differences between the stories Red Badge of Courage and Soldier’s Heart here are a few just to show how little they have in differences.

Read More
1264 Words | 6 Pages

Nineteenth century poet Walt Whitman lived and wrote in a fascinating time period and changed the literary world, all while experiencing a unique American war first hand. A humanitarian as well as a writer, Whitman volunteered as a nurse during the Civil War where he experienced the horrors of mortality, yet felt spiritually content afterwards as well. His frequent interactions with the wounded and sick would further alter his poetry and life, in a way where he would be able to cope with his time spent among the battle. Traumatized by the aftermath of the brutal war, Whitman used his writing as a reflection of his mind and life as his involvement in both the depravity and nobility of human existence absorbed into every aspect of his spirit.

Read More
1322 Words | 6 Pages

In the novel Catcher in the Rye by J.D Salinger readers are introduced to a young man named Holden Caulfield who introduces himself and begins to tell his story of how and why he left his school; Pencey Prep. In the story, Holden explains how he is being kicked out of school and doesn't want his parents to know and so leaves school early. throughout the story, Holden explains what happens to him before he must go home and act like he is home from school for a break instead of being kicked out. When it comes to the topic of Author's purpose of The will of individual vs the will of the majority some will think the purpose is to show that Holden going against the will of society to rebel, however, I think the author’s purpose of The Catcher in the Rye was to show that the individual will manifest in his desire for isolation comes from his is fear and damage done by fear of pain, failure, rejection, and is unwilling or unable to go along with the majority. This all shown through Imagery, symbolism, and diction.

Read More
643 Words | 3 Pages

Joby,the drummer boy of Shiloh, is a symbol of importance and bravery. In the text, Bradbury states, “If he, Joby, beat slow tomorrow, the heart would beat slow in the men.” (Bradbury 171) This proves Joby is important because if Joby would beat the drum slow, then the soldiers would run, fight, and shoot slow and the men would die, but if he beats the drum fast then they will shoot,fight, and run fast.

Read More
964 Words | 4 Pages

In Louisa May Alcotts novel “An Old Fashioned Girl” the main character, Polly Milton, finds herself struggling against a man versus society conflict, as she confronts the rich first class society that surrounds her. The fourteen year old country girl who ventures into the city to visit her good friend, is constantly being told she is old fashioned, poor, and too simple for the city. The basis of the conflict is that all the people Polly encounters during her time in the city, expect her to look and behave like the rest. When Polly cannot do this, people begin to tease and mock her all because she has no wealth.

Read More
1097 Words | 5 Pages

Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott focuses on four sisters; Jo, Meg, Beth, and Amy March that are a part of a very poor, humble family. While their father is off at war, they are left with their loving mother at home encouraging them to be a better person and the better version of themselves. As all four girls go through love and loss, they discover that they are truly brave and courageous. One very important major event was when the March sisters struggle to improve their various flaws as they grow into adults. Jo dreams of becoming a great writer and does not want to become a conventional adult woman.

Read More

More about Louisa May Alcott Analysis

Related Topics

Open Document