Stephen Crane

(1871- 1990)

Stephen Crane

• Birth: November 1, 1871• Place of Birth: Newark, New

Jersey• Occupation: Author• Death: June 5, 1990

Newark, New Jersey

Newark, New Jersey

Past (1900’s) Present

Personal Details

Father: Jonathan Townley Crane (Minister in Methodist Episcopal Church)

Mother: Mary Helen Peck Crane

Wife: Cora Taylor Youngest of fourteen children Grew up surrounded by writers

(parents, two brothers were journalists)

After school, he wrote short stories for newspapers The Red Badge of Courage led to instant fame

Died due to multiple hemorrhages at age of 28

Progressive Era (1890-1920)

a period of social activism and political reform in the United States

family was the foundation stone of American society, and the government must work to strengthen and enhance the family

Prohibition

favorable attitude toward urban-industrial society, belief in mankind's ability to improve the environment and conditions of life

technology use and creation of standard working hours, families had more leisure time

Naturalism: literary movement taking place from the 1880s

to 1940s that used detailed realism to suggest that social conditions, heredity, and environment had inescapable force in shaping human character

Realism: early 20th-century idea in art, music and literature that showed through these different types of work, reflections of the time period.

Impressionism: influenced by the European Impressionist art movement, many writers adopted a style that relied on associations.

Utilized lots of imagery narrative vividness and sense of immediacy Influenced by Hamlin Garland Style similar to Frank Norris, Jack London, and Theodore

Dreiser

Style & Technique

Ideas vs. Realities Spiritual crises vs. Fear Extreme isolation from society, community,

God, nature Religion War portray humans as helpless or nearly helpless

victims of natural and social forces

Major Themes

The Red Badge of Courage

Most well-known novel

Published in 1895 Considered one of

the greatest war novels, although Crane had no experience in the battlefield

“The Veteran”

Published in 1896 Plot: Veteran Henry

Fleming admits to being afraid during his first time in battle, which disappoints his grandson. Old Fleming later on risks his life to save animals from a fire on the farm, which refutes any ideas of cowardice that readers may have.

Henry James H.G. Wells Joseph Conrad Ernest Hemingway

Crane Influenced…

Some of Crane’s Work

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Crane http://www.online-literature.com/crane/ http://college.cengage.com/english/heath/

syllabuild/iguide/cranes.html http://www.gradesaver.com/author/stephen-

crane/

Sources