Stephen Crane

November 1, 1871 – June 5, 1900Carol Wolff

The HeartThe Heart

Also Known as

The Desert

Stephen Crane

• Born November 1, 1871, in Newark, New Jersey

• He began writing at the age of 4

• By the time he was nine years old, both of his parents had died

• 1898- Crane moved to Sussex, England

• At the age of twenty-eight, Stephen Crane died on 5 June 1900

Stephen Townley Crane

• He was a novelist, short story writer, poet and journalist.

• Common themes involve fear, spiritual crisis and social isolation

War Correspondent• Covered the Greco-

Turkish War• In Cuba, he covered the

Spanish-American War • He is the first American

to portray war realistically from the point of view of the individual soldier not in a romantic way.

The HeartThe Heart11stst verse verse

In the desertIn the desertI saw a creature, naked, bestial, I saw a creature, naked, bestial, Who, squatting upon the ground,Who, squatting upon the ground, Held his heart in his hands,Held his heart in his hands, And ate of it. And ate of it.

The HeartThe Heart22ndnd verse verse

I said: "Is it good, friend?“I said: "Is it good, friend?“"It is bitter - bitter," he answered; "It is bitter - bitter," he answered; "But I like it "But I like it Because it is bitter, Because it is bitter, And because it is my heart."And because it is my heart."

StyleStyle

• free-verse poemsfree-verse poems• clear concise language clear concise language • you see no or little rhyme or mechanics.you see no or little rhyme or mechanics.• striking metaphors and images, imagery is striking metaphors and images, imagery is

vividvivid• Crane asks questions rather than providing Crane asks questions rather than providing

answers.answers.

AnalysisAnalysis

• cynical viewcynical view• sombre tonesombre tone• man is more a victim of his fate than man is more a victim of his fate than

a decider of ita decider of it• fate is really kind and frequently fate is really kind and frequently

cruel.cruel.

My Opinion

I believe this poem is saying that every individual is alone. We have to go through this world with its many difficulties, disappointments, and total strife.We eat away at ourselves by making constant compromises and sacrifices to our ideals in order to survive.

We can’t seem to be satisfied with who and what we are.

Eating his heart could be a metaphor for the process of soul searching. What are you going to do with your pain, your bitterness, and trying to come to terms with your life? After all we are responsible for our own lives and our own happiness.

Carol Wolff