Fiction Prompt #3
In the book A Soldier’s Secret, the story is told from the perspective of Sarah Emma Edmonds, alias Frank Thompson. Sarah Emma Edmonds is a soldier, nurse, and spy for the Union Army of the Civil War. To avoid an arranged marriage and get away from her father’s abusive hands, Sarah escaped Brunswick, Canada dressed in her brother’s clothes as a man. You learn very quickly that the story is told Sarah’s perspective. For example, when Sarah is enlisting, she is told that she cannot enlist because she is too young. When this happens, Sarah states, “I freeze. Can he tell? I’m wearing a shirt, vest, and trousers as usual, my curly hair cut short except for a lock that insists on falling over my forehead” (1). This shows
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Throughout the entire book the author talks about the different challenges the many women of the Civil War overcame even though they did not have to face these challenges in the first. At the end of the book the author even states, “Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr… summed up the Civil War experience of his generation with these words: ‘In our youth our hearts were touched with fire.’ When we think about the bravery of those who fought in the Civil War, we can now honor the passionate women whose hearts were also touched with fire and who went to extraordinary lengths to serve as soldiers” (93). With this very firm statement, it becomes clear that if you look into the core of all the things that women soldiers of the Civil War did, they all were fueled with the same driving force as any of their fellow male comrades. This message is very clear because the book includes many chapters such as, “Reasons for Becoming a Soldier,” “A Soldier’s Life,” “Women at Antietam,” and “Hospitals and Prisons.” All of these chapters (and others) contain information about women soldiers’ perseverance and the differences of men to women soldiers which, unsurprisingly, is not a lot other than
Rather it be experiencing extreme passion to discover the world, patriotism and determinism to fight for their beliefs, or simply a desire to help, many women joined the Civil War. As an amazing step of progress in history, these heroes effectively challenged traditional values
There is another woman you forgot to mention a courageous woman, Loreta Janeta Velazquez. Loreta was a Cuban born female that enlisted in the Confederate Army under the name of Harry T. Buford after she failed to convince her husband to let her enlist. During Loreta’s military profession, she gained the rank of Second Lieutenant, enlisted 236 men, fought at the Battle of Bull Run, at the siege of Fort Donelson and at the Battle of Shiloh. Moreover, after the Battle of Shiloh, Loreta became a Confederate spy, disguising herself as male and female as to the mission
That next summer Deborah became a school teacher. She had never been to school before ,but since all of the men were at war they needed another teacher. She loved her teaching job because she got to teach other girls how to read and write. Deborah had wanted to travel all of her life, and the only way to do that was to be in the war. That next winter after teaching she became a weaver. She made men's clothes for herself and would act like a man around the town to see if anyone noticed her. Deborah then realized that no one knew that she was a woman, so that next spring she would go to war acting like a man. One night at midnight, Deborah woke up, put her men's clothes on and started walking towards Boston. She arrived in Boston and on May 20, 1782 ,she joined the army as Robert Shurtliff. One day Deborah and some of her friends went on horseback ride to take a break from the war, but they were found by the Tories. Deborah got shot in the neck and on her leg. At the hospital she lied about her leg to keep herself undercover, and she got the bullet out of her leg by herself. After Deborah was feeling better, General Paterson called her to his personal order. This was a promotion from the job she had before. In June she went to Philadelphia with General Paterson. Philadelphia was a very sick city then because there was a severe fever going around. Deborah got the fever and suffered a coma, and the doctor that was
What is it about a book that keeps one reading? One continues to read a book when it is interesting and if they can make a connection to it. But, what makes a book interesting? There are many ways authors attract their readers. Authors use different techniques like, circle chronological order style, evoking strong emotions, and creating complex characters to shock and lure their readers.
The Civil War allowed women opportunities to work outside of the home and gender roles. Unfortunately, the opportunities given to women did not lead to lasting changes in the way women were viewed. Truth's empowering speech
The United States during the Civil war was a divided nation and filled with gruesome fighting. It hit all parts of the country and brought the fighting right to the back yards of families. While the men of the nation fought the combat war, woman fought different wars in the shadows. Fighting split millions of families up, and it affected woman in multiple ways. Challenges differed for woman from North and South. While some woman’s homes were turned into hospitals, other woman had to learn how to tend to their plantations while their husbands were away fighting. Many women disguised themselves as men to fight in the war because in the 1860s, a woman fighting in the war was not allowed yet. Numerous enslaved
Without women those many soldiers would have died and others would not have been physical or healthy enough to fight for their nation’s liberty. Women were running the household and the farms when their husbands left to war; they were responsible for taking care of their children, servants, slaves and defending the home against enemy soldiers. Women demonstrate that they can do multiple things at a time, and that they can do men’s job and more than
War is something that is inevitable; it is something that cannot be stopped, something that is destined to happen. No one can really explain what a war is like without being in one, for none of those people can feel the pain and anguish of losing their family in a time of crisis, or running away in order to save their life. But when Ishmael Beah shares his story of the war he was in, Beah is able to describe the war in Africa in his memoir, A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier, in such a way that is truly astonishing and is “a breathtaking and […] a truly riveting memoir” (Belinda Luscombe, Time).
Before the Civil War women were used in a strict capacity as domestic house wives. They cooked, cleaned, took care of the kids and their husbands. Their roles changed drastically at the on-set of the Civil War and all throughout the civil war, they became a very important part of war efforts. Their contribution to the civil war was not only as domestic help, but also on the frontline in combat as well. Specific women in the war played a different role in sharing their support.
The Civil War altogether influenced the lives of American ladies. A modest bunch camouflaged themselves as men and joined the battle. Others served as spies and nurses. Numerous more tackled new parts at home after their spouses, siblings, and fathers reacted to the invitation to battle. A large number of oppressed ladies started the move to flexibility, starting new lives in the midst of the revulsions of war. By war's end, the amazing loss of life of roughly 620,000 officers had left endless ladies in grieving. Contrasted with past eras, American ladies in general had enhanced their instructive standing, secured extra lawful rights, and procured more noteworthy access to made merchandise by the mid-1800s. Ladies had taken part conspicuously
Women during the Civil War Women during the Civil War had a lot of different responsibilities. They also played a huge role in the Civil War. Men had to go serve in the war while the women had to take care of the children. While the women were at home they were thinking, “Why can’t we serve in the war.” They thought of themselves as useless people who had to stay home and do nothing.
During the Civil war,women played very important parts. 400 women and more disguised themselves as men and fought in the Union and Confederate armies. A good amount of women served as spies and nurses. A handful of them disguised themselves as men and joined the war. The women at home took on the husband, brother, and father roles. In the past generations, women improved their educational standing, acquired greater access to manufactured goods, and secured additional legal rights by the mid-1800s. A majority of American women led daily lives that was focused mainly on their families, households, gardens, and crops. There was about 250 female Civil War soldiers that have been documented by historians and there was probably more. Women took
The American Civil War was a time of great trial and tribulation for the American people. It forced individuals to choose a cause, and many families were torn asunder as they chose opposing sides. As the men marched off to war a small group of women prepared to wage a different kind of warfare. These women became an overlooked but deadly force using espionage and womanly wiles to gather military intelligence for their cause. They used whatever means they had at their disposal to enter into the confidence of men within the opposing side and gain their trust. Women during this period were often overlooked as insignificant and stationary. Women were meant to stay within the home and care for their families needs. However, these extraordinary women rose to answer a more imminent need. These brave women had a profound influence on their cause.
When we think of the Civil War, many think of the sacrifices and influences of the men during this time. Women of the Civil War however, were also active participants of making history (Fahs). The Civil War was the first account in history where women had an active role throughout a war. It was their first opportunity to make a difference in our country’s history. Their lives before the war were that of being proper while working to maintain and support their families. The Civil War stole away the life as women knew it and placed them into a whole different role- one that was much more difficult both physically and emotionally. Though the role of women changed drastically in the north and the south- the roles were very different and were influenced by very different factors.
Compare and contrast the language features used by Wilfred Owen and Rupert Brooke to express their perception of war.