Bridging the Gap
Kamryn, Viviana, and Ervin
"An Episode of War" by Crane (1850-1890)
The experience of a wouded lieutenant at the war front, barracks and hospital.
Crane hasn’t given name to the lieutenant but used generic name in order to show that war is bitter experience for all soldiers of any nationality, place and time.
- Ulysses S. Grant is inaugurated as the 18th presidenT this ties to the story because
Ulysses S. Grant was a general and the solder was a lieutenant.
- The civil war was during this time this connects to the story because the the man in the story was also a soldier that was involved in a battle.
- Abraham Lincoln was assassinated because the soldier in the story also got shot.
"The Open Boat" by Crane (1890-1910)
Summary:
The short story is about four men who survive a shipwreck off the coast of Florida, but do they all make it alive to shore on a dinghy after rowing on and off for 30 hours straight? The story itself consists of these four men striving for survival. While on their way to shore, they come across some obstacles and need to find a way out of them.
Historical Events:
1890 - Massacre at Woundedknee (South Dakota)
1893 - Gasoline Carburetor, Maybach (Germany)
1898 - Florida is introduced in the Spanish-American War and Cuban cigar begins to be delivered to Tampa, Florida by boat.
1898 - “San Juan, Puerto Rico is bombed by the American navy under the command of Rear Admiral William T. Sampson. Puerto Rico is overtaken by the United States between July 25 with its landing at Guanica Bay and August 12. These acts during the Spanish-American War would ultimately result in Spain deciding in December to cede lands, including Puerto Rico, to the United States.”
Relevance to The Open Boat:
Due to the boat sinking, many people had died during the story as well as in the Massacre at Woundedknee.
Boats run on Gasoline as well as all, if not most, methods of transportation. to this day we still use gasoline for the same reason and it is still a big part of life.
The story itself, took place in Florida and the water surrounding the state.
The corresponder takes a minute to think back to a poem he read when he was young about a soldier and how he never returned home. Soldiers are a big part in our world and should never be forgotten nor taken for granted.
"The Ransom of Red Chief" by O. Henry (1910-1930)
Summary:
Two con men who think it would be a good idea to kidnap a city official's son for a cash ransom. They kidnap works but these guys weren’t experienced with 10 year old boys and did not get what they expected.
Historical comparisons:
- In The 1920’s the Marion Parker Kidnap and Murder case was very significant and known during that time. Marion Parker a 12 year-old girl was kidnapped by William Edward Hickman and was held for ransom. Just like the ten year old boy, Ebenezer, was kidnapped for ransom in ‘The Ransom Of Red Chief’.
- In the Story, “The Ransom of Red Chief” they are pretending they are redskins and they have the Red Chief, the boy, captive. Redskin is another word to call a Native American, and is what they called the Native Americans at that time unlike now it would be considered offensive.
- In the short story the two men kidnap the young boy in a buggy a popular vehicle that was made during that time. In the late 1920’s the engine industry was successful and was helping with the creation of many new vehicles.
Commonalities between the stories
In these three stories, as well as all others, if not most, we see the introduction, the rising action, the climax, the falling action, and the resolution. These all make up what is called the Plot. We see the changes in tone and mood in all three stories as the main character or characters face their conflict. Not only do they all face a major challenge, but they are also both mentally and emotionally affected.
In both, The Ransom of Red Chief, An Episode of War, and The Open Boat we see that the main characters are facing different conflicts (person vs. person, person vs. self, and person vs, society) throughout the story.
Cited Sources
An Episode of War
Infoplease. Infoplease, n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2015.
The Open Boat
"Massacre At Wounded Knee, 1890." Massacre At Wounded Knee, 1890. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2015.
"Inventions of the 19th Century." Drew Burgess RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2015.
"Florida Memory - Florida and the Spanish-American War of 1898." Florida Memory. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2015.
"America's Best History U.S. Timeline, The 1890's." America's Best History U.S. Timeline, The 1890's. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2015.
The Ransom of Red Chief
"History of Early American Automobile Industry 1891-1929." History of Early American Automobile Industry 1891-1929. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2015.
"The Murder of Marion Parker." N.p., 27 Dec. 2012. Web. 10 Nov. 2015.