Question

stephen crane the red badge of courage (excerpt 1) from his youthful eyes had looked upon the war in his own country with distrust. it must be some sort of a play affair. he had long despaired of witnessing a greeklike struggle. such would be no more, he had said. men were better, or more timid. secular and religious education had effaced the throat - grappling instinct, or else firm finance held in check the passions. he had burned several times to enlist. tales of great movements shook the land. they might not be distinctly homeric, but there seemed to be much glory in them. he had read of marches, sieges, conflicts, and he had longed to see it all. his busy mind had drawn for him large pictures extravagant in color, lurid with breathless deeds. but his mother had discouraged him. she had affected to look with some contempt upon the quality of his war ardor and patriotism. she could calmly seat herself and with no apparent difficulty give him many hundreds of reasons why he was of vastly more importance on the farm than on the field of battle. she had had certain ways of expression that told him that her statements on the subject came from a deep conviction. moreover, on her side, was his belief that her ethical motive in the argument was impregnable. at last, however, he had made firm rebellion against this yellow light thrown upon the color of his ambitions. the newspapers, the gossip of the village, his own picturings, had aroused him to an uncheckable degree. they were according to the first two paragraphs of this passage, what is the main characters attitude towards the notion of going to war? a he loathes the very idea. b he sees it as a way to give his life meaning. c he views it as an opportunity to impress women. d he sees it as an occasion to release his pent - up anger.

Explanation:

The first - two paragraphs describe his yearning for war as a way to achieve glory and meaning, like the great movements in Homeric tales. He sees it as a chance to give his life significance.

Answer:

C. He views it as an opportunity to give his life meaning.