When Crane speaks of the men who were “born to drill and die,” he is referring to

Question

Stephen Crane (1871-1900), an American novelist and poet, is best known as the author of The Red Badge of Courage, a novel about a young soldier whose romantic notion of heroism is shattered in the trenches of the Civil War. Although Crane never served in the military, he saw his share of war and death as a journalist covering conflicts in foreign countries.


“War is Kind” by Stephen Crane

Do not weep, maiden, for war is kind.
Because your lover threw wild hands toward the sky
And affrighted steed ran on alone.
Do not weep
War is kind.
Hoarse, booming drums of the regiment,
Little souls who thirst for fight,
These men were born to drill and die.
The unexplained glory flies above them,
Great is the battle-god, great, and his kingdom –
A field where a thousand corpses lie.
Do not weep, babe, for war is kind.
Because your father tumbled in the yellow trenches,
Raged at his breast, gulped and died,
Do not weep
War is kind.
Swift blazing flag of the regiment,
Eagle with crest of red and gold,
Those men were born to drill and die,
Point for them the virtue of slaughter,
Make plain to them the excellence of killing
And a field where a thousand corpses lie.
Mother, whose heart hung humble as a button
On the bright splendid shroud of your son,
Do not weep
War is kind.

a. professional soldiers
b. young, naive soldiers or volunteers
c. those who oppose war
d. the leaders of governments

Answer 1

a. professional soldiers