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The Red Badge of Courage

Chapter XII · Chapter 12

Chapter 12 of The Red Badge of Courage is here in full — 188 sentences across 38 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Stephen Crane • Curated US English Learning Edition

Cover illustration for The Red Badge of Courage

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

The column that had butted stoutly at the obstacles in the roadway was barely out of the youth’s sight before he saw dark waves of men come sweeping out of the woods and down through the fields.

He knew at once that the steel fibers had been washed from their hearts.

They were bursting from their coats and their equipments as from entanglements.

They charged down upon him like terrified buffaloes.

Behind them blue smoke curled and clouded above the treetops, and through the thickets he could sometimes see a distant pink glare.

Narrator

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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English

LEARNER DICTIONARY

Archivist

/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/

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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Chapter XII Reading 1/37

The Red Badge of Courage Stephen Crane

Cover illustration for The Red Badge of Courage

Chapter XII

Chapter 12

Chapter 12 of The Red Badge of Courage is here in full — 188 sentences across 38 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

The column that had butted stoutly at the obstacles in the roadway was barely out of the youth’s sight before he saw dark waves of men come sweeping out of the woods and down through the fields. He knew at once that the steel fibers had been washed from their hearts. They were bursting from their coats and their equipments as from entanglements. They charged down upon him like terrified buffaloes. Behind them blue smoke curled and clouded above the treetops, and through the thickets he could sometimes see a distant pink glare.

The Red Badge of Courage

Chapter XII · Chapter 12

Chapter 12 of The Red Badge of Courage is here in full — 188 sentences across 38 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/37 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

The column that had butted stoutly at the obstacles in the roadway was barely out of the youth’s sight before he saw dark waves of men come sweeping out of the woods and down through the fields.

Line 2

He knew at once that the steel fibers had been washed from their hearts.

Line 3

They were bursting from their coats and their equipments as from entanglements.

Line 4

They charged down upon him like terrified buffaloes.

Line 5

Behind them blue smoke curled and clouded above the treetops, and through the thickets he could sometimes see a distant pink glare.

All words in this reading · 67

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

a

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Behind them blue smoke curled and clouded above the treetops, and through the thickets he could sometimes see a distant pink glare.

above

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Behind them blue smoke curled and clouded above the treetops, and through the thickets he could sometimes see a distant pink glare.

and

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The column that had butted stoutly at the obstacles in the roadway was barely out of the youth’s sight before he saw dark waves of men come sweeping out of the woods and down through the fields.

as

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They were bursting from their coats and their equipments as from entanglements.

at

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The column that had butted stoutly at the obstacles in the roadway was barely out of the youth’s sight before he saw dark waves of men come sweeping out of the woods and down through the fields.

barely

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The column that had butted stoutly at the obstacles in the roadway was barely out of the youth’s sight before he saw dark waves of men come sweeping out of the woods and down through the fields.

been

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He knew at once that the steel fibers had been washed from their hearts.

before

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The column that had butted stoutly at the obstacles in the roadway was barely out of the youth’s sight before he saw dark waves of men come sweeping out of the woods and down through the fields.

Behind

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Behind them blue smoke curled and clouded above the treetops, and through the thickets he could sometimes see a distant pink glare.

blue

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Behind them blue smoke curled and clouded above the treetops, and through the thickets he could sometimes see a distant pink glare.

buffaloes

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They charged down upon him like terrified buffaloes.

bursting

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They were bursting from their coats and their equipments as from entanglements.

butted

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The column that had butted stoutly at the obstacles in the roadway was barely out of the youth’s sight before he saw dark waves of men come sweeping out of the woods and down through the fields.

charged

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They charged down upon him like terrified buffaloes.

clouded

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Behind them blue smoke curled and clouded above the treetops, and through the thickets he could sometimes see a distant pink glare.

coats

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They were bursting from their coats and their equipments as from entanglements.

column

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The column that had butted stoutly at the obstacles in the roadway was barely out of the youth’s sight before he saw dark waves of men come sweeping out of the woods and down through the fields.

come

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The column that had butted stoutly at the obstacles in the roadway was barely out of the youth’s sight before he saw dark waves of men come sweeping out of the woods and down through the fields.

could

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Behind them blue smoke curled and clouded above the treetops, and through the thickets he could sometimes see a distant pink glare.

curled

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Behind them blue smoke curled and clouded above the treetops, and through the thickets he could sometimes see a distant pink glare.

dark

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The column that had butted stoutly at the obstacles in the roadway was barely out of the youth’s sight before he saw dark waves of men come sweeping out of the woods and down through the fields.

distant

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Behind them blue smoke curled and clouded above the treetops, and through the thickets he could sometimes see a distant pink glare.

down

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The column that had butted stoutly at the obstacles in the roadway was barely out of the youth’s sight before he saw dark waves of men come sweeping out of the woods and down through the fields.

entanglements

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They were bursting from their coats and their equipments as from entanglements.

equipments

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They were bursting from their coats and their equipments as from entanglements.

fibers

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He knew at once that the steel fibers had been washed from their hearts.

fields

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The column that had butted stoutly at the obstacles in the roadway was barely out of the youth’s sight before he saw dark waves of men come sweeping out of the woods and down through the fields.

from

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He knew at once that the steel fibers had been washed from their hearts.

glare

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Behind them blue smoke curled and clouded above the treetops, and through the thickets he could sometimes see a distant pink glare.

had

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The column that had butted stoutly at the obstacles in the roadway was barely out of the youth’s sight before he saw dark waves of men come sweeping out of the woods and down through the fields.

he

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The column that had butted stoutly at the obstacles in the roadway was barely out of the youth’s sight before he saw dark waves of men come sweeping out of the woods and down through the fields.

hearts

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He knew at once that the steel fibers had been washed from their hearts.

him

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They charged down upon him like terrified buffaloes.

in

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The column that had butted stoutly at the obstacles in the roadway was barely out of the youth’s sight before he saw dark waves of men come sweeping out of the woods and down through the fields.

knew

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He knew at once that the steel fibers had been washed from their hearts.

like

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They charged down upon him like terrified buffaloes.

men

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The column that had butted stoutly at the obstacles in the roadway was barely out of the youth’s sight before he saw dark waves of men come sweeping out of the woods and down through the fields.

obstacles

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The column that had butted stoutly at the obstacles in the roadway was barely out of the youth’s sight before he saw dark waves of men come sweeping out of the woods and down through the fields.

of

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The column that had butted stoutly at the obstacles in the roadway was barely out of the youth’s sight before he saw dark waves of men come sweeping out of the woods and down through the fields.

once

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He knew at once that the steel fibers had been washed from their hearts.

out

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The column that had butted stoutly at the obstacles in the roadway was barely out of the youth’s sight before he saw dark waves of men come sweeping out of the woods and down through the fields.

pink

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Behind them blue smoke curled and clouded above the treetops, and through the thickets he could sometimes see a distant pink glare.

roadway

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The column that had butted stoutly at the obstacles in the roadway was barely out of the youth’s sight before he saw dark waves of men come sweeping out of the woods and down through the fields.

saw

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The column that had butted stoutly at the obstacles in the roadway was barely out of the youth’s sight before he saw dark waves of men come sweeping out of the woods and down through the fields.

see

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Behind them blue smoke curled and clouded above the treetops, and through the thickets he could sometimes see a distant pink glare.

sight

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The column that had butted stoutly at the obstacles in the roadway was barely out of the youth’s sight before he saw dark waves of men come sweeping out of the woods and down through the fields.

smoke

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Behind them blue smoke curled and clouded above the treetops, and through the thickets he could sometimes see a distant pink glare.

sometimes

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Behind them blue smoke curled and clouded above the treetops, and through the thickets he could sometimes see a distant pink glare.

steel

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He knew at once that the steel fibers had been washed from their hearts.

stoutly

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The column that had butted stoutly at the obstacles in the roadway was barely out of the youth’s sight before he saw dark waves of men come sweeping out of the woods and down through the fields.

sweeping

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The column that had butted stoutly at the obstacles in the roadway was barely out of the youth’s sight before he saw dark waves of men come sweeping out of the woods and down through the fields.

terrified

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They charged down upon him like terrified buffaloes.

that

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The column that had butted stoutly at the obstacles in the roadway was barely out of the youth’s sight before he saw dark waves of men come sweeping out of the woods and down through the fields.

The

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The column that had butted stoutly at the obstacles in the roadway was barely out of the youth’s sight before he saw dark waves of men come sweeping out of the woods and down through the fields.

their

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He knew at once that the steel fibers had been washed from their hearts.

them

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Behind them blue smoke curled and clouded above the treetops, and through the thickets he could sometimes see a distant pink glare.

They

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They were bursting from their coats and their equipments as from entanglements.

thickets

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Behind them blue smoke curled and clouded above the treetops, and through the thickets he could sometimes see a distant pink glare.

through

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The column that had butted stoutly at the obstacles in the roadway was barely out of the youth’s sight before he saw dark waves of men come sweeping out of the woods and down through the fields.

treetops

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Behind them blue smoke curled and clouded above the treetops, and through the thickets he could sometimes see a distant pink glare.

upon

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They charged down upon him like terrified buffaloes.

was

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The column that had butted stoutly at the obstacles in the roadway was barely out of the youth’s sight before he saw dark waves of men come sweeping out of the woods and down through the fields.

washed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He knew at once that the steel fibers had been washed from their hearts.

waves

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The column that had butted stoutly at the obstacles in the roadway was barely out of the youth’s sight before he saw dark waves of men come sweeping out of the woods and down through the fields.

were

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They were bursting from their coats and their equipments as from entanglements.

woods

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The column that had butted stoutly at the obstacles in the roadway was barely out of the youth’s sight before he saw dark waves of men come sweeping out of the woods and down through the fields.

youth's

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The column that had butted stoutly at the obstacles in the roadway was barely out of the youth’s sight before he saw dark waves of men come sweeping out of the woods and down through the fields.

Chapter 12 of The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane holds 188 sentences, grouped into 38 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the public-domain source, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 12 of The Red Badge of Courage contain?

Chapter 12 holds 188 sentences of The Red Badge of Courage, unabridged, divided into 38 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 12 of The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 188 sentences, grouped into 38 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 12 of The Red Badge of Courage?

Work through the 38 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 38 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 12 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 12 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

Questions about reading The Red Badge of Courage

Common questions about reading The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Red Badge of Courage?

Yes. All 3525 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #73 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Red Badge of Courage is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #73, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Red Badge of Courage take to read?

About 293 minutes of reading across 705 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Red Badge of Courage section by section

How to work through The Red Badge of Courage section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

Open a chapter

Choose one of the 24 chapters of The Red Badge of Courage to begin.
Read one section

Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Listen and tap

Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in The Red Badge of Courage

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Red Badge of Courage, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Passed: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Red Badge of Courage; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Reluctantly: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Red Badge of Courage; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Earth: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Red Badge of Courage; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Retiring: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Red Badge of Courage; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.