Use the acronym SIFTT as a guide to cover different aspects of the text. SIFTT stands for symbols (S), images (I), figures of speech (F), tone (T) and theme (T). A symbol is a literal thing that also represents a deeper meaning. One of the main symbols of "The Red Badge of Courage" is the recurring image of the dead soldier, which, over the course of the novel, comes to stand for the disregard for human life. Images appeal to the senses. Figures of speech include similes, metaphors, personification and hyperbole -- or exaggeration beyond believability. Tone is the overall mood and adds to the meaning; in this case, the mood is somber, realistic and at times, brutal. The theme is the message or lesson the story conveys. In Crane's novel, a number of themes emerge, including courage, coming of age and the need for self-preservation.
Write in the margins and on the inside of the front and back covers if you own the book and it does not have intrinsic value to you. If you do not own the book, write notes on sticky notes, a printed form or in a spiral notebook formatted with sections for specific elements. For example, if you own the book, describe the characters as they first appear in the novel on the inside of the front cover or use a notebook, creating a segment for character descriptions. In "The Red Badge of Courage," Private Henry Fleming is the main character. He is consistently referred to as "the youth." Another solider, Jim Conklin, is called "the tall private." Still another is labeled "the loud solider." Consider the reason why the author chose to refer to the characters by their physical attributes.
Circle or underline recurring words, images and patterns that have symbolic significance and unify the work; these are known as motifs. In "The Red Badge of Courage" nature often reflects the protagonist's state of mind. In Chapter Two, Crane describes a campfire scene that Fleming sees: "From this little distance the many fires, with the black forms of men passing to and fro before the crimson rays, made weird and satanic effects." Later in the chapter he writes this about Fleming lying in the grass: "There was a caress in the soft winds; and the whole mood of the darkness, he thought, was one of sympathy for himself in his distress."
List questions that come up as you read the novel, such as whether the novel is anti-war, a coming-of-age story or refers to a particular Civil War battle. Consider the relation the text has to literature, personal experience and culture. Read carefully to pick up clues and infer information that is not explicitly stated. This makes reading more interesting and engages the reader in the process. Summarize each chapter, discussing the writer's position and attitudes.
Prepare to give a plot-level summary, discussing the characters based on what they do, what they say, what others say about them and the results of their actions. Figurative language more effectively depicts what characters feel than directly stating emotions. Consider what literary devices the author uses to connect the character with action, time and place, weaving the narrative together. The character may represent a concept or idea, giving it universal meaning. Carefully annotating the novel allows you to come to these conclusions. "The Red Badge of Courage" explores the theme of courage and cowardice.