The Drummer Boy of Shiloh by Ray Bradbury

This is a short story called "Drummer Boy of Shiloh," by Ray Bradbury. It take place in the Civil War, the Battle of Shiloh. In the story it's night and the real battle is yet to come. I think that it would probably make it scarier for the soldiers, the waiting. at night, so that's a good setting choice for the author.

It all starts when a peach blossom falls on Joby - the drummer boy - waking him up and startling him. He can't sleep because of all the horrible war dream he has. He is only 14. A good righting technique the author used here was showing not telling. Where he showed the reader that Joby was scared, instead of just saying, "Joby felt scared". The though of actually being surrounded by older men, probably more scared than you, because they know the reality of whats about to happen, is really sad to think about. Even in the story there is a line that says (in Joby's thoughts) "I only got a drum, two sticks to beat it and no shield." I know I would be scared if I went to war when I turn 14. In the story it says he ran away to join the war, which just goes to show you a good idea at the time, may not be a good idea at all. That message in the book, "Making Lemonade" by Virginia Wolff.

After Joby realizes starts to cry, he realizes someone has heard him. It was the General. Joby describes the person coming toward him "like all fathers should smell, of salt - sweat, tobacco, horse and book leather, and the Earth he walked upon". This talk goes all the war to the end of the story. During their talk, the General tell him Joby should cry, and that he already did. The general boosts his confidence and tells him it's alright to be afraid, and that even the drummer boy is important in the war.

During and throughout the story Ray Bradbury gives the reader many hints of what the character is feeling - like what is said, without even writing it. For example he writes, "A peach  blossom flicked him but it was a moth. Nothing stayed put. Nothing had a name. Nothing was as it once was." I think this is a very poetic line to put in a war story. A way of saying Joby was confused and scared. Ray Bradbury also talks to readers directly, trough his characters. The general once asked Joby "why am I telling you this?" Which could have been him asked the reader: why am I writing this? Why would you need to know?