In "A Mystery of Heroism" and "War is Kind", respectively a short story and a poem by Stephen Crane, Crane highlights and emphasizes aspects of war such as heroism and the irony of war. Both works are set during the Civil War and both depict battle scenes from the war. In “A Mystery of Heroism,” Fred Collins, a thirsty soldier, goes to the well. in the middle of the battle for water. On his way home, he sees a dying man whose last wish is a glass of water. Collins grants this wish, but the water is spilled once he returns to camp, so he never manages to get it. a drink for himself. “War is Kind” is a written poem emphasizing the ironic view of war. In both of Crane's works, he distinguishes between true heroism and connects the two pieces; in his poem, he ironizes about the harsh realities of war. In both of Crane's works, he emphasizes the true meaning of heroism, that is, a person who risks his life for a high moral principle. Although the characters in both works can be misinterpreted as heroes, they never are in the context of the definition. In "A Mystery of Heroism", many believe that Collins' act of giving the dying soldier a drink was heroic, but it is not a highly moral cause. Collins was simply showing humanity by giving the soldier a drink. At first he no longer wants to be on the field and tells the dying man that he cannot allow his last earthly desire. However, his conscience takes hold of him: “He came running back. His face now turned gray and in his eyes was only terror. 'It's here! Here it is! » (Crane 462). Although this petrifies him, he gives the soldier a drink. He does not do it for a high moral principle, nor for nobility. Collins simply gives...... middle of paper ......nk of water. A seemingly simple task has become dangerous. Crane managed to capture both the horrific reality and the romanticized view of war in these two works. Crane expresses this with irony. He amplifies the audience's view of the greatness of war in his poem, to, in a sense, ridicule that view and more deeply express his opinion that war is a harsh reality, the opposite of this. that most civilians claim to be. Stephane. “A mystery of heroism.” Elements of literature. Ed. Robert Anderson, John Malcolm Brinnin, John Leggett, Gary Q. Arpin, and Susan Allen Toth. Orlando, FL: Holt, Rhinehart and Winston, 1993. 457-462. Print. Crane, Stephen. “War is kind.” Elements of literature. Ed. Robert Anderson, John Malcolm Brinnin, John Leggett, Gary Q. Arpin, and Susan Allen Toth. Orlando, Florida: Holt, Rhinehart and Winston, 1993. 463. Print.