Question

What does this paragraph reveal about the story's cultural context? (1 point) Responses Western Virginia was considered neutral territory during the Civil War. Western Virginia was considered neutral territory during the Civil War. Soldiers during the Civil War faced execution if they did not fulfill their duties. Soldiers during the Civil War faced execution if they did not fulfill their duties. Exhaustion was widespread among military troops during the Korean War. Exhaustion was widespread among military troops during the Korean War. Soldiers in the Vietnam War who did not follow orders were considered criminals. Soldiers in the Vietnam War who did not follow orders were considered criminals. A Horseman in the Sky by Ambrose Bierce ‘One sunny afternoon in the autumn of the year 1861, a soldier lay in a clump of laurel by the side of a road in West Virginia. He lay at full length, upon his stomach, his feet resting upon the toes, his head upon the left forearm. His extended right hand loosely grasped his rifle. But for the somewhat methodical disposition of his limbs and a slight rhythmic movement of the cartridge box at the back of his belt he might have been thought to be dead. He was asleep at his post of duty. But if detected he would be dead shortly afterward, that being the just and legal penalty of his crime.

Answer 1

The paragraph reveals several cultural and historical contexts related to military obligation and societal expectations during the Civil War era. It indicates that soldiers were held to strict standards regarding their duties, with severe consequences for failing to fulfill their responsibilities, such as the potential for execution if one was found sleeping at their post. This highlights a militaristic culture where discipline and obedience were paramount, reflecting the high stakes of war during that period. Moreover, the setting in West Virginia during 1861 situates the story within a specific geographical and temporal framework that was significant to the Civil War, suggesting themes of loyalty, duty, and the pressures faced by soldiers in a conflicted region. The contrast between the soldier's peaceful state while sleeping and the harsh reality of potential punishment emphasizes the tension between human vulnerability and the demands of military life. Overall, the paragraph conveys a sense of the rigorous demands placed on soldiers and the severe repercussions of failing to meet those demands during a tumultuous time in American history.