Conflict and Character in Mildred Taylor's The Land Review

Read the excerpt from The Land.

"Well, now, Mitchell," Hammond went on, "we rode over because we wanted to have a little talk with you."

"That's right," said George. "We understand that you been beating up on Paul there." I appreciated the fact that George was getting right to the heart of this matter. "Quite often, as a matter of fact."

Mitchell's grip tightened on the axe, but he said nothing. Why does Mitchell tighten his grip on the axe?

• He is anxious to continue chopping wood

• He thinks that George and Hammond will steal it.

• He feels threatened by George and Hammond

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CCSS.RI.7.1

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RL.7.1

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CCSS.RL.8.1

There were other boys too who picked on me, but Mitchell was the worst. I recall one time in particular when I was about nine or so and I was reading beside a creek on my daddy's land, and Mitchell came up from behind me and just whopped me on the head. For no reason. Just whopped me on the head! What kind of conflict is shown in this excerpt?

• social – character versus character

• physical – character versus character

• physical – character versus nature

• social – character versus society

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CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

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A social conflict usually

• involves nature or other physical forces.

• involves forces the characters do not control.

• involves forces the characters do not control.

• takes place inside of the character.

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CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

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Knowing that The Land takes place in post–Civil War America provides the reader with

• conflict

• influence

• context

• motivation

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CCSS.RL.7.9

CCSS.RL.8.9

The historical context of post–Civil War America most affects the significance of which passage from The Land?

• “I was reading beside a creek on my daddy’s land.”

• “I recall one time in particular when I was about nine.”

• “Sure, I wanted to do something about it, all right.”

• I stared at him, then he turned and walked away.

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CCSS.RL.7.9

CCSS.RL.8.9

George lost patience and grasped the handle of Mitchell's axe. "Boy, you better answer!" he demanded, but Mitchell in a dangerous move yanked on the axe. George too yanked on the axe in an attempt to twist it from Mitchell's grasp, but then Hammond intervened, stepping between George and Mitchell. George's hand slipped from the axe, but he still tried to get at Mitchell. In the context of the post–Civil War America setting, Mitchell’s behavior could be considered

• embarrassing

• foolish.

• amusing

• typical

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CCSS.RI.7.1

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RL.7.1

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.1

A character battling the elements is a

• character vs. character conflict

• character vs. society conflict.

• character vs. self conflict

• character vs. nature conflict

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CCSS.RL.5.3

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She was worried because my brothers had come. My brothers had come asking about Mitchell, and my brothers were white. This detail is important to the historical context of the story because in post–Civil War America people’s rights were most affected by their

• mothers

• friends

• race

• brothers

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CCSS.RL.7.9

CCSS.RL.8.9

There were other boys too who picked on me, but Mitchell was the worst. I recall one time in particular when I was about nine or so and I was reading beside a creek on my daddy's land, and Mitchell came up from behind me and just whopped me on the head. For no reason. Just whopped me on the head! What kind of conflict is shown in this excerpt?

• physical – character versus character

• social – character versus character

• physical – character versus nature

• social – character versus character

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

"We just want to talk to him, Edna," Hammond assured her. Still, though, as we rode away, I saw Miz Thomas frown, and young as I was, I knew she was worried. She was worried because my brothers had come. My brothers had come asking about Mitchell, and my brothers were white. What is most likely the author’s purpose in this excerpt?

• to explain the brothers’ actions in order to create a character vs. character physical conflict

• to explain Paul’s thoughts in order to help the reader understand his motivations

• to explain that Edna is worried in order to help the reader understand her influence on Mitchell

• to explain that the brothers are white in order to introduce a character vs. society social conflict

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