Conflict and Character Study Guide 8

Read the excerpt from The Land.

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

• race

• brothers

• mothers

• friends

Read the excerpt from The Land.

"Mitchell?" questioned Miz Thomas. "Well, suh, he's out in them woods yonder choppin' wood for the fire."

Hammond nodded. "Whereabout?"

"North yonder . . . by the creek."

"All right," said Hammond. "We'll find him."

We turned to go, but then Miz Thomas said, "That Mitchell, he done somethin'? He in trouble?"

"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.

Which character’s reactions best reflect the post–Civil War historical context of this excerpt?

• Edna's

• Hammond's

• Mitchell's

• Paul's

Read the excerpt from The Land.

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

• physical - character versus nature

• social - character versus character

• social - character versus society

A social conflict usually

• takes place inside of the character.

• takes place outside of the character.

• involves nature or other physical forces.

• involves forces the characters do not control.

Read the excerpt from The Land.

Of my brothers, I was closest with Robert. I suppose, in part, being the same year's children made us close, but there were other things too. We had been together practically since birth, and we always took care of each other. When I got into trouble, Robert was there to pull me out of it if he could, or at least to see me through it, and I did the same for him.

The passage provides evidence of why

• Paul and Robert have physical conflicts.

• Paul and Robert avoid social conflicts.

• Paul is the least influenced by Robert.

• Paul is motivated to ask Robert for help.

Read the excerpt from The Land.

Mitchell looked up, first at Hammond, then at me, and I felt my knees go weak. "Yeah," he mumbled, his eyes fixed on me, and at that moment I knew that my troubles with Mitchell were far from over.

Paul’s knees go weak when Mitchell looks at him because Paul is

• tired.

• relieved.

• scared.

• angry.