Question

Compare and contrast the two characters in these passages. In your answer, be sure to identify the setting of each passage and the conflict faced by each boy. How does the historical era in which each boy lives affect his conflict? Use events and details from the passages to support your ideas.

The passages:
A It was freezing cold out on the prairie, but Daniel trudged on. He had to find firewood. His mother was ill. She needed the warmth of a fire. So many people on the wagon train had died. Daniel was scared. He wondered if they would ever reach Oregon by the end of 1861.

B “Hello, Chicago Power Company?” Bob said into the phone. “I need you to come fix our furnace. The heat won’t come on, and it’s very cold. My mother’s sick. It’s a fairly new furnace, too. Mom said it was installed in 2005. Can you come right away?” He hung up and got blankets out of the closet to cover his mother until help came.


i was looking for some tips or examples

Answer 1

Both passages portray the life of different boys, probably sons of a single mother, different time era, but the same concern: their mother.

“…by the end of 1861”.

In the first passage, the condition of life is very different It is placed in the mid XIX century were many people from Europe immigrated to the United States to occupy large territories. Many families’ dream of owning a land was hard but possible. During the struggle for reaching their piece of property, many died. Among the many causes were the hard weather conditions they had to face.

“..It was freezing cold out on the prairie..”

Families traveled long distances in very difficult conditions to the new settlements, and due to that, may got sick and never got to their destination.

“So many people on the wagon train had died… Daniel was scared. He wondered if they would ever reach Oregon..”

Here it is observed the boy´s concern about his mother condition. She was ill, but getting something as simple as fire, was not easy.

“..Daniel trudged on. He had to find firewood. His mother was ill. She needed the warmth of a fire”.

The boy not only had to deal with his mother health condition, but also with the concern of not feeling capable of helping her, and worst of all, fearing her death.

On the other hand, the other passage is developed in the modern era, XXI century.

“…in 2005”...

The boy has the same concern about his mother being as the one on the previous passage, but his struggle is not about the impossibility of getting fire or making his mother warm, but how the get a modern device fixed.

“…It’s a fairly new furnace, too...”

He did not have to struggle with terrible weather conditions, but with efficiency of a service company. He did not have to cut wood, or walk long distances, he just had to take the phone and wait for help.

..”Hello, Chicago Power Company?” Bob said into the phone. “I need you to come fix our furnace… He hung up and got blankets out of the closet to cover his mother until help came.”

Answer 2

In passage A, Daniel lives in a large open area of grassland in the 1800s. He is walking outside and looking for wood to make a fire for his mother, who is ill after a train journey. Considering there were no mobile phones or planes in those times, It is reasonable that he feels anxious about his mother's health and reaching Oregon in the near future.

Excerpt B is set in the twenty-first century. Bob is at home phoning the Chicago Power Company because the heater does not work. His mother is ill and it is cold inside, so he feels anxious about the heater being repaired immediately. Meanwhile, he covers his mother with blankets.