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

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

A character battling the elements is a

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

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?

"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?