Question

from winesburg, ohio

all through his boyhood and young manhood george willard had been in the habit of walking on trunion pike. he had been in the midst of the great open place on winter nights when it was covered with snow and only the moon looked down at him, he had been there in the fall when bleak winds blew and on summer evenings when the air vibrated with the song of insects. on the april morning he wanted to go there again, to walk again in the silence. he did walk to where the road dipped down by a little stream two miles from town and then turned and walked silently back again. when he got to main street clerks were sweeping the sidewalks before the stores. “hey, you george. how does it feel to be going away?” they asked.

the west bound train leaves winesburg at seven forty five in the morning. tom little is conductor. his train runs from cleveland to where it connects with a great trunk line railroad with terminals in chicago and new york. tom has what in railroad circles is called an “easy run.” every evening he returned to his family. in the fall and spring he spends his sundays fishing in lake erie. he has a round red face and small blue eyes. he knows the people in the towns along his railroad better than a city man knows the people who live in his apartment building.

(from winesburg, ohio by sherwood anderson)

which characteristics are mainly contrasted in the descriptions of george willard and tom little?

○ 1. bravery and fear
○ 2. foolishness and wisdom
○ 3. freedom and confinement
○ 4. restlessness and contentment

Explanation:

• For George Willard: The text shows he has a habit of walking on Trunion Pike, and on the April morning, he wants to go there again, walks, and then hurries back. His actions (walking, wanting to be in the silence, then hurrying back) suggest a sense of restlessness, as if he is in a state of unease or a desire for something more, maybe related to leaving (as people ask how it feels to be going away).
• For Tom Little: He has an "easy run" in railroad circles, returns to his family every evening, spends Sundays fishing in fall and spring, and knows the people in the towns along his railroad well. These details paint a picture of a contented life, with a routine he is comfortable with and a sense of satisfaction in his life.
• The other options don't fit: There's no indication of bravery/fear, foolishness/wisdom, or freedom/confinement (Tom's life isn't shown as confined, and George's isn't about freedom in contrast to Tom's confinement) in the descriptions. So the contrast is between George's restlessness and Tom's contentment.

Answer:

1. restlessness and contentment