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.
“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.

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.

Help me

Both of these passages refer to two young boys, Daniel and Bob, who need to aid their ill mothers. However, their stories are contrasted through the setting and time this action takes place. The first story is set in 1861, most probably on Oregon trail which was widely used by travelers throughout the 19th century. The boy's mother is ill and in need of fire so he is faced with the danger of losing her if he doesn't find firewood in the freezing prairie.

The second boy is in a similar situation. However, this setting is placed in the safety of a house with a "fairly new furnace". The time of the action in 2005. Bob's mother's life is not in danger and he simply needs to call Chicago Power Company and find some warm blankets in ordered to solve the issue of the lack of heat.

Both of these boys have similar problem, but the difference in historical eras, place and the technological development makes these boys' lives very different. Where the first one is faced with the life or death situation which he has to solve all by himself, without any help, the second one just needs to make a phone call and wait for others to help him without worrying excessively.