The conflicting cultures of the East and the West in the US are central to the narrative, with the author predicting—and possibly lamenting—the eventual victory of the East. What values does he associate with both cultures? Does one set of values supplant the other in the story?

The men of the Wild West inhabit a particular masculine ethos. What qualities do they value? Which of these qualities do you view positively, and which do you view negatively? Find evidence of these archetypes in contemporary culture and address ways that their representation has changed or remained constant.

Westerns are not only a genre of literature but also of film and television. Choose a film or TV series from the western genre, and indicate the ways it parallels the genre’s conventions presented in Crane’s story.