Name

Teaching Help 1B:

“Top Man”
Review the story in order to identify characteristics and actions that are specific to
Nace and Osborn. In the outer circles, write down details unique to each main char­
acter. In the overlapping section, write down details that are common to both men. (Answers may vary.)

Nace Osborn
Both
formermountain
former mountaincliber
climber
of talentedmountaineers
talented mountaineers successfulmountain
Auccessful mountain
of Englishman
K3 K3 40s,quiet capable of reaching the climbing
climbing in in
thethe Alps
Alps.
unselfish,seasoned capable of reaching the American, 23 years old
summit focused on the
Englishman
mountain climber (many summit American
talkative,
task at hand
40s of experience)
years focused on the task at 23 years old
high-spirited,impatient
leader for the group hand discoverer of new routes,
quiet
methodical, careful talkative
too concerned about
unselfish
climber, listens to people what others think of him
high-spirited
around him.
seasoned mountain impatient
climber (many years of
discoverer of new routes
experience)
too concerned about
leader for the group
what others think of him
methodical, careful
climber
does listen to opinions of
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people around him

Choose one characteristic in which Nace and Osborn differ and explain how that
difference furthers the conflict between them.
Answers will vary, but one example would be the following: Nace and Osborn are separated by twenty
years in age. That difference results in Nace’s having more experience and more patience than Osborn.
These qualities help make Nace a better overall climber (and man) than Osborn at this point. This age
difference is also used by Osborn to support his accusation that Nace lacks ability and is overcautious.

Fundamentals of Literature for use with “Top Man”