Shane/The Ox-Bow Incident by Jack Schaefer/Walter Van Tilburg Clark

An American western set in the late nineteenth century, Shane relates the struggles of good versus evil through the homesteader/cattle rancher battle over land rights. The central character tries to put his gun-fighting past behind him and settle down to a more civilized life. Through the action of Shane, the community he embraces begins to reassess its beliefs in justice, human rights, loyalty, and integrity.

A psychological study of civilized individuals in an uncivilized society, The Ox-Bow Incident is a famous American Western examines human motivations, responsibility, and conscience. The action focuses on resolving a murder/cattle rustling incident in Bridger’s Wells, Nevada. Judicial methodology is a major point of dissension as posse members allow themselves to be led by Major Tetley, a man obsessed with applying the lynch law of “Texas Justice” to the accused rustlers. Only after a tragic error is committed and three men are unjustly hanged does each posse member come face-to-face with his individual responsibility and guilt in these unlawful executions.

About the Series:

Novel/Drama curriculum units contain complete lesson plans with preliminary and follow-up work, teacher notes with plot summary, background, and rationale, ready-to-use worksheets, and suggested answers for student questions. These study guides encourage the development of thinking, reading, speaking, research, and writing skills as well as critical thinking skills such as analysis, synthesis, and evaluation.