There was an improvised platform at the end of the common closest to Jackson Street. There in the center of a group of men, whom she knew by their worn clothes to be workers, was a stranger with a bright red bow tie sticking out of his overcoat. The crowd roared at the sight of him. "Ettor! Ettor!" they cried. So this was the dangerous Joe Ettor. He seemed hardly threatening to Rosa. He was not so tall as Papa had been, but he did have the same mass of curly dark hair, and he smiled at the marchers as he raised his hands for silence. Immediately, the crowd was still, and Rosa could hear his voice ringing in the cold air.

Question

There was an improvised platform at the end of the common closest to Jackson Street. There in the center of a group of men, whom she knew by their worn clothes to be workers, was a stranger with a bright red bow tie sticking out of his overcoat. The crowd roared at the sight of him. "Ettor! Ettor!" they cried. So this was the dangerous Joe Ettor. He seemed hardly threatening to Rosa. He was not so tall as Papa had been, but he did have the same mass of curly dark hair, and he smiled at the marchers as he raised his hands for silence. Immediately, the crowd was still, and Rosa could hear his voice ringing in the cold air.
From Katherine Paterson, Bread and Roses, Too. Copyright 2006 by Minna Murra, Inc.
The previous text suggested that Ettor brought unity to different groups of strikers. How does this historical novel build on or challenge that idea?
it illustrates ettor's popularity with strike participants.
it demonstarates how ettor helped strike participants organize.
it explains how ettor rose power during the strike.

GPT-4o mini · Answer

The text you provided suggests that Joe Ettor had a significant impact on the unity among the workers, as evidenced by the crowd's enthusiastic response to his presence. This indicates that he was not only popular among the strike participants but also played a crucial role in rallying and organizing them.

To analyze how the historical novel builds on or challenges the idea that Ettor brought unity to different groups of strikers, we can consider the following points related to your options:

It illustrates Ettor's popularity with strike participants: The crowd's immediate recognition and excitement at the sight of him, as well as their chant of his name, suggest that he had a strong connection with the workers. This popularity indicates that he could bridge divides among different groups, making him a unifying figure in their struggle.
It demonstrates how Ettor helped strike participants organize: His ability to command silence and engage the crowd shows leadership skills that likely contributed to the organization of the strike. By raising his hands and effectively communicating with the marchers, he positioned himself as a central figure around whom the workers could rally, thereby fostering unity.
It explains how Ettor rose to power during the strike: While this option focuses more on Ettor’s ascent to a leadership position rather than the unity aspect, the text does imply that his rise was rooted in his ability to unite and inspire the workers.

Overall, the passage builds on the idea that Joe Ettor was instrumental in fostering unity amongst the strikers, highlighting both his popularity and organizational skills as key aspects of his role during the strike.