Match each character from Ambrose Bierce's "A Horseman in the Sky" to the personality trait that best describes the character.

titles:

stern, daring, understanding, imaginative

characters:

Carter Druse, Carter's father, the Federal officer, the commander

Carter Druse - daring

Carter's father - stern

the Federal officer - imaginative

the commander - understanding

Explanation:

"A Horseman in the Sky" is a short story by author Ambrose Bierce set during the American Civil War. Carter Druse decides to betray his state by joining the Union. We can say he is daring (bold, courageous) not only for this reason, but also for having the mental strength to kill his own father, who is a Confederate troop.

Carter's father is a stern (serious, harsh, strict) man. When his son tells him he'll leave to fight for the Union, the father replies in a most emotionless manner, even though his heart is truly breaking. He calls his son a traitor, but also tells him to do whatever he thinks is his duty.

The Federal officer is the one who sees Carter's father and his horse falling from the cliff after being shot by Carter. We can say he is an imaginative man because of the way he processes what he is seeing:

"Filled with amazement and terror by this apparition of a horseman in the sky - half believing himself the chosen scribe of some new Apocalypse, the officer was overcome by the intensity of his emotions; [ ... ]"

The commander of the Confederate troops is an understanding man. He knows what his officer has seen, but also knows he won't tell anyone about the "flying horseman". He just smiles and does not insist or instigate the officer to tell the truth about what he saw while exploring.