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This page has been designed to integrate the technology of the Internet with the study of The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. Assessment will be by critical essay at the end of the unit.
The accompanying Resource Book also contains the essential resouces, worksheets and assignment tasks. Students may choose one of the themes listed below, for building a connection to The Grapes of Wrath, or they may choose any other theme, path or mode they would like as the focus of their reading and research.
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SELECTED WEB RESOURCES
Steinbeck Congress
Papers Twain's
parody of the hymn that gave the title of this novel
All links Checked Februay 2003
Identify characters and contexts in these pictures from the Henry Fonda film:
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- The turtle lives 'twixt plated decks
- Which practically conceal its sex.
- I think it clever of the turtle
- In such a fix to be so fertile. - Ogden Nash
1. Copy out a few sentences that appeal to you for their (a) style (b) ideas of Steinbeck.
2. What are this chapter's themes? Write about will and effort, spirit and purpose.
3. How does this intercalary chapter foreshadow Chapter 4?
1. Account for the title. What wrath does Steinbeck identify? Why?
2. What signs of hope appear in the novel to reassure us that humanity's on-going struggle with adversity will be successful?
3. What major themes are explored in this novel? How are they universal?
4. How would you define an epic? Do you believe The Grapes of Wrath attains epic proportions?
5. "This is a morbid, pessimistic, gloomy book." Is this a fair reaction? How is it untrue?
6. Argue reasons for Steinbeck winning the 1940 Pulitzer Prize for it.
7. How does Steinbeck qualify as a man of compassion with a keen sense of social justice?
8. Rank The Grapes of Wrath against other novels of the twentieth century and justify your opinions.
9. Profile a character in the novel.
10. It has many symbolic meanings and literary resonances from the Bible. How has this novel affected you or enlarged your knowledge or raised your feelings?
11. Pick one or two memorable scenes and say why they appealed.
12. It has been said that The Grapes of Wrath was "more poignant as a stimulus to sorrowful memory than as a program of remedial action." Is this a fair criticism to level at a novel?
13. How was John Steinbeck "the conscience of a generation"?
14. Select another question from the extension questions in the Student Resource Book.
Character Sketches Assignment
The Page numbers refer to the Pan edition 1975 (black) or Minerva (1995) and Arrow editions (1998) (red)
- Tom Joad 136, 199, 444, Minerva and Arrow editions: 6, 144, 486, 494
Casy 28, 89, 101, 154, 160, 184, 407-8.Minerva and Arrow editions 25-6, 199, 492,
Ma 12, 80, 110, 117, 123, 132, 179, 222, 234, 341-2, 398, 438, 470. 498
Pa 78
Uncle John 103, 238
Al : 92, Minerva and Arrow editions 96
Connie and Rose of Sharon 103, 137
Granma and Grampa Chapter 13, Minerva and Arrow editions 88
Ruthie and Winfield 102
The Wilsons- Herb Turnbull 60
- Muley 50, 54; Minerva and Arrow editions 50-57,
- One eyed man 193, Minerva and Arrow editions 206f
- Noah: 25, 66, 85, 230; Minerva and Arrow editions 67, 88.
- grapes theme: 90-100, 111, 156, 368-9.
- Okies: 218, 235
- the Hudson truck itself Minerva and Arrow editions114
Some significant THEMES in this novel:
Forces of the Times: "An' Almighty God never raises no wages" (265)
Family First: "Use' ta be the fambly was fust. It aint so now" (470, 148)
The People's Justice: "They's change a-comin'. They's a res'less feelin'." (365, 184)
Survival "Ever'thing we do ..is aimed right at goin' on."(448)
Identity: "He was that place an' he knowed it." (156, 95)
Faith: "How can such courage be and faith in their own species? ... Faith is refired forever" (130)
Choices and Regret: "The one-eyed man . . cried in his bed" (193)
Trusting one's own instinct: "I got a feeling I got to see them" (58, 149)
Other English Resources page
My grapes subpages: banned | battlehymn | classic | journal | ghost | grapes | grapesviews | grapesviews2 | journey | modified | output | overview | profile | structure | teachingprogram | videosheet | Wsheet1 |
Materials and resources owned and maintained by G. Smith. this is a non-commercial site. No on-lists kept. Acknowledgements retained and shown.Your comments, suggestions and additions are welcome.Source: http://home.pacific.net.au/~greg.hub/grapes.html
