AP Assignments for The Grapes of Wrath

By tim roberts san dieguito academy encinitas, ca, 2009.

On a schedule in which there is never enough time and within a curriculum in which everything, at least on paper, has to be tied to the AP Language exam, finding a place for a novel the size of  The Grapes of Wrath  can take some doing. What follows are two suggested AP writing assignments that could be done with the book to supplement whatever other literary or response-based approach you may choose. As far as teaching to the test, the language exam has a number of qualities to recommend for it despite its necessarily superficial and abbreviated format. Rhetorical analysis promotes close reading, and the interchapters lend themselves well to such analysis. They are rich in imagery and figurative language, widely range in tone, and employ syntax to varied and dramatic effect. The synthesis essay calls on students to use research materials in forming a coherent argument; there are a number of topics in the novel that could be grouped with outside readings to provide the basis for such an essay. It’s an assignment that would lead students to examine the novel’s themes more thoroughly and explore their significance more deeply.

Rhetorical analysis

I’m familiar with  The Grapes of Wrath  as a staple in AP Language classes that had their roots in American literature courses. It’s still possible to invest the time to read the book with students while preparing them for the exam. I’ll assume that most students would have been introduced to rhetorical analysis already. The interchapters represent a stylistic tour de force on Steinbeck’s part, kind of the writerly equivalent of a jazz musician referencing Dixieland, swing, bop, and free jazz in a concept album. “Perhaps no aspect of Steinbeck’s accomplishment in  The Grapes of Wrath  has been overlooked as often as the sheer genius of prose style throughout the novel,” writes Louis Owens in  The Grapes of Wrath : Trouble  in the Promised Land . His excerpt on style, “From Genesis to Jalopies: A Tapestry of Styles,” is an adequate reference on the interchapters’ stylistic variety from the opening’s biblical cadences and epic sweep to the fragment-filled passages that render the confusion generated by the fast-talking used car salesmen.

The analyses could be approached in a number of ways. An entire chapter could be analyzed; the students could identify what they see as Steinbeck’s major purpose in the selection and explain what rhetorical elements uses to convey it. Alternatively, students could be given a section of the chapter, perhaps of a roughly equivalent length to an AP selection. For example, Chapter 23 has several short scenes depicting the migrants’ pleasures at the roadside camps, including telling stories, making music, dancing, getting drunk and getting saved. Any of those slices would be a suitable subject for analysis. Even a more seamless interchapter, such as Chapter 15, can be divided into smaller, more manageable units (the initial description of the diner, Mae and Al; the description of the “shitheel” couple). In another variation, the prompt could be focused to mirror some of the AP rhetorical analysis exercises. For example, students could analyze how Steinbeck conveys his criticism of the used car salesmen in Chapter 7, or his view of technology as expressed in the depiction of the tractor in Chapter 5.

Synthesis essay

In addition to the rhetorical analysis, the multitude of developed topics in  The Grapes of Wrath  could be used to give students practice with the synthesis essay. The essay calls for students to integrate at least three of six to seven given sources into a coherent argumentative essay. Teachers could choose topics and passages for the students to integrate into an essay supplemented by material that they have found or that students locate through research. In addition to the skills involved in crafting a solidly argued synthesis essay, the assignment could have students meet a number of other goals. For example, they could learn to identify thematic topics in novels such as are developed in  The Grapes of Wrath . They could also research supplementary works to complement their topics.

A few suggested topics with suggested supplementary works follow. (If you’re like me, you want to use your own. I usually find more reasons to reject people’s suggested titles than adopt them, preferring to find my own. An assignment of this nature might work best if the teacher or students chose works of particular interest to them. However, the suggestions are offered in the spirit of providing some leads and examples.)

The alienating nature of technology Steinbeck presents conflicting views.

In Chapter 5, the tractor is presented as an insect-like destructive force that rapes the land and separates its driver both from the land and the community. However, in Chapter 10, Al is described as closely in tune with the truck, monitoring it for problems. That close relationship is echoed in Chapter 12, the interchapter depicting the migrants’ “flight” along Route 66. Finally, in Chapter 16 Steinbeck gives nearly step-by-step instructions in how to replace a con-rod in 1925 Dodge that highlight the men’s intimate relationship with the machine. The intimacy that characterized the farmers’ relationship with the land now colors their relationship with machines. These alternative attitudes toward technology – intimate and alienating – can be found in a number of other works. I’ll suggest three:  Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance  by Robert Pirsig (that dates me);  “The Case for Working with Your Hands”  by Matthew Crawford, which appeared in the May 21, 2009 New York Times Magazine and is adopted from his book  The Soulcraft of Shop Class ,; and “ Brain Candy: Is pop culture dumbing us down or smartening us up? ” by Malcolm Gladwell, which first appeared in  The New Yorker .

The immorality of capitalism

Throughout the novel, Steinbeck presents an indictment of a capitalist system that allows people to starve, exploits them mercilessly and, ultimately, is complicit in their murder. That topic is explored in a number of short essays by eminent economists, philosophers and politicians entitled  “Does the free market corrode moral character? ” available at the John Templeton Foundation website.

The morality of working for the good of the group

In the novel, Steinbeck charts his characters’ growth from looking after their own self-interests to caring for the good of the whole, depicts their movement from “I to We.” This is a topic with a rich tradition in American literature from which to draw: Ralph Waldo Emerson’s “Self-Reliance”; the poetry of Walt Whitman; aspects of Mark Twain’s  The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn . An interesting companion piece might be William Golding’s  Lord of the Flies , a staple of early high school years with an arresting counterpoint to Steinbeck’s view of the group behavior. For an interesting evolutionary biological view, try Natalie Angier’s  “Of Altruism, Heroism and Evolution’s Gifts ” from the September 18, 2001  New York Times .

There are a number of other lesser topics that can be followed and extracted out of  The Grapes of Wrath  that could make for engaging work: the crippling effects of guilt, sin and shame, as illustrated by Uncle John’s condition, the nasty shopkeeper that Ma converts in Chapter 26 and misery-dealing evangelicals; the nature of work, both satisfying and alienating, seen, again, in the alienated tractor driver in contrast with the pleasures of hefting a pickaxe in Chapter 22; the dangers and uses of anger, providing people with the righteous outrage to fight on bookended in the first and penultimate chapters but worrying Ma that it will reduce Tom to a “walkin’ chunk a mean-mad”; the advisability of taking life one day at a time and going with the flow suggested in Tom’s repeated strategy of just putting one foot in front of another and Ma’s ability to ride easily in the truck and adjust to the life changes, the latter explained to Pa in Chapter 28.

The above is not, by any means, intended to lay out a complete serving of topics in  The Grapes of Wrath . (I haven’t even broached the repeated references to road kill.) It does suggest ways to incorporate a lengthy novel in a curriculum hemmed in by the demands of the AP Language requirements.

The Grapes of Wrath

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Discussion Questions

How far is it possible for the migrants to “start over” in California given the loss of their homes?

“It is not the tractor, but the way the tractor is owned which hurts the tenant farmers.” What is the meaning of this quote?

Is it legitimate to kill in self-defense? Discuss this in connection with the characters of Tom and Casy.

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The Grapes of Wrath

By john steinbeck, the grapes of wrath study guide.

Published in 1939, John Steinbeck 's The Grapes of Wrath was met with immediate critical and popular success when it first appeared. An American realist novel set during the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl, Steinbeck's work documents hard times in general, and also explores its era through the experiences of one particular family, the Joads. Steinbeck focuses throughout on the oppression of poor tenant farmers by industrialized agriculture: he depicts the hardships that such farmers experience at the hands of callous, wealthy, and greedy landowners. Yet The Grapes of Wrath is also a story of man versus the environment, since the families depicted in its narrative have been forced to flee the poor agricultural conditions afflicting the Great Plains. Seeking better farming conditions and new land after being forced out by corporate agriculture, the former farmers have gathered their families and belongings in barely functional cars and have set out for California. Unfortunately, a better life does not await them, and they merely continue to struggle against corporate interests.

Steinbeck's novel confronted and exposed the difficulties faced by this landless population, and it argued persuasively for the need to organize labor forces. When he was preparing to publish the book, Steinbeck said, "I want to put a tag of shame on the greedy bastards who are responsible for this [the Great Depression and its effects]." After publication, he told a reporter that, "I've done my damndest to rip a reader's nerves to rags." Because of his staunch support for the working class, Steinbeck won the praise and admiration of this segment of society. Critically acclaimed, the novel itself won the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize for fiction the year immediately after its publication, 1940. The popular success of The Grapes of Wrath matched the critical praise, and Hollywood produced a 1940 film adaptation, which would become widely watched.

The Grapes of Wrath continues to influence readers and inspire student discussions, even though the history it addresses is far in the past. It is still one of the most widely read novels in both high school and college classrooms. The novel has even continued to prompt further research: just recently, the Steinbeck Institute commissioned researchers to trace the path of the Joads. They reported that little has changed -- a traveler who sets out from Oklahoma and heads for California is met with wide expanses and difficult terrain, much the same landscape that the Joads encountered. In more ways than one, The Grapes of Wrath is timeless.

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The Grapes of Wrath Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for The Grapes of Wrath is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

Grapes of Wrath Chapter 6 and 8 Questions

1. What are the preacher's plans? Casey wants to find the people who have went out on the road to help them.

Please submit each of your questions one at a time. Thanks.

What are two things that cause the Joad's problems?

• the industrialization of agriculture

• corporate greed

which term best describes the word choice of a piece of writting ?

I would say mood and diction go together.

Study Guide for The Grapes of Wrath

The Grapes of Wrath study guide contains a biography of John Steinbeck, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

  • About The Grapes of Wrath
  • The Grapes of Wrath Summary
  • Character List

Essays for The Grapes of Wrath

The Grapes of Wrath essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck.

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Lesson Plan for The Grapes of Wrath

  • About the Author
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  • Common Core Standards
  • Introduction to The Grapes of Wrath
  • Relationship to Other Books
  • Bringing in Technology
  • Notes to the Teacher
  • Related Links
  • The Grapes of Wrath Bibliography

Wikipedia Entries for The Grapes of Wrath

  • Introduction
  • Religious interpretation
  • Development

grapes of wrath essay titles

grapes of wrath essay titles

The Grapes of Wrath

John steinbeck, everything you need for every book you read..

Humanity, Inhumanity, and Dehumanization Theme Icon

Humanity, Inhumanity, and Dehumanization

In The Grapes of Wrath, the most brutal adversity the Joads face doesn’t come from the unforgiving natural conditions of the dustbowl. Rather, the Joads and the Okie community receive the cruelest treatment from those most capable of helping them: more fortunate individuals, typically ones who wield institutional power. Throughout the book, establishments and technological advances are shown to corrupt the humans behind them. Steinbeck’s depiction of the state police shows that they’ve been perverted…

Humanity, Inhumanity, and Dehumanization Theme Icon

Dignity, Honor, and Wrath

Despite their destitution, Okies are shown to be extremely conscious of maintaining their honor. No matter how dire their circumstances, the Joads are unwilling to stoop to accepting charity or stealing. When they do accept help, they are quick to repay the debt—for example, when the Wilsons offer Grampa Joad a deathbed, Al repairs their car and Ma replaces the blanket used to shroud Grampa. With this strong sense of honor comes an equally powerful…

Dignity, Honor, and Wrath Theme Icon

Faith and Guilt

At different times in The Grapes of Wrath , nearly all of the main characters endure spiritually trying times. Casy is the first to address this theme when he speaks of his reformed faith: instead of the black-and-white teachings of Christian dogma, Casy has come to believe in a natural unity of the human race. Tom , too, comes to this realization later in the novel, after hiding from the law in the woods. Finally…

Faith and Guilt Theme Icon

Powerlessness, Perseverance, and Resistance

The novel often focuses on characters who resist in situations that seem hopeless. At the beginning of the novel, the Oklahoma sharecropper families are rendered powerless by the repossessing landowners. All the same, Muley Graves remains on his land, in spite of regular run-ins with law enforcement. He knows he can’t change his circumstances, but he refuses to let go of his heritage. The land turtle that appears in an early chapter, is a metaphor…

Powerlessness, Perseverance, and Resistance Theme Icon

Family, Friendship, and Community

Time and again in The Grapes of Wrath , Steinbeck demonstrates the profound ties and nuanced relationships that develop through kinship, friendship, and group identity. The arc of the Joad family shows, on one hand, a cohesive unit whose love and support of one another keeps them from abandoning hope. On the other hand, however, the novel shows that this unity comes with complications. Ma Joad ’s assertive leadership strips Pa of his masculine identity…

Family, Friendship, and Community Theme Icon

Theme Analysis: The Grapes of Wrath Essay

The Grapes of Wrath is a perfect example of a political novel that narrates the experience of the Joad family after being evicted from their farm in Oklahoma and their discouraging journey to California.

In the first few chapters, the author gives the reader an opportunity to participate in the story of the Joads by exploring their experience in their traditional life and their new found life, but in the last sixteen chapters; the author takes a broader look at the experience of displaced migrants in America as a whole. As a result, the novel portrays the issue of land ownership in California and America at large, the conflicts between the Haves and the Have-nots, people’s reactions to injustices, and the strength of a woman (Steinbeck ix).

It also delves into the impact of the Great Depression and the nature of parity and fairness in a larger context regarding America. Thus, this essay presents an in-depth analysis of The Grapes of Wrath, which reveals that the novel develops upon a wide range of themes including hope, class conflict, fanaticism, and commitment as described in the preceding discussions.

The theme of hope develops through the character of Ma Joad who struggles to keep her family together despite that the Joads have encountered many deaths, hardships, and deprivations. In fact, at the end of the narrative, the author describes the family as barely surviving (Steinbeck 455).

Conversely, the Joads display an optimistic mood because as the family expands, the family members get to recognize the need to identify with the group, and thus, they begin to realize the importance of group consciousness. Hope is also derived from the family’s long and challenging journey, whose experience enlightens some family members such as Ma Joad, Pa Joad, Tom, Jim Casy, John, and Rose of Sharon.

Actually, the family members are optimistic that the end of their long journey will come after realizing the American dream (Steinbeck 65). As a result, the desire to have a good life coupled with other motives encourages some family members to fight harder as opposed to those who are unable to see the end result of the journey including Al, Connie, and Noah.

Moreover, the family is determined to experience a different way of life, which gives them a broader perceptive of the world compared to their traditional life. In the end, it is obvious that the family has succeeded in terms of understanding and exploring life-time experiences in the face of different challenges.

Another major theme in The Grapes of Wrath entails class conflict. A conflict exists between the poor migrants, native Californians, and the powerful business people (Steinbeck 23). This conflict presents a clear picture of the characteristics of economic injustices in America during that time.

From a social perspective, the novel describes the economic disasters that arise after the migrants are forced to forgo their agricultural activities not only because of the natural disasters, but also because of the establishment of larger farms by the landowners, business people, and the banks.

Actually, at the beginning, the author notes that the land owners and banks evicted the tenants from the farms thereby making them to move to California in large numbers (Steinbeck 13). Thus, it is apparent that the business people and landowners are insecure in some way because they understand that the presence of migrants in their farms is a threat to their business and financial establishments.

Here, the migrants symbolize increased government interference, labor unions activism, and increased taxes on privately held property. This form of class conflict is the cause of the violence observed between the two groups and even the torching of government camps by state residents in California who are of the idea that the presence of migrants in their land is a threat to their financial interests (Steinbeck 305).

Moreover, class conflict can also occur when hardships, materialistic interests, and problems within the family are personalized. For instance, within the Joad family, Rose of Sharon is obsessed with her pregnancy and the future dreams instead of helping in the journey while her husband, Connie is still angry that they left Oklahoma, and thus he prefers to disappear rather than help in the family hardships (Steinbeck 45).

Fanaticism is also a major theme developed in The Grapes of Wrath. From both the religious and the social perspectives, it is obvious that fanaticism should be condemned because it is a trick used by a certain class of people to deny life, happiness, and advance economic deprivation in the society.

For instance, the former preacher, Jim Casy tells Tom that religion denies different aspects of life such as sexuality. Furthermore, in the camp, a fanatic religious woman claims that dancing is sinful, and thus, poor people should not dance but instead they should wail and moan because they are sinners (Steinbeck 55). On the other hand, religious fanatics claim that religion allows for economic classes within the society including the poor class.

Additionally, the experience of the Joads and their American counterparts shows that social fanaticism and prejudice causes fear and lack of faith among the migrants. As a result, this phenomenon led to instances of violence between the migrants and the native Californians, homelessness, starvation, and malnutrition among other shameful events. Therefore, it is certain that fanaticism, be it religious or social, is not a good thing after all.

Lastly, the novel develops on the theme of commitment in an extensive manner. Here, we note that the members of the Joad family were committed to certain goals and values, which kept them going and finally led to their success.

For instance, Tom and Jim Casy were committed to making Christ-like sacrifices for the rest of the family. As a result, Jim decided to surrender to the authorities to replace Tom and Floyd in order to show his commitment to loving all. Additionally, Jim becomes a labor activist and he dies while fighting for the rights of laborers.

Conversely, despite that at the beginning of the Journey, Tom does not want to identify with the group, his experience and friendship with Jim makes him to realize the need to fight for social justice and the significance of group consciousness within the family and in the society (Steinbeck 445). Therefore, commitment is a virtue that should be emulated by each member of the society if at all collective tasks and goals are to be accomplished.

Steinbeck, John. The grapes of wrath . New York: Penguin Books, 2002. Print.

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IvyPanda. (2020, July 1). Theme Analysis: The Grapes of Wrath. https://ivypanda.com/essays/theme-analysis-the-grapes-of-wrath/

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Bibliography

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'The Grapes of Wrath' -- The Importance of the Title

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"The Grapes of Wrath," a Pulitzer-prize winning book written by John Steinbeck and published in 1939, tells the story of  the Joads, a poor family of tenant farmers driven out of Depression-era Oklahoma -- also referred to as "Oakies -- by drought and economic factors, who migrate to Californa in search of a better life. Steinbeck had trouble coming up with the title for the novel, a classic in American literature, and his wife actually suggested using the phrase.

From Bible to Battle Hymn

The title, itself, is a reference to lyrics from "The Battle Hymn of the Republic," written in 1861 by Julia Ward Howe, and first published in "The Atlantic Monthly" in 1862:

"Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord: He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored; He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword: His truth is marching on."

The words have some important resonance in American culture. For example, Martin Luther King Jr, in his  address  at the conclusion of the Selma-to-Montgomery, Alabama, civil rights march in 1965, quoted these very words from the hymn. The lyrics, in turn, reference a biblical passage in  Revelations 14:19-20 , where the evil inhabitants of Earth perish:  

"And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great wine press of the wrath of God. And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the wine press, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs."

In the Book

The phrase "grapes of wrath" does not appear almost until the end of the 465-page novel: "In the souls of the people, the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." According to eNotes; "The oppressed such as the Okies are 'ripening' in their understanding of their oppression. The fruit of their anger is ready to be harvested." In other words, you can push the downtrodden so far, but eventually, there will be a price to pay.

In all of these references -- from the tribulations of Joads, to the battle hymn, the biblical passage and King's speech -- the key point is that in response to any oppression, there will be a reckoning, likely ordained by God, and that rightness and justice will prevail.

Study Guide

  • The Battle Hymn of the Republic
  • Questions for Study & Discussion
  • John Steinbeck Biography
  • Selected Quotes from The Grapes of Wrath
  • The Biblical Reference in The Grapes of Wrath
  • How to Identify Prepositional Phrases
  • Battle Hymn of the Republic: First Published Version
  • The Title in Composition
  • Controversial and Banned Books
  • John Steinbeck's "The Grapes of Wrath"
  • Parataxis in John Steinbeck's 'Paradox and Dream'
  • Julia Ward Howe Biography
  • Definition and Examples of Complex Prepositions
  • 'La Marseillaise' Lyrics in French and English
  • 6 Speeches by American Authors for Secondary ELA Classrooms
  • The Story of the Great Depression in Photos
  • 5 Novel Setting Maps for Classic American Literature
  • Complete List of John Steinbeck's Books
  • Minuit Chrétien French Christmas Carol For O Holy Night

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Essays on Grapes of Wrath Theme

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Family Ties in "The Grapes of Wrath"

"the grapes of wrath": effects of family reunion, the grapes of wrath: the importance of 25th chapter, ma joad: analysis of the character’s development, let us write you an essay from scratch.

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Grapes of Wrath as a Mild Social Characteristic

Contrast analysis of "the grapes of wrath" and "the worst hard time", grapes of greatness: a steinbeck's guide on resilience, role of religious impact in the grapes of wrath, the harbinger of tom joad: john steinbeck’s approach to documentary reportage in "the harvest gypsies", relevant topics.

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  1. The Grapes of Wrath: Sample A+ Essay: The Joads as Universal Figures

    In the end, the reaction The Grapes of Wrath evokes will depend on the mood and mentality of the individual reader. Some may find the epic sweep of the Joads' life inspiring and devastating precisely because the Joads can represent all of humanity; others may find that the Joads' everyman status makes them opaque or even boring.

  2. The Grapes of Wrath Suggested Essay Topics

    Suggested Essay Topics. PDF. Chapters 1-6. 1. Compare and contrast the characters of Jim Casy and Tom Joad as revealed in their first conversations. 2. Explain the three-fold symbolism of giving ...

  3. The Grapes of Wrath Study Guide

    In 1939, Steinbeck published the Grapes of Wrath, which garnered him significant critical acclaim, including a Pulitzer Prize and a National Book Award. Following his success with The Grapes of Wrath, Steinbeck went on to publish other notable works, including the 1952 novel, East of Eden. Steinbeck died in New York City in 1968, at age 66.

  4. The Grapes of Wrath

    Carola Campbell Gabrielle Mander Pat Bauer. The Grapes of Wrath, the best-known novel by John Steinbeck, published in 1939. The book evokes the harshness of the Great Depression and arouses sympathy for the struggles of migrant farmworkers beset by adversity and vast impersonal commercial influences. Learn more about the novel and its reception.

  5. "The Grapes of Wrath": Structure Analysis

    The Grapes of Wrath is a masterful novel that employs a unique and impactful structure to convey its themes and ideas. Through its use of intercalary chapters, alternating narrative perspective, and symbolic imagery, the novel creates a rich and immersive portrayal of the Great Depression and its effects on individuals and society.Steinbeck's narrative techniques enhance the depth and ...

  6. The Grapes of Wrath Critical Essays

    A. Title of novel B. Casy's last words and death C. Tom to carry on Casy's work ... "The Grapes of Wrath - Sample Essay Outlines" MAXnotes to The Grapes of Wrath Ed. Dr. M. Fogiel.

  7. AP Assignments for The Grapes of Wrath

    Synthesis essay. In addition to the rhetorical analysis, the multitude of developed topics in The Grapes of Wrath could be used to give students practice with the synthesis essay. The essay calls for students to integrate at least three of six to seven given sources into a coherent argumentative essay.

  8. The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck

    Cite this page as follows: "The Grapes of Wrath - Malcolm Cowley (review date 3 May 1939)" Twentieth-Century Literary Criticism Ed. Janet Witalec Project Editor. Vol. 135.

  9. The Grapes of Wrath Essay Topics

    Thanks for exploring this SuperSummary Study Guide of "The Grapes of Wrath" by John Steinbeck. A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

  10. The Grapes of Wrath Essays

    The Grapes of Wrath essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. ... Chapter Twenty-Five is central to John Steinbecks The Grapes of Wrath. Besides containing the title of the book, this chapter clearly, forcefully, and elegantly ...

  11. The Grapes of Wrath Study Guide

    The Grapes of Wrath essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. Contrasting the Movie and Novel Form of The Grapes of Wrath. Four Pages of Fear, Hostility, and Exploitation. All in the Family in The Grapes of Wrath.

  12. 67 Grapes of Wrath Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

    The Grapes of Wrath: movie analysis. In the movie, the family is depicted as one of the struggling families in the United States after the economic crisis of 1930. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. The rest of the family is forced to go on, as the police suddenly begin to chase them.

  13. The Grapes of Wrath: Suggested Essay Topics

    Does it provide hope, or does it leave the reader unsettled? 3. The third chapter of the novel depicts a turtle crossing the Oklahoma highway. How does this chapter symbolize the story of the migrants? 4. Think about the book in terms of Steinbeck's intent for it.

  14. The Grapes of Wrath Themes

    Time and again in The Grapes of Wrath, Steinbeck demonstrates the profound ties and nuanced relationships that develop through kinship, friendship, and group identity. The arc of the Joad family shows, on one hand, a cohesive unit whose love and support of one another keeps them from abandoning hope. On the other hand, however, the novel shows ...

  15. Theme Analysis: The Grapes of Wrath

    Rose of Sharon, who recently gives birth to a stillborn baby feeds the starving man of her milk. Extra Facts. 1) The book was banned in the Soviet Union. 2) Steinbeck was inspired by visits to labor camps before writing 'The Grapes of Wrath'. 3) 'The Grapes of Wrath' gave Route 66 its nickname.

  16. The Grapes of Wrath: Mini Essays

    The Grapes of Wrath is most memorable as the story of the Joad family's trek across Depression-era America. The long narrative chapters that trace their journey provide a personal context for understanding the more abstract social, historical, and symbolic musings of the shorter alternating chapters. Despite their sometimes preachy tone ...

  17. Essays on Grapes of Wrath

    Historical Analysis Essay: The Grapes of Wrath provides a vivid portrayal of life during the Great Depression. This type of essay explores the historical context of the novel, including the political and social issues of the time. ... Chapter Twenty-Five is central to John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath. Besides containing the title of the ...

  18. 'The Grapes of Wrath Importance of the Title

    Updated on March 06, 2017. "The Grapes of Wrath," a Pulitzer-prize winning book written by John Steinbeck and published in 1939, tells the story of the Joads, a poor family of tenant farmers driven out of Depression-era Oklahoma -- also referred to as "Oakies -- by drought and economic factors, who migrate to Californa in search of a better life.

  19. The Grapes of Wrath Essays and Criticism

    The Grapes of Wrath (1939) recounts the plight of the underclass in the story of the Joads, a family from Oklahoma, who lose their farm and travel to California, the land of milk and honey, only ...

  20. Essays on Grapes of Wrath Theme

    The Grapes of Wrath: The Importance of 25th Chapter. 2 pages / 1025 words. Chapter Twenty-Five is central to John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath. Besides containing the title of the book, this chapter clearly, forcefully, and elegantly drives home Steinbeck's central message the injustice of life in the Depression-era American west.

  21. Title of The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

    The Grapes of Wrath is a 1939 novel that deals with themes such as human perseverance, capitalism, and oppression. The origin of ''grapes of wrath'' as a phrase can be traced to both '' The Battle ...

  22. Grapes Of Wrath Essays: Examples, Topics, Titles, & Outlines

    Words: 1813. Length: 5 Pages. Document Type: Term Paper. Paper #: 60274604. Read Full Paper . Grapes of rath. The Epic in the Grapes of rath. This paper discusses how the idea of the epic can be found in The Grapes of rath by John Steinbeck. The novel itself is an enormous work of approximately 500 pages.

  23. What does the title The Grapes of Wrath mean?

    Expert Answers. The title was suggested by Steinbeck's first wife after hearing the song, The Battle Hymn of the Republic. "Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord/He is trampling ...