Choose one of the questions below to discuss. Post your response and then comment on two other posted responses.
-In the beginning, each character has personal reasons for wanting to go to California. In what ways does each individual's goal change? Which people grow to see a larger purpose in life? What factors contribute to their changes?
-The heroes of The Grapes of Wrath are on the bottom of the social ladder; their language is often vile, and their behavior is sometimes as coarse as their language. What was Steinbeck's purpose in portraying such unrefined and coarse people? What would be the effect on readers if the Joads spoke "proper" English and did not curse?
-According to statements made in this novel, of what importance is anger in overcoming fear? --What must be done with anger in order to make it productive? Do you agree or disagree with that philosophy as expressed in this novel?
-What is the effect of the chapters which come between the narrative about the Joads? How would the elimination of those chapters affect the meaning and the impact of the novel?
2 comments:
I believe it is very iimportant to overcome fear because when you overcome something you are scared of you feel liberated and powerful like nothing can hurt you. To take anger and make it productive you have to use that anger to drive you. For example your angry about losing you soccer game use that anger to work even harder so you dont have to ever lose again. Yes I do agree with the philosophy expressed in this novel.
Steinbeck includes these chapters for several reasons. These chapters show the historcal context of this time, give social comentary, and ofen forshadow furture events. These chapters are not included to progress the story, but rather to show the larger picture of what was happening during the Great Depression. They help the reader get a mental picture and broad perspective of the horrible conditions of the time. If these chapters were the only chapters included, this book would feel like a history lesson and if the chapters about the Joads were the only chapters included it could be easily viewed as just a novel about a fictional family. By including both types of chapters, the reader is able to emphathize with the Joad family, but also get a great picture of the hardships and injustices the people of this time had to endure.
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