Grapes of Wrath: Chapter 11

Comment on the imagery and mood created in paragraphs 2-6

      To be honest, I believe that the mood is a bit dark and peaceful at the same time. In the chapter, it describes what is happening inside an abandoned house that was once owned by a family. What made the mood of the chapter dark is seeing how much the house has degraded after the family moved out. The text states, "And the mice moved in and stored weed seeds in corners, in boxes, in the back of drawers in kitchens And Weasels came in to hunt the mice, and the brown owls flew shrieking in and out again." (Steinbeck, 1939, p. 78). As one can see, this quote demonstrates a good idea of what happened after the house was left vacant. But what makes the setting somewhat peaceful is seeing what happens in nature when people are away. Look at the YouTube videos of animals for example. It is always satisfying to see what they do when people are not around. That is the same feeling I get when reading this chapter.

Does anyone have any thoughts or ideas to add on?

Grapes of Wrath Chapter 2

Describe the characterization of Tom Joad seen through the eyes of the truck driver

       In the eyes of the truck driver, it is clear that he thinks Tom Joad is a rich person around town. This is all mostly because of what Tom was wearing, which are some very new but cheap clothing that all look like they were just made. Then, later in the story, the truck driver was making a difficult decision between driving Tom to his designated location or just leaving with a "No Riders" sticker. This was a hard decision for him because he did not want to be kicked around by some rich person. However, he did accept to drive Tom. During the ride, the truck driver seemed intimidated by Tom and it can be seen through how the driver was chewing his gum and secretly looking at Tom for any suspicious activities. It is clear that the driver believes that Tom Joad is a man who should not be messed with. Similarly to real life, people judge others to get an idea of their wealth. For instance, many would be considered rich if they bought clothing from expensive brands such as Gucci, Chanel, Guess, and etc. All in all, clothing plays a major role in what people thing of you in terms of wealth, which can be seen through the truck driver's thoughts and actions.

If anyone has more to add on, it would help very much!

Chapter 6 Question

I'm sorry guys for posting late i haven't had the chance to post in the past weeks, but I have an important question i would like some feedback on. Do you guys think Muley Grave did the right thing of staying and letting his family leave? Sorry if this wasn't a question from the packet, but I wanted to know someone else's opinion because i believe that he is right for trying to save the land but wrong for leaving his family.

Grapes of Wrath : Chapter 11

Discuss the conflict of nature vs machine 

    The personal connections that a farmer forms with his land vs the nonexistent bonds between machines and property has been a recurring idea throughout the novel and again the reader is exposed to this theme in chapter 11. Before technology ever became advanced, farmers had a more intimate relation with their responsibilities and duties which led to the land becoming part of their life. Now since tractors are driven by men with no connection or understanding of the land, the farming process loses the intimacy that it had for families like the Joads and Graves. Steinbeck further explains this conflict by stating, "And when a horse stops work and goes into the barn there is a life and a vitality left...but when the motor of a tractor stops, it is as dead as the ore it came from. The heat goes out of it like the living heat that leaves a corpse" (Steinbeck, 2002, p. 115). The passage illustrates how after a long day full of meticulous work and dedication, humans rest, but still have life/energy and will be ready to go at it again the next day due to the passion they have for their land. On the other hand, after a tractor plows through the property as if it were nothing, its "soul" dies until the driver comes back weeks or months later to reap the "meaningless" land once more. All in all, machines require no devotion or passion for the land to cultivate it and has made the job of the farmer way too easy, while the farmers treated the land as a living being and cared for it. 

Comment on the imagery and mood created in paragraphs 2-6

    I believe the mood established is downright disheartening because the reader learns of what exactly happened to the houses once full of vitality and love. Now that the farmers were forced to move, the houses have became immensely dilapidated and now harbor wild animals such as owls, bats, and mice. To learn how quickly the houses fell apart without the families reveals more about the farmers and their lifestyle. Steinbeck describes the decrepit houses by stating, "And the mice moved in and stored weed seeds in corners, in boxes, in the backs of drawers in the kitchens. And weasels came in to hunt the mice, and the brown owls flew shrieking in and out again. The weeds sprang up in front of the doorstep, where they had not been allowed, and grass grew up through the porch boards" (Steinbeck, 2002, pg. 116). The imagery in the passage aids the reader to fully understand the arrival of the corporates  and how rapidly they turned a land filled with life into a wasteland for their own benefits. 

I would appreciate if anyone contributes and lets me know what they think! 

      

 

Grapes of Wrath Chapter 5

Summarize the conflict between the landowners and the banks. Is this man vs. man or the individual vs. society ?

The landowners in The Grapes of Wrath are extremely devastated and angry with the bank owners due to them wanting to take their land. The landowners want revenge but in reality they can't do anything because of who they're going up against. Many of the tenants say they'll shoot anyone who tries to take their land or destroy their houses, but as the character who plays as Joe Davis' son says, "Suppose you kill me? They'll just hang you, but long before you're hung there'll be another guy on the tractor, and he'll bump the house down. You're not killing the right guy" (Steinbeck, 1996, p. 38). Anything the landowners try to do, it won't do anything to completely stop the deconstruction. I believe this is individual vs. society because these individuals have to go up against a bank and other members of the bank enterprises. The men are not just going up against one man but to an organization of men who want to take their land. As the book states, "The Bank-- or the Company-- needs-- wants-- insists-- must have-- as though the Bank or the Company were a monster, with thought and feeling, which had ensnared them" (Steinbeck, 1996, p. 32). To me this quote is explaining how the company was it's own little society, they personified the bank and made it seem harmless, but to the men, the bank was atrocious. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but in my opinion that is how I see it. I'd be happy to hear what you think, thanks ! 

Grapes of Wrath Chapter 5

InGrapes of Wrath chapter 5 the prompt is: So far, how is it evident that Grapes of Wrath was written from a third-person omniscient point of view? Why might this p.o.v. be the most effective for Steinbeck's purpose?
        So far, it is evident that Grapes of Wrath was written from a third-person omniscient p.o.v. because Steinbeck speaks to to the readers about other matters beyond the central character's knowledge. For example, "And now the owner men grew angry. You'll have to go" (p.34, para.1) "The iron guard bit into the house corner, crumbled the wall, and wrenched the little house from its foundation so that it fell sideways, crushed like a bug" (p.39, para.1). These quotes demonstrate the matters that have been discussed: the landowners kicking out the tenants, and the tractors destroying the tenants' homes. Both of these events have been described to the readers; meanwhile, the main character- Tom Joad- still has no idea that such events have taken place. This p.o.v. might be the most effective for Steinbeck's purpose of demonstrating to the readers that everything is interconnected, allowing the readers to see how this storm has impacted so much. In essence, the storm has affected the tenants, banks, landowners, those who work the tractors, Tom Joad, etc. All the while, giving the readers the opportunity to gain insight on how the aftermath of the storm is seen or thought of by a variety of people, who have all been differently impacted by the very same event.
I hope this helps in anyway, this is just my opinion so please feel free to either add on and/or share your own opinion. I'd love to here what you all have to say. :)

Grapes of Wrath Chapter #9

In chapter nine of The Grapes of Wrath we are asked to paraphrase the following:

"Maybe we can start again, in the rich new land- in California, where the fruit grows. We'll start over.

But you can't start. Only a baby can start. You and me- why, we're all that's been. The anger of a moment, the thousand pictures, that's us. This land, the red land, is us; and the flood years and the dust years and the drought years are us. We can't start again. The bitterness we sold to the junk man- he got it all right, but we have it still. And when the owner men told us to go, that's us; and when the tractor hit the house, that's us till we're dead. To California or any place- every one a drum major leading a parade of hurts, marching with our bitterness. And some day- the armies of bitterness will all be going the same way. And they'll all walk together, and there'll be a dead terror from it."

 This passage reflects on the idea of rebirth and the elements that evolve a person from birth. My take on the message it conveys is that a "restart" is essentially impossible, for one would need to be born anew, exist anew, "cleansed" of all that they've ever known that has affected them. There is no other way to truly "restart" because experiences, feelings, sensations, people, things, ideas, and so much more trail behind us throughout the course of our life, eternally and undoubtedly. The present and our future is constructed through all that was and wasn't, and the reality of it is that your life in every time period is always with you- for it is you whether you like it or not. It's a part of who you were, who you are, and who you will be. A "restart" requires that everything is erased, to become nonexistent, so that an individual may be reborn as an entirely new person.

 In Tom Joad's case, he accepts what's happened to him and those around him and continues onward to face what's ahead; he knows he can't rid himself of his regrets and/or consequences of the past because he understands that they are a part of him. Your surroundings, loved ones, enemies, treasures, and so on- they are you, and you decide how to make do with who you are and who you will be no matter what environment or situation you may be in.

I'd love to hear anyone's interpretation of what he meant, so feel free to add on! :)

The Grapes of Wrath Chapter four

Good afternoon everyone! :)

Describe the characterization of Reverend Jim Casey through Steinbeck's use of exposition and dialogue.

In this chapter, we are introduced to a new character named Jim Casey and according to the text, he is an old preacher. Through Steinbeck's use of exposition and dialogue, he characterizes Jim Casey; moreover, Jim reveals his thoughts or how Jim Casey puts it "his idears." Jim Casey's past reveals his unique characterization, for example, he reasons his sins so he doesn't feel guilty. The text states, "I use ta get people talking in tongues, an' glory-shoutin' till they just fell down an' passed out... an' then you know what I'd do? I'd take one of them girls out in the grass, an' I'd lay with her..." (Steinbeck, 1996, p.22). This quote demonstrates the surprising behavior of a preacher; moreover, his characterization unfolds and the audience can see what type of person he is: disgusting. On the other hand, he states later on that he prayed and prayed for forgiveness but still laid with a girl afterward. Not only we can infer by this type of characterization that he is a person who wants to "wash his sins" away, but also a person who cannot live with the fact he laid with a girl full of the holy spirit.

Hopefully this helps!
Please add or subtract to this. I will love to hear what you guys have to say!
Thank you :)

How to Post..

There should be an icon that reads "New Post." Use this when you want to start a NEW discussion. If you need help, you can email me, or I am at the school M-Thur. for the next 3 weeks until 2 p.m. so that I can show you. Hope this helps!

Welcome to AP English 2017-2018!

Students,

This is where you will be having discussions on the texts read in class. Bring in outside resources, make connections, and challenge each other's ideas! You should be commenting more than posting. Proofread your writing before publishing. Check this site on a regular basis, especially if you created a Post. You will want to engage in the discussions about what you wrote. Respond. Learn from one another. Question.

Please title posts about The Grapes of Wrath by chapter #. This is so that you won't be "giving away" anything and spoiling suspense. Do not read posts for chapters that you have not yet read!

Have fun and be respectful. Happy Summer Reading!