JOURNAL+ASSIGNMENT

American Classics—Mullen
 * //The Grapes of Wrath//** **Journal Assignment & Discussion Guide**

Choose **two** of the questions below and prepare thoughtful, well-developed journal responses to each one, using the text as **concrete support**. (See Journal/Response Paper Scoring Guide.) Please type. You will be asked to share your thoughts in class, and to ask meaningful questions of others.
 * Worth 20 points.**

1. What is the effect of the chapters that come between the narrative about the Joads? How does the inclusion of these “inter-chapters” affect the meaning and impact of the novel? Cite specific examples from the text to support your ideas.

2. The heroes of this novel are on the bottom of the social ladder, and their language is often coarse. What is Steinbeck’s purpose in portraying such unrefined people? Cite specific examples from the text to support your ideas.

3. Critics of this novel have attacked its political implications. In what ways is the novel a criticism of capitalism? Does the novel advocate communism? Defend your opinions with evidence from the text.

4. Why do we begin our study of “American Classics” this Steinbeck novel? What themes or concepts emerge from this book that seem central to the American Idea? Cite specific examples from the text to support your ideas.

5. Clearly, there exist many Biblical references and parallels within the novel. Consider why Steinbeck used them and how they contribute to the novel’s themes. Cite specific examples from the text to support your ideas.

Several ideas borrowed from “A Teacher’s Guide to the Penguin Edition of John Steinbeck’s //The Grapes of Wrath//”