Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Jessy Yo's Memorable Moment

My memorable moment in The Grapes of Wrath is the very beggining when Tom convinces the truck driver to give him a ride. It is my favorite moment because it shows how he can persuade people, and it was kind of a comical scene once you think about it. It also shows the struggle between doing wrong and right. Once in the truck you can tell the man wants to ask all kinds of questions, but he holds back; instead tells about his plans on taking night classes and making alot more money. Tom finally tells what he did to be in jail when let off at his stop.

Sunday, March 16, 2008

Lauren's Most Memorable Scene

Although I have enjoyed reading the entire book, I particularly find the most heart wrenching moment to be with Ma and the children. When the starving children gather around Ma it draws out what the country was really like. It shows how the people would do anything to help each other. I think this is the best scene to illustrate the country.

Memorable Moment

My most memorable moment is when the family dog gets hit. Everything seems to be slowly going in the wrong direction anyways, so to top it all off, the dog gets hit. This affects the younger ones especially. I like how Steinbeck goes into detail on how the dog tries to avoid the car, and then gets hit. I don't know why this part sticks out, but it does, so it's my most memorable moment.

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Two questions to ponder

No big surprise here. Once you have read about Casy's death and the odd ending with Rose of Sharon, reflect on these events and their impact on your understading of the novel (think THEME). Discuss each in a separate paragraph on your blog. Once you have done that, post them on here.

ALSO-On Friday the 14th, post on your blog a paragraph explaining what you have learned about people from the book and support it with examples from the book.

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Jon's Memorable Scene

One of my favorite moments in The Grapes of Wrath thus far would have to be all of chapter 15, the chapter detailing the story about Mae. Mae, at waitress at a local diner, waits for truck drivers to come into the diner knowing that they pay the greatest tips. When a ragged Okie man and his two children come enter asking for bread, Mae treats them with hostility saying “ ‘F we sell bread we gonna run out.” However, Al, the cook, pushes Mae to sell the bread, and she does. Right when he is about to leave, the man, wanting to buy candy for his children, asks Mae if the “stripy” candy behind the counter is penny candy. Mae sells them two pieces for a penny, when in actuality each piece is worth five cents. Two truck drivers, noticing Mae’s act of generosity, leave her an extra large tip and leave.


The almost parable-like story of Mae the waitress in the middle of Steinbeck’s novel plays on key themes to the story, most notably, the idea that generosity and self-sacrifice offer greater rewards than self-centeredness. In addition, as the Joad’s begin their journey west, the inclusion of this chapter helps to lighten the mood in what would otherwise be a depressing and bleak portion of the novel.

Memorable Moment

My most memorable moment in Grapes of Wrath is when Ruthie and Winfield first discover the toilets. When they enter the bathroom, neither of them have ever seen or used a toilet before. After Ruthie uses the toilet, Winfield accidentally flushes it, and both children are scared that he broke it. When the children return to Ma, Ruthie immediately tattles on Winfield. After a laugh Ma explains to the children how the toilet works.

My Most Memorial Scene

My most memorial moment was when Ruthie and Winfield went into the bathroom. Where they found things that they were not quit sure what they where. So, Ruthie told Winfield that she had peed in one of them. Then Winfield pulled the handle and water started swirling around in it and they thought he had broken it. So, Winfield makes Ruthie promise to not tell their mother. As soon as they seen their mother Ruthie told her mother that Winfield broke the toilet. Then when their mother goes in and has them show her exactly what they did. She tells them that they didn't break it that is just how it works.

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

My Favorite

Even though I enjoy many scenes from "The Grapes of Wrath," there is one in particular that I enjoy. When Tom and Pa consider splitting up the family so they can fix the Wilson's car, Ma tells them what she wants. Most women in that day and age would not stand up for anything and just followed whatever their husband said. Ma tells Pa that she refuses to let the family split up because that is all they have left since they have moved. She even grabs a jack handle to prove her point. Pa is so amazed that she stood up that he is not sure what to do. He ends up making an agreement that will satisfy Ma and still be able to fix the car. Tom and Jim Casy stays behind to fix the car and the rest of the family will pull over to the next place with shelter and water. Ma standing up for what she believes in makes this scene my favorite.

Memorable Scene

In chapter 20 in The Grapes of Wrath, a group of children surround Ma while she makes stew for the family. The children crowd around Ma's stew because they have not eaten breakfast and are very hungry. Although her family does not have enough stew to eat, Ma decides to let the children have what is left of the pot after she dishes out portions. This scene reemphasizes the underlying theme of the book that the author presents in many ways. Through this scene, the author poignantly shows how humans help one another because they are of the same spirit.

Derrick's Memorable Scene

A good scene in this book is when granma falls asleep in the outhouse at the station. Rose of Sharon finds her and wakes her up, but grandma thinks it is a great place. Roseasharn informs her that it is not a nice place to be and she needs to leave. Grandma said it was very nice with the patent toilets and that she could of taken a good long nap in there if she was left alone. It is a funny scene because most people probably have a grandparent who has acted like that at sometime so they can relate to the story.

Lexi's Memorable Scene

The most memorable moment for me in The Grapes of Wrath would have to be the story involving Winfield and Ruthie. Ruthie and Winfield are told to go clean up in the sanitary units. When they get there they see things they have never seen before. Ruthie admits that she peed a little bit in one of the toilets. She plops down on a toilet. When she does this Winfield puts his had on the handle of the toilet. All of a sudden a rush of water swirls in the bowl of the toilet. This scares Ruthie. Ruthie tells Winfield that he broke the toilet. He asks her to promise she won't tell what he had done. She agrees, but later she tells her mom about the incident. Their mom laughs and them shows them that the toilet is supposed to do. I thought this story was funny because the kids were so clueless. They both were scared but curious.

21-25

Summarize 21 through 25. This is a lot of reading so visit when you need to. Post a memorable quote also and explain why you think it is important.

*NEXT* post your memorable scene here.

Thursday, March 6, 2008

Chapters 17-20

Summarize chapters 17 through 20 on your blog. Provide a picture that reflects a story from the these chapters.

In addition, describe a memorable scene in the book and explain why it is one of your favorites.

Example: In chapter 4 in Of Mice and Men, Carlson encourages Candy, while in the bunkhouse, to "put that old dog out of his misery." Carlson explains that to shoot the dog now would lessen its suffering and allow him to die quickly and easily. Although Candy is reluctant to grant such a request, he acquiesces to Carlson and suffers for his dog's death. This scene foreshadows the end of the book where George will be faced with a similar situation. The reader is struck by the fragility of life and its seeming irrelevancy that reinforces the concept of loneliness introduced early in the book.

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

8-16

Start in chapter 8 and move through 16. Summarize the events that take place. Make sure to stay true to spelling and grammar conventions.

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Pictures

You should include, somewhere on your page, 6 pictures from the era: 3 migrants, 1 farmer, 1 Great Depression, 1 Dust Bowl.

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

1-7

Summarize these chapters; touch upon the important events and characters. Take not of the characteristics and viewpoints of each character and reflect upon Steinbeck's theme(s) as you write.

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Casyology

What do you think about Casy's new "religion" ?