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.