The Grapes of Wrath
We have finally reached the last novel :) Hopefully the blog questions on The Grapes of Wrath will help you as you write the summer assignments for both AP U.S. History & AP Language & Composition. Understanding the historical background of a piece of literature is key. Hopefully you have already learned that from your previous English courses and the other questions I have been asking of you this summer. Spend some time investigating the historical setting of the novel in combination with the author. Blog question: What role does the historical context of the novel play with regards to the development of the plot and characters? I want some specifics folks!
The historical context of the novel plays the role of surrounding the Great Depression. This period of time had many hardships. It started around 1929 because of a stock-market crash and continued until around the 1930s. During this time, many people were out of work and businesses were poor. For that reason, it was difficult to pay those who had jobs and very few were lucky enough to have them. Another reason for the Great Depression was the drought that destroyed various farms. The Great Depression coincides with the novel by the Joad family having a hard time finding work that pays well enough for them to eat.
ReplyDeleteWe need to remember that this book takes place somewhere in the 1930’s and that people then were very ignorant. Or well very closed to new ideas and motives, which can clearly be seen. The okie people just wanted jobs and a new place to live, but even though jobs were full the people of California in the 1930’s didn’t want them there. Because of the unfortunate dust storm the okies had no choice but in the context of the 1930s the city folk were not so kind to the okies. Because of their lack of compassion the okies were left to die. The city people didn’t acknowledge them and continued living their life as if the okies were never there. The Joad family is actually forced to later when in California to live in a boxcar but only to then share it with another family.
ReplyDeleteThe Grapes of Wrath time period takes place durign the Great Depression, and for the Joad family also the Great Dust Bowl. During these time periods people are feel very hopeless because there is no work, and they have to money; they just feel like dirt. It helps develop the plot with its sence of hopelessness. The people that the Joad family come across are extremely hopeless, and it only fuels their feelings. It also affects heavily on Connie, the husband of Rose of Sharon. The terrible economy and feelings of depression, and hopelessness cause him to run out on the Joad family; and most importantly his wife. Overall the time period of the book affects the characters morale, and the books feeling of hopelessness.
ReplyDeleteThe historical context of the novel creates the background and builds up the conflict. This book is set during the Great Depression and Dust Bowl in Oklahoma. This time period led to many people becoming homeless and having to migrate away from their homes. This develops the characters and plot. The Joads are forced to leave their home and move to Uncle Johns home. The were not able to stay there for long and were forced off of that land too. With nowhere else to go, the Joads were forced to migrate west to California in hopes of finding a home and jobs. This time left no hope for people and many of them gave up. The people, like the Joads, who continued to have hope and try to survive struggled with starvation and the depletion of every last penny they hd.
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