Caroline Filan

AP Lang Summer Work

Grapes of Wrath Journal Entries

Journal Number 1
Chapter: 5
Quote Reflection
“Why don’t you go on west 1. This quote from chapter 5 relates to the

to California? There’s work everyday dream of creating a better life. Everyone

there, and it never gets cold. wants to have more opportunities just as the

Why, you con reach out Joads do. This quote exemplifies the dreams of

anywhere and pick an improving ones job, living conditions, health, and

orange” (Steinbeck 34). many more. This quote is relevant because it tells

of the dreams that we all have and hope to

achieve.

2. This quote is significant to the novel

because it tells of the misconceptions of

California. It tells of a promised land similar to that

in The Bible that was promised to the Israelites by

God. The family will move forward to California in

hopes of finding work. It also resembles a Garden

of Eden due to its lush vegetation and paradise

description.

Journal Number 2
Chapter: 6
Quote Reflection
“’I don’t like to eat no 1. Although everyone is struggling for food
Caroline Filan

AP Lang Summer Work

Grapes of Wrath Journal Entries

jackrabbit with boils’” Muley states that he will not eat a jackrabbit with

(Steinbeck 50). boils. This is highly relatable because I know that

no matter how much I was starving, I would not

eat a wild animal with boils because it could not be

healthy. It may be detrimental to your health to

eat a sickened animal rather then to simply wait to

catch another one.

2. This quote shows despite the horrid

situation, everyone retains their knowledge of the

better times and hopes for them. Boils is also

significant due to the fact that it is one of the

curses placed on the Egyptians when they refuse

to let the Israelites leave to worship in the desert.

The quote foreshadows tragedy because if there

is a limited food supply in Oklahoma with close to

no one living there, there will be even less in

California with many migrants.

Journal Number 3
Chapter: 10
Quote Reflection
“He says wages is low an’ 1. With the job market today, many working

hard to get any” (Steinbeck class Americans struggle to find work and earn an

92). income in their daily lives. This quote applies to

Caroline Filan

AP Lang Summer Work

Grapes of Wrath Journal Entries

me because I witness families and individuals who

cannot seem to find a job despite all of their

efforts.

2. This quote tells of the first man that the

Joads encountered and warned them of California.

It leads to the disturbing ignorance and leads to

their ultimate disaster. They are stuck between

two undesirable options of either starving at home

or ignoring the warning and leading themselves to

ruin in California. The quote also shows how

steadfast the family is to getting to California and

to achieve their dream that they are willing to risk

everything to get there.

Journal Number 4
Chapter: 13
Quote Reflection
“Al, at the wheel, his face 1. When driving, I have a sort of triangle that I

purposeful, his whole body use and check constantly. I look at the road, the

listening to the car, his panel, and then my mirrors. It ensures that most

restless eye jumping from everything is correct. This is critical to Al who is

the road to the instrument responsible for the wellbeing of the family in the
Caroline Filan

AP Lang Summer Work

Grapes of Wrath Journal Entries

panel” (Steinbeck 123). car just as it is necessary for me to be safe while

driving to keep everyone safe.

2. This quote exhibits Al’s knowledge of

vehicles as well as makes him a guide. Though

Tom also drives, Al also serves as a Moses figure

because he guides the group through the desert

and mountains, just like the Israelites. The fact

that Al must pay so much attention to the

instrument panel foreshadows how the truck will

break down due to its fragility and old age.

Journal Number 5
Chapter: 16
Quote Reflection
“The ragged man said 1. I have been warned of unfortunate

slowly, “Me—I’m comin’ situations before they presented themselves.

back. I been there... I’m Whether or not I headed those warnings is another

going back to starve. I story all together, but one fact remains common

ruther starve all over at and that is a warning from someone returning

onecet” (Steinbeck 188- does instill fear in ones heart while trying to

189). perform a task.

Caroline Filan

AP Lang Summer Work

Grapes of Wrath Journal Entries

2. The ragged man tells of his misfortunes in

California and how there is little food and work.

This foreshadows the unfortunate events to come

and tells how the family will meet extreme

misfortune upon their arrival.

Journal Number 6
Chapter: 18
Quote Reflection
“She’s a nice country. But 1. When I see someone with all of the

she was stole a long time resources however they refuse to use them, I get

ago. You git acrost the rather frustrated because I know of the potential I

desert an’ come into the could accomplish with those resources. This is

country aroun’ Bakersfield. similar to California because the farmers see all of

An’ you never seen such the fallow land and know what they could do with it

purty country—all the if they had the chance.

orchards an’ grapes, thirty 2. The fallow land will not change by the

feet down, and that lan’s current owners and multiple people have been
Caroline Filan

AP Lang Summer Work

Grapes of Wrath Journal Entries

laying’ fallow” (Steinbeck heard returning from California because of the

205). poor, if any, pay and being unable to feed their

family. This foreshadows the tragedy of being

unable to feed all of the mouths of the Joad family.

It also has a Garden of Eden expectation with

orchards and plentiful food; however, California

will fail to live up to this expectation.

Journal Number 7
Chapter: 20
Quote Reflection
“When you’re in jail—you 1. Everyone has a special sense due to his or

get to kinda—sensin’ stuff. her experiences. For example, my dad has met

Guys ain’t let to talk a hell of so many people in his life that he is able to judge

a lot together—two maybe, how a person will behave in the future after

but not a crowd. An’ so you meeting them for only a few minutes. Tom has a

get kinda sensy” (Steinbeck sixth sense due to the fact that he has been in jail

251). and can tell when problems are coming.

2. If Tom has a bad feeling in the future, bad

events are soon to follow. Tom has a special

sense of danger. It proves necessary later during

the fight with the police in which Casy is killed

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Grapes of Wrath Journal Entries

because it allows Tom to act quickly. Tom

parallels Moses because when Tom kills a cop, he

has to hide and is unable to enter the camp with

work just like Moses is unable to enter the

Promised Land for disobeying God.

Journal Number 8
Chapter: 22
Quote Reflection
“You’re hell-burnin’ sinners, 1. Many people believe that their opinions are

all of you! An’ I’ll mention it the only ones that matter just as the women who

in meetin’, too. I can see criticizes Rose of Sharon does. Some will take

your black soul a-burnin’. I their thoughts too far and criticize those who do

can see that innocent child not share them. A large-scale example exists in

in that there girl’s belly a- the Middle East with the Islamic faith and conflict.

burnin’” (Steinbeck 320). 2. Rose worries because of the prediction

made by this woman. Jesus references Rose of

Sharon quite often in the Bible because of its

extreme beauty. When the woman says that she

sees Rose of Sharon’s child burning, it

foreshadows the child’s death and inability to

survive.
Caroline Filan

AP Lang Summer Work

Grapes of Wrath Journal Entries

Journal Number 9
Chapter: 24
Quote Reflection
“They’s change a-comin’. I 1. When everything is going wrong and there

don’ know what. Maybe we is widespread conflict, one can sense change

won’t live to see her. But coming. In the Middle East, I can see change is

she’s a-comin’” (Steinbeck coming to the countries under dictatorships and

345). with little freedom.

2. Though it may not be foreshadowing

anything in particular, it does tell that the family’s

circumstances will change in the near future. With

talk of unions, it could bring better wages, or it

could increase hatred toward the Okies.

Caroline Filan

AP Lang Summer Work

Grapes of Wrath Journal Entries

Journal Number 10
Chapter: 26
Quote Reflection
“I jus’ itch all over. Nervous 1. I can sense when something is wrong. If

as a cat” (Steinbeck 385). something seems suspicious, or there is strange

behavior, I become rather nervous and begin to

freak out slightly.

2. Tom has the sense to sense danger after

being in jail and has sensed that something is

wrong. There are extremely horrible events to

occur shortly and will affect the family’s well being.