BACKGROUND OF THE WORK:

published in 1939, it evokes the harshness of

the Great Depression and arouses sympathy
for the struggles of migrant farmworkers.
The book came to be regarded as an
American classic.
AUTHOR’S BACKGROUND:

born in Salinas, California, came from a

family of moderate means. He worked
his way through college at Stanford
University but never graduated. In 1925
he went to New York, where he tried for
a few years to establish himself as a
free-lance writer, but he failed and
returned to California.
PLOT: # 1
INTRODUCING OF TOM JOAD

Tom Joad was recently released from

prison after serving four years on
murder charges. He must then
hitchhike back to his parents' farm in
rural Oklahoma.
PLOT: # 2
MEETING REVEREND JIM CASEY

Reverend Casey recalls his time as a priest

and how he remembers baptizing Tom
when he was a child. This rekindles Tom
and Reverend Casey's long-forgotten
friendship.
PLOT: # 3
RETURNED HOME

The Joad family farm is completely deserted

when Tom and Jim arrive. A man squatting on
the vacant land informs them that the Joads and
all of the other farming families in the area have
left in search of work.
PLOT: # 4
PASSED BY MESSAGE

The squatting man informs Tom that his parents

have gone to stay with his Uncle John. When
Tom and Jim locate the rest of the Joad family,
they discover that the Joad’s are on their way to
California in search of a better life.
PLOT: # 5
HELLO CALIFORNIA

The Joad family travels to California in search of

work, but they soon encounter a problem. Grandpa
Joad is apprehensive about leaving their Oklahoma
farm. Ma Joad gives him sleeping pills to put him to
sleep because he is very old and possibly senile, so
the Joad’s can begin their journey to California.
PLOT: # 6
FAREWELL GRANDPA

Grandpa becomes ill as the Joad’s approach Oklahoma City.

Fearing for his health, the rest of the family agrees to stop
traveling until he recovers, but it is futile because grandpa
suffers a stroke and dies. Following grandpa's funeral, the Joad’s
meet the Wilson family, who are having car problems on the side
of the road. After assisting the Wilsons in repairing their car, Pa
and Tom form a bond of friendship and trust with the Wilsons,
making the long journey to California much more bearable.
PLOT: # 7
MISFORTUNE IN THE CITY

Pa received a letter from a wealthy man explaining the job

situation in California one night at the camp where the
two families were staying. At this point, the Joad’s
realized their chances of a better life in California were
slim to none. With both physical and emotional issues in
the Wilson household, the Wilsons encourage the Joad’s
to continue the journey without them.
PLOT: # 8
GRANDMA’S BED OF ROSES

The Joad’s quickly discover that Grandma has died

and has been dead since before the inspection. This
breaks Ma Joad's heart. Following Grandma's death,
the Joad family decides to move into a Hooverville
(temporary homeless shelter) with many other people
looking for work. Pa and Tom are both unable to find
work.
PLOT: # 9
TOM’S RAGE BURST OUT

Outraged by the police force's harshness and brutality,

Tom lashes out in violence, severely injuring a police
officer. Jim Casey takes the fall for Tom in order for
him to avoid being arrested and taken away from his
family. Casey is soon cornered by police who accuse
him of being a communist, and a police officer then
strikes Casey over the head with a club, killing him.
PLOT: # 10
AFTER THE STORM

A massive rainstorm devastates California, causing

widespread flooding and causing damage to camps
and Hoovervilles. The Joad’s survive the flood by
hiding in a boxcar and scooping out any water that
enters. With all their losses and emotional stress, the
Joad’s continue to travel around California looking for
any work they can find during such difficult times.
STYLE OF THE AUTHOR’S

CONFLICT

MAN VS HIMSELF

MAN VS SOCIETY
STYLE OF THE AUTHOR’S

FLASHBACK

“FARMER’S ALL OVER THE AREA WERE

FORCED FROM THEIR FARMS BY THE
CATERPILLAR TRACTORS” SAID BY
MULEY GRAVES.
STYLE OF THE AUTHOR’S

FORESHADOWING

IT SHOW’S THE TRIALS AND

CHALLENGES THE JOADS HAVE TO FACE.
THEMES

 Cherish your time your family and loved ones,

cause the day will come they have to leave.
 Not all problem can be resolved through
violence
 A true friend will always catch a grenade for
you
CULTURAL IMPLICATIONS

 MIGRANT CAMP
 TENANT FARMERS
 DIGNITY AND RAGE
 MANSLUTHER
 SENSE OF INJUSTICE
 PRIDE
IMPLICATION OF THE TITLE

The novel's grapes of wrath are the situation the

Joad’s find themselves in in California. In the
Bible and "The Battle Hymn of the Republic,"
the injustice is farmer oppression and
exploitation. "After killing a man, Tom decides
to abandon the family in order to protect them.