Special Prompts
You are reading, and your sibling asks you, "hey, what's that book about?"
Write a detailed response to your sibling, including at least one lesson someone could learn about life by reading it.
What are the differences between families, the Hamiltons and the Trasks? What was life in the old times?
Consider Charles' will: it stipulates that half of Charles' money should go to Cathy.
Why do you think Charles included this stipulation instead of giving it all to Adam? What does it suggest about his relationships with the both of them?
What is Charles included in this stipulation, giving it to Adam and Cathy to split it equally between husband and wife?
Find a quote/passage from Ch. 32-33 that helps reveal the close bond shared between Tom and Dessie.
Then discuss: in what ways do they complicate the novel's depiction of sibling relationships? BONUS (100pts): Which Hamilton brother inadvertently contributes to Tom's deep depressive state?
What is "Tom and Dessie, fingertips touching, were doing a courtly heel-and-toe while he sand Doodle-doodle-doo and Dessie sang Deedle-deedle0dee and then embraced again"( Steinbeck 393).
How does the info we receive about Charles' last 12 years without Adam contribute to our understanding of his symbolic connections to Cain? Have these connections held strong? (p. 371-372)
What it shows how his hatred was for the world and his desires?
Why do you think Tom is looked down upon by Will for writing poetry? (p. 392)
What is a man writing poetry was looked down upon writing poetry.
Grab a blank sheet of paper. Collaborate to draw a quick sketch of Cathy/Kate during the moments following Adam's most recent departure from the brothel (p. 385, paragraph starting with "Kate sat down and stared...")
Add a thought bubble which contains her likely thoughts after being psychoanalyzed by Adam.
What was she thinking about how she missed him and was sorrowful?
We've noted some similarities between Cal and Charles... but what similarities does Cal share with a young Adam?
Find a quote that represents Cal's similarities to Adam. (100 bonus pts. per additional quote)
What is Cal is sympathetic to his brother, who is like Adam?
"'It will,' Said Cal. And in his mind he cried, 'don't let me be mean'" (Steinbeck 380).
Relate Lee's character to the concept/theme of duality of man. How does his outward persona conflict with his truest motivations?
BONUS (+100): What might Steinbeck be trying to argue through this conflicting aspect of Lee's character?
He is trying to fit the expectations of the others
Which side does Steinbeck seem to lean towards regarding the nature vs. nurture argument, based on the novel so far? (BONUS: do you agree?)
What is Steinbeck's leaning towards nurture, given that he says Cathy is a monster?
I agree with this because Cathy does all of these things, proving she's a monster.
Tom blames himself for Dessie's death, calling it a 'murder' in his own head (408).
Do you agree or disagree with his estimation? Explain.
Imagine that Charles had been sending letters to Adam throughout the 11 years between Adam's move and Charles' death... but each letter got lost somehow.
From Charles' POV, write a theoretical final letter to Adam.
Near the end of Part 3, it is revealed that Adam is buying Dessie's house in Salinas... where Kate owns her brothel.
Aron does not yet know that she is still alive. Make a prediction: if Aron finds out, how could his relationship with Adam be affected?
What is I think their relationship will be broken because Adam has been lying to Aron all this time.
Do Steinbeck's portrayals of women so far align with modern portrayals of women in media and/or literature? Provide reasons for the yes and/or no side.
What is yes, whenever people portray girls, they always talk about their features and don't talk about their personality.
What does Ch. 29 (the chapter about Adam learning how to turn on his new Ford) suggest about Steinbeck's views about modernity's promise to make the world better?
What is Steinbeck wants to show it will make everything better.
Remember Timshel, the Hebrew word for "thou mayest", which Lee determined represents humans' choice to conquer sin.
Where does Tom fall on a hypothetical spectrum of whether or not he embodies Lee's idea, and how do we know? (Use p. 407-410.)
What is realizing and embodying the agency to choose good over inherited sin, transitioning from a place of fear regarding his nature (similar to Cain) to accepting the responsibility of the "thou mayest".