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 is two families, the Hamiltons and the Trasks and their lives in Salinas, California, and a life lesson you could learn is 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 this stipulation because he wanted it to be equal for their marriage, which he knew Adam loved, and it suggests that he loves Adam and he knows that Adam would want half the money to go to Cathy if they were still married.
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 sang Doodle-doodle-doo and Dessie sang Deedle-deedle-dee, and then they embraced again." (Steinbeck, 393). They complicate sibling relationships by showing the good relations like with Tom and Dessie, and bad relations like with Tom and Will available with siblings.
Bonus: What is Will Hamilton made Tom more depressed.
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 is he works on the farm a lot and is isolated from everyone, just like how Cain was cursed to wander the Earth forever and work the land.
Why do you think Tom is looked down upon by Will for writing poetry? (p. 392)
What is it was looked down upon at the time for men to write poetry and they would be seen as weak.
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 is "I can't believe that he was able to get free of my control."
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 for his brother, even with his tendencies to be manipulative, 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?
What is Lee tries to put up a front similar to how men try to be someone or something they aren't to feel better about themselves.
Bonus: What is he was trying to fit the expectations of the time, which shows how stereotyping can affect people to make them not be themselves.
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 seems to lean towards nurture because of his opinion of Cathy being born a monster.
Bonus: What is I disagree because Cathy had a bad childhood and this can cause her to do many evil things.
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.
What is I disagree because he was unaware that it would kill her and he was only trying to help, so this would be manslaughter or accidental murder.
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.
What is "Dear Adam, I never got any response from you over these 11 years, but I hope you are well. I am sick of lung cancer and dying. You and Cathy can split the money since I know you love her so much. I want you to know I always loved you. From, Charles."
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 that Aron's relationship with Adam will be worse since Adam lied to Aron, but I think Aron might be a bit understanding once he realizes what his mom did.
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 no because men then viewed women more objectively than nowadays, rather than what they are beyond their appearances.
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's views are showing that modernity's promise is complicated, but it does help the world.
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 Tom does embody Lee's idea since he talks with his sins in his mind, and chooses not to conquer them.