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 the diffrent families in the early 1900s and the discuvering themes of good and evil, as well as social steriotypes of the time
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 Carel's knowing about the rocky relationship they had even before they moved to California, and knew that if he sent it just to Adam, it might not go to both of them. Also looking at the fact they spent at least one night together, he probably felt some connection/responsibility to her.
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?
How about "Dessie cares for Tom tenderly during his emotional collapse, treating him with a softness and protectiveness that feels deeper than ordinary sibling affection."?
Is it because they complicate the novel's depiction of sibling relationships by showing their unusually intimate and emotionally dependent bond?
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 wealthy through farming and isolated himself. This contrasts with the story of Cain and Able becasue he never actually slays Able
Why do you think Tom is looked down upon by Will for writing poetry? (p. 392)
What is that it isn't a very manly or well-paid job. It doesn't require a lot of hard manual labor or business skills like Tom is used to using for his profession.
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 "Well, dame, one less man in my network of play things"?
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)
How about, he shares Adams desire to be loved by someone else sharing his same nieve and idealization of a girl who many or many not be right for them. "He wanted to be loved. He wanted it more than anything in the world."
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 is a very smart character, but in order to fit into stereotypes, he needs to be stupid. This conflicts with his true motivations because he want's to know more about the world but he can't without facing prejudices.
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 leans towards the side that naure determins how a person acts not nature.
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, disagree. How could Tom know what was going on with Dessie. He acted how he felt was corect and that just so happend to not work and kill her. It was an acident and while it was corect to beat himself up over it that doesn't mean it's wright.
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 "I know you have been distant for the last 11 years, and I don't know if it has been because you recognize my evil doings throughout our childhood or if that hag of a wife you have has finally got you six feet under, but I really miss you, brother. I have had a happy but lonely life here on the farm. I have acquired quite a wealth to my name, but I don't know the point of it, saying I have nobody to share it with. I can feel my lungs giving out on me. I don't know if I'll be on this earth much longer. Can you grant your dear dying brother one last wish of at least acknowledging his pitiful attempts of reconection before his last breath?"
Seriously,
Charels
(P.S. If you are to write back, do so fast)
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, he might feel betrayed. He had lied to Cal his entire life and now with the perswashion and curoption of kate who knows what she will tell him.
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, women in modern-day media are always fighting for equal say as men and being natrual but Steinbeck's women are perfect representation of falling into steritypes and conforming to what a man thinks a women should be.
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 It sugestes that if you do not hop on the trend of mondrnity then you will be left behind. This is sgested by the character that does not agree and sticks his nose up by Adams car.
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.)