Product Description

The original CliffsNotes study guides offer a look into key elements and ideas within classic works of literature. The latest generation of titles in this series also features glossaries and visual elements that complement the familiar format.

CliffsNotes on The Grapes of Wrath explores John Steinbeck’s Pulitzer Prize–winning ––and controversial – novel, a work based on the what the author saw for himself as a reporter covering migrant worker camps.

Following the story of the Joad family as they travel from the Oklahoma Dust Bowl to California in search of farming opportunities and wealth, this study guide provides summaries and critical commentaries for each part within the novel.  Other features that help you figure out this important work include

• Personal background on the author, including career highlights
• Introduction to and synopsis of the book
• In–depth character analyses
• Critical essays to take you into the author’s personal philosophy
• Review section that features interactive questions and suggested essay topics and practice projects
• Resource Center with books, films, and Web sites that can help round out your knowledge

Classic literature or modern–day treasure — you′ll understand it all with expert information and insight from CliffsNotes study guides.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #81827 in Books
• Published on: 2000-06-05
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 100 pages

From the Back Cover
Steinbeck wrote this book to bring into the spotlight the plight of migrant workers. In The Grapes of Wrath a migrant family travels from the Oklahoma Dust Bowl to California only to be exploited by the agricultural system. The ferocity of resulting attacks on Steinbeck and his politics point to the truth and power of the stories told in this novel.

About the Author
Kelly McGrath Vlcek is completing her Masters degree in American Literature very close to Steinbeck country along the central coast of California. She is currently teaching junior high language arts and literature classes.

Customer Reviews

A comprehensive and wonderfully-assembled study aid.
This interesting study aid offers more than just a chapter-by-chapter commentary. Its main features include a brief biography of John Steinbeck; an introduction to The Grapes of Wrath; an exploration of the novel's themes; character analysis; example critical essays; and last - but by no means least - essay questions and practice projects. All of these attributes flow beautifully to create a comprehensive and wonderfully assembled study-aid.

Personally, I found it very useful in the way the author has stressed features such as Theme; Character Insight; Literary Device; and Style & Language by placing icons that represent each of these four areas in the margin of the text. It allows the reader to easily draw important topics from each episode and construct a very informative critical essay.

Moreover, a glossary review in each section relating to the chapter in the novel alleviates some of the strain in attempting to understand the dialect that is used by Steinbeck.

Conversely, the lack of detail in the character profiles reflect the rating I have given this title. They do not cover enough ground and are primarily concerned with fact instead of the transformations in their nature as they tackle more and more dilemmas within the novel.

In conclusion, this study aid will most definitely contribute to the understanding of the novel itself providing it is used in conjunction. What is more, it does not flood the reader with knowledge but also allows room for individual thinking. It covers many areas such as theme and literary devices particularly well but lacks in detail in character progression and this is reflected in my overall rating.