GoW.Chapter8

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=1.) Summary=



Chapter 8 opens up with Tom Joad and Jim Casy walking down the road towards Uncle John’s home. As they traverse the road they begin to talk about Muley and how his loneliness was beginning to drive him mad, this conversation inspiring the topic of Tom’s Uncle John. Uncle John, we learn, was a carefree person in his earlier years whose disposition would be changed by the death of his wife. Feeling himself guilty he would blame himself for his stinginess in seeing to her needs and begins be overly generous, as if that would acquit him of his sins and bring back his dead wife. As they finish their conversation they arrive at Uncle John’s home and spot Tom’s father repairing the truck they plan to take across to California.

Here we are introduced to most of Tom’s family, that is his, father, mother, older brother, grandfather, and grandmother, each carrying their own distinct personalities and attributes. After the introduction and a noisy reunion in which Tom’s mother inquires after her son’s sanity, the Joad family, plus one ex-priest, sit down to sup. Before they do the grandmother demands that Casy make a prayer before they have their meal. Casy does so, reluctantly, but instead of giving a conventional prayer he reflects upon his experiences after abandoning priesthood and his conclusion of what truly is holy.

Following breakfast Tom and his father go outside to talk of the other two missing family members, Al and Rose of Sharon. We learn that Rose of Sharon has married and become pregnant during the four years that Tom has been gone. As the Joad men begin to get ready for their trip to leave, Al walks in and reunites with his older brother. Al, thinking that which is marked as troublesome and defiant as “cool”, adores his older brother for his ill reputation gained through jail time, and is slightly put out to discover his brother was let out on parole and had not broken out to meet them.This is the best book ever. NOT.............

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 =2.) Passages=

Jim Casy’s breakfast prayer: “an’ I got thinkin’, on’y it wasn’t thinkin’, it was deeper down than thinkin’. I got thinkin’ how we was holy when we was one thing, an’ makin’ was holy when it was one thing. An’ it on’y got unholy when one mis’able little fella got the bit in his teeth an’ run off his own way, kickin’ an’ draggin’ an fightin’. Fella like that bust the holiness. But when they’re all workin’ together, not once fella for another fella, but one fella kind of harnessed to the whole shebang – that’s right, that’s holy.”

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 =3.) Reading Questions=

What do the faces of the Joad Family reveal about them? What is Ma's philosophy of "holdin' on?"

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 =4.) Discussion Questions=

What purpose does Steinbeck's straightforward descriptions of the characters in Grapes of Wratch serve to accomplish?

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 =5.)Song=



Above The Winter Moonlight - Dragonforce

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5-1.)Lyrics
On wings of burning fire across the oceans far The legends of the seven seas and mystic fallen star Their laden ships are sailing on towards the sun To the island of the everlasting chosen one

Face our fear along the way our freedom will prevail The crown and the shining light Punishment and anger in the fire of your soul Prepare the eternal fight

Lost in a dream in a boundless sea Rivers of pain are guiding me Defending this land from the sins of man Never surrender our dreams again

Ride forever onwards stare into the sun Where hopes and dreams are everlasting marching on and on Rise another day across the distant skies Where the dawn above the winter moonlight shines upon the fall of our lives

Insanity sublime shall make my bleeding heart Feel cold and fearless anger rising far beyond the dark In search of might and wisdom sacrifice our souls In the name of truth and justice never to be told

Face our fear along the way our freedom will prevail The crown and the shining light Punishment and anger in the fire of your soul Prepare the eternal fight

Can you not feel the eternal pain Flows through your heart and every vein The torture begins and it breaks you down Nothing to save when the soul is gone

Ride forever onwards stare into the sun...

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5-2.)Theme Song Analysis:
"Above the Winter Moonlight" connects to chapter eight in its many refrences to travel to a new land, where dreams seem to await those the song is addressing. Like the Joads, those the song is addressing will face hardship, as Line 5 reveals.

Overall, the song brings about a theme of "survival over all things" which is reflected in the novel where the Joads are giving up everything they have ever had and lived for and are getting ready to leave.

However, like the chapter, the song seems to reveal that the listeners have not left yet, as the Joads still must.

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5-3.)Hear The Theme Song


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//**Passages Answers**//

This breakfast prayer is Casy expressing the idea that only through uniting with one another can people expect to accomplish things of greatness. This is the author once again hinting at the advantages and worth of socialism. He implies that the independence of the current system is faulty at best and that socialism is the key to divinity

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//**Reading Question Answers**//

Pa's face reveals that he is a strong, farm-built man. His strength seems to reveal that he is the breadwinner of the family, raising the crops on the farm and making sure that it continues to run. However, his role as a farmer at this point in the novel (chapter eight) is devoid of any farming, his character is forced to focus all of his strength to instead leading his family into California.

Ma's face seemed to speak of her as a wise figurehead, but not in strength, though she has the power to control the family should she need. She seems to be the fastening force for the family, keeping them together.She seemed, also, to be someone who would keep the family in better moods should disasters befall them.

Grampa seemed a sort of wily old man, with his odd stepping, and poor attire. Grandma was, of course pious seeming, and almost the exact opposite of grampa.

Noah's face, being slightly distorted in length, revealed his oddity. Noah was thought to be, by Pa, changed by one of his actions during his birth. Noah appears to be introverted and fairly emotionless compared to an ordinary person.

Al's face gave the impression that he was a slick teenager, one who was always up to something. Al also revealed that he held a profound intelligence. Also, his face revealed that he wanted to become alike someone, as he changes its expressions to match Toms later.

Ma's philosophy of "holdin' on" is her belief that the family should stay together at all costs. She wants to "hold on" to the family through the harsh times. This is also reflected in her strong personality, which is an anchor for the family throughout the novel.

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//**Discussion Questions Answers**//

The simple descriptions which Steinbeck uses gives to his characters a sense of duty. They, henceforth are understood to act by thier descriptions. Morever, the descriptiosn of the characters allow for the settings to take charge of the story. Everything is allready known about the characters, but there is still much to be known about the changing surroundings.

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