The Road
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Almost As Bleak As Cormac McCarthy's The Road... but not quite as apocalyptic. In The Grapes of Wrath the road wears more (symbolic) hats than a pic...
Bugs
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A Bug's LifeThere are more insects and insect-y images in this novel than you could shake a flyswatter at. When Tom Joad hitches a ride with a truck...
Music
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Please Do Stop The MusicIn the days before playlists, you got music where you could: from a banjo, a harmonica, a washboard... or even a car. For the...
The Turtle, the Joad Dog, and Other Furry Friends
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Roadkill CafeWhy did the turtle cross the road? To get to the other side... and because he had no idea what kinds of sociopaths were behind the wheel....
Yellows, Grays, and Reds
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More Washed Out Than A "Toaster" FilterOur narrator often describes the gold and yellow color of the Oklahoma landscape. He says, "The yellowing, dust...
Farming
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Little Farm On The PrairieFarming is pretty miraculous when you stop and think about it (besides thinking "Yum, corn!" or "The potato is probably the...
The Bank Monster
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Bank Monsters Inc.You do not want these things hiding out under your bed. Or in your closet. Or anywhere near your farm.When landowners kick tenant fa...
Blood
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There Will Be BloodThe Grapes of Wrath is full of the red stuff. Consider the slaughtering of the pigs, the way Tom cuts his hand fixing the touring c...
The West
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Go West, Young ManThe idea of going west has been a central part of the American consciousness for a loooong time. Remember Lewis and Clark? Remember...
The Sun
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Here Comes The SunThe sun is an omnipresent force in the Joads' life, and one that they can't escape. And they want to—this is no beach vacation.Man...