Rhetorical Strategies

Rhetorical Strategies

            John Steinbeck’s novel, The Grapes of Wrath, presents its readers with many rhetorical strategies, such as the following:

• ·      Personification- “The wind cried and whimpered,” (Steinbeck, 2).
  
• ·      Personification- “The truck tires sang on the road,” (Steinbeck, 9).
  
• ·      Biblical allusion- “’Preacher an’ his wife stayed at our place one time. Jehovites they was…’” (Steinbeck, 23).
  
• ·      Metonymy- “The bank—the monster has to have profits all the time…When the monster stops growing, it dies,” (Steinbeck, 32).
  
• ·      Parallelism- “He could not see the land as it was, he could not smell the land as it smelled; his feet did not stamp the clods or feel the warmth and power of the earth…” (Steinbeck, 35).
  
• ·      Volta- occurs on page 126 the tone shifts from suspicion to sorrow. Originally, Tom is defensive because a man is questioning who they are and where they come from. However there is a quick shift in tone when they become friendly with each other.
  

Throughout Steinbeck’s novel he includes many rhetorical strategies to illustrate the conditions of the Great Depression; that was the main goal of the personification and metaphors used by Steinbeck. Steinbeck also utilized metonymies for the purpose of style. Each metonymy he uses is specific and thought through. For example, he uses a monster to represent the bank; this is not the kindest representation but it illustrates for the readers the true animosity of the people during the time. It also adds to his flow to result in some of his writing being poetic.

Diction

Diction

            The Grapes of Wrath displays an informal diction. John Steinbeck uses the following words and phrases to create a tone for his novel:

• ·      “The sky grayed,” (Steinbeck, 67).
  
• ·      “Soften ‘em up, Joe. Jesus, I wisht I had a thousand jalopies! Get em’ ready to deal an’ I’ll close ‘em,” (Steinbeck, 66).
  
• ·      “Moody and silent,” (Steinbeck, 154).
  
• ·      “…eyes still wet with pain,” (Steinbeck, 305).
  
• ·      “A-whippin’,” (Steinbeck, 307).
  
• ·      “…in the half-gloom, the black shapes of people moved about,” (Steinbeck, 377).
  

Steinbeck consistently uses low-diction words that can be easily understood. This normally results in a seemingly easy read, however; in this case, Steinbeck creates an authenticity with this technique. He writes of a time in which there was little to no education at all. Also consider that many people paid little mind to speaking eloquently because their focus was so centralized on whether they would eat or not that night. You can see the low-level diction in all the quotes above.

When writing his novel, Steinbeck wanted authenticity and therefore he chose words that were specific to the time period, in that location, used by those specific type of people—class and race. Phrases such as “a-whippin’” illustrate the time period and result in it coming to life in many ways. 

Syntax

Syntax

            John Steinbeck’s, The Grapes of Wrath, displays unique writing patterns. Steinbeck clearly wanted to use different writing styles to convey a certain tone and to fulfill different purposes.

            John Steinbeck writes in two distinct fashions. Steinbeck uses a conventional writing style when regarding the Joad family. However, when he wishes to reveal a story not centralized around the Joad family, Steinbeck neglects the quotation marks in any of the dialogue. This helps readers to ultimately understand the purpose of the piece, which was partly a purpose of educating the uneducated on the hardships of the Great Depression.

            When referencing route-66, Steinbeck utilizes short, declarative sentences. These short sentences are stylistic. We quickly the of the urgency of car salesmen during the Great Depression, therefore it is appropriate that the sentences referring to cars be short and exclusive. This technique also creates a lively tone for that portion of the novel. The rhythm created by the sentences is jumpy and therefore makes it easier and more of a flow to read.

            Throughout the novel, Steinbeck utilizes different techniques to redraw the reader’s attention, one of those being the short, declarative sentences. Additionally, one of the purposes behind the novel is emphasized because Steinbeck intentionally leaves out quotation marks in specific parts of the novel.

Personal Review

Personal Review

            In the past I have not been one of Steinbeck’s largest fans. However, The Grapes of Wrath had a different effect on me; I was eventually drawn into the novel and can now say that my opinion of the writer has changed. In middle school I read Steinbeck’s, The Pearl, the book was much shorter than The Grapes of Wrath and less of an exciting novel.

            When reading The Grapes of Wrath I enjoyed Steinbeck’s ability to hold intrigue throughout the novel. The novel was written such that many events occurred. It seemed as if the Joad family was always facing new adversity, this drama causes the reader to feel a sensation that makes it nearly impossible for them to put the book down. While reading I always wanted to know what happened next. The downfall to the many intense and intriguing situations was a run-on chain of events. When there is constantly a hardship taking place, and not only a small one such as not enough water, but a large obstacle, it is difficult for me to relate to the text. Relating to the text is very important for readers because it gives them the opportunity to comprehend the true feelings of the characters. Possible the author wanted that element of unknowing and sympathy for his characters, however, personally I felt that some occurrences became too wordy and over-drawn.

            John Steinbeck’s, The Grapes of Wrath, is a novel that stands out because of the time it depicts. The Great Depression is a sore time in American history, and many people hope not to write about it, as one who enjoys writing, that would be my guess. The novel definitely had its positives and negatives for me; however, I respect Steinbeck for choosing the time period he did.

Text Connections

Connecting to the Text

            Most of my young life I have been lucky enough to not have been faced with the tragedy of death; however, the past year adversity has entered my life in the form of death. John Steinbeck’s, The Grapes of Wrath, a novel set in the era of the Great Depression, finally became appealing to me when I read of Grampa’s death. I became emotionally attached to The Grapes of Wrath as Grampa faded away from a stroke.

            Grampa passed away shortly into the Joad family’s journey across the country to California. They were in search of a better life after being pushed from their homeland in the South. Paralleling my life, I recently said goodbye to my dead Grandmother. There is something about a lifeless body that makes a person think about their own life and its worth. In the story of Tom Joad and his family, Grampa’s death is the first death to really convey a theme in the novel: life vs. death. Life in many ways represents the West, a hope for survival and prosperity in a time of heartache and death. Death then representing the fate they were escaping. As Casy, the preacher, says the prayers for Grampa at his small funeral, he iterates the importance of life and its dominance over the insignificant dead. This was something I realized while standing over my Grandmother’s dead body; it was not the time I had missed with her that was significant, it was the time that I was now going to make a point to spend with my relatives who still had life in them. Throughout the novel it is emphasized—especially with the Joad’s will to never turn back home—that looking forward is of utmost importance; looking back is like looking back to death, hopeless and helpless.