The Joad Family’s Journey in The Grapes of Wrath
The Grapes of Wrath: Key Events
- Tom is let out of prison on parole. (1)
- The Joad family leaves their home and starts traveling west. (2)
- Grandpa dies. (3)
- The family has to leave a camp before the cops burn it. (4)
- The Joad family arrives at the government camp. (5)
- The people on the camp work together to stop troublemakers at the Saturday dance. (6)
- The family starts work on another camp where the old workers are on strike. (7)
- Casy is killed, and Tom attacks the man who did it. (8)
- Ma gives money to Tom and tells him to run away to somewhere safe. (9)
- Water pours down the bank that the men have built and floods the truck. (10)
- Rose of Sharon gives breast milk to a starving man. (11)
Frequently Asked Questions
Why had Tom been in prison?
Tom was in prison for killing a man with a shovel.
Why did the owners of the farms in Oklahoma not need tenant farmers any longer?
Because tractors could do the work of many men.
Which member of the Joad family refused to leave Oklahoma?
Grandpa.
Why did Ma say that Grandma was ill when she knew she was dead?
So that they could cross the inspection station.
Which of these statements about the government camp is NOT true?
The deputy sheriffs destroyed it.
Who never traveled with the Joads?
Aggie Wainwright.
Why was it difficult for the workers on the peach farm to earn enough money?
Because the pay per box went down.
Why was Casy killed?
Because he was organizing a strike.
Why did Tom have to hide?
Because he had killed the man who had killed Casy.
Why did Tom have to leave his hiding place in the cave?
Because his sister had told people that he had killed a man.
Conditional Sentences
- Mr. Thomas told the workers, ‘If I don’t pay less, I won’t get a bank loan next year.’
- The chairman said, ‘If there is any fighting, the deputies will move in.’
- Rose of Sharon said, ‘If Connie hadn’t gone away, we would have had a little house by now.’
- Ma said, ‘If you were well, I would hit you hard across the face.’
- An angry man said, ‘If Joad hadn’t had that fool idea about the bank, we would have gotten out.’
- Mrs. Wainwright said, ‘If we were in trouble, you would help us.
- Tom said, ‘We will get burned up if we go in daylight.’
- The deputy warned Tom, ‘If you say any more, you will be in the car too.’
Prepositions
- The police set fire to the camp to force the people to move.
- The wind blew clouds of dust around the fields.
- The Californians were worried that the Okies would settle down and stay on their land.
- The migrants were desperate for work and took any job.
- The angry and hungry Okies were getting ready to fight back.
- The men were racing against the rain as they tried to build the bank in time to stop the flood.
- Tom had to avoid getting into trouble with the police as he was on parole.
- Ma told Rose of Sharon that she had to stop feeling sorry for herself.
Odd One Out
- Which one is NOT a person? a) preacher b) migrant c) liar d) cover
- Which one is NOT a person? a) hitch-hiker b) rifle c) stranger d) guest
- Which one is NOT connected with the countryside/nature? a) stream b) bush c) ditch d) debt
- Which one is NOT connected with cooking? a) stir b) stove c) fence d) fry
- Which one is NOT connected with cars/vehicles? a) engine b) brakes c) tire d) dust
- Which one is NOT connected with farming? a) blanket b) tractor c) harvest d) crop
- Which one is NOT connected with money? a) loan b) wage c) mattress d) profit
- Which one is NOT a part of the body? a) cheek b) forehead c) crawl d) chin
- Which one is NOT an adjective? a) sore b) homeless c) waterproof d) stare
Key Locations
Oklahoma, California, Texas, The Gulf of Mexico, Highway 66, Arizona, New Mexico
Cars and Trucks
Trucks/cars engine, radiator, brakes, hood, tire
Money
Profit, debt, worth, wages, loan, credit
Farming
Crop, corn, soil, ripen, vineyard, pick, orchard