Chapters 27-30: The Ghost of Tom Joad

Tom's been in hiding since his latest dealings with a man who wronged his people. Worried - Ma tracks him down behind a tangle of vines in a lightless cave. She needed to visit him at night - one last time - alone.

They sat silent in the coal-black cave of vines. Ma said, "How'm I gonna know 'bout you? They might kill ya an' I wouldn' know. They might hurt ya. How'm I gonna know?"

Tom laughed uneasily, "Well, maybe like Casy says, a fella ain't got a soul of his own, but on'y a piece of a big one - an' then -"

"Then what, Tom?'

"Then it don't matter. Then I'll be all aroun' in the dark. I'll be ever'where - whereever you look. Whereever they's a fight so hungry people can eat, I'll be there. Whereever they's a cop beatin' up a guy, I'll be there. If Casy knowed, why, I'll be in the way guys yell when they're mad an' - I'll be in the way kids laugh when they're hungry an' they know supper's ready. An' when our folks eat the stuff they raise an' live in the houses they build - why, I'll be there. See?"

Listen to the Rage Against the Machine cover, "The Ghost of Tom Joad" (found in shared all) and post a response to the idea the Tom was talking about. What does he mean by the above statement? What conclusions has he come to about the dire situation the migrants have found themselves in? How might this be about the idea of leadership as it relates to poor v. rich in society?

Chapters 21-26: What Jail Taught a Preacher

The men in the tent chuckled. A wizened little man with a wrinkled face slapped his knee. "Talks all the time," he said. "Folks kinda likes to hear 'im though."
"Use' ta be a preacher," said Tom. "Did he tell that?"
"Sure, he told."
Casy grinned. "Well, sir," he went on, "I begin gettin' at things. Some a them fellas in the tank was drunks, bur mostly they was there 'cause they stole stuff; an' mostly it was stuff they needed an' couldn' get no other way. Ya see?" he asked.
"No," said Tom.
"Well, they was nice fellas, ya see. What made 'em bad was they needed stuff. An' I begin to see, then. It's need that makes all the trouble. I ain't got it worked out. Well, one day they give us some beans that was sour. One fella started yellin', an' nothin' happened. He yelled his head off. Trusty come along an' looked in an' went on. Then another fella yelled. Well, sir, then we all got yellin'. And we all got on the same tone. an' I tell ya, it jus' seemed like that tank bulged an' give and swelled up. By God! Then somepin happened! They come a-runnin', and they give us some other stuff to eat - give it to us. Ya see?"
"No," said Tom.
Casy put his chin down on his hands. "Maybe I can't tell you," he said. "Maybe you got to find out."


In this conversation between Casy and Tom, we can see that being jailed has taught the preacher a life lesson. Tom is unable to piece Casy's epiphany together, but we may be able to come to understand what Casy learned.

In this post, please share the big idea that Casy realized and it's importance to a larger idea depicted in the novel.

Chapters 17-20: Life in Hooverville

As the Joads make it into California, not everything is like they expected it to be. They are first introduced to a new way of living in the Hoovervilles that dot the landscape.

One of the first experiences Ma Joad has was what to do with the little food they have and so many mouths to feed in the encampment. This dilemma eats away at her.

React to Ma's behavior at the stewpot and her statement: "We're the people that live. They ain't gonna wipe us out. Why, we're the people - we go on."

Chapters 14-16: "This is the beginning - from 'I' to 'we.'"

"The two men squatting in a ditch, the little fire, the side-meat stewing in a single pot, the silent, stone-eyed women; behind, the children listening with their souls to words their minds do not understand.  The night draws down.  The baby has a cold.  Here, take this blanket.  It's wool.  It was my mother's blanket - take it for the baby.  This is the thing to bomb.  This is the beginning - from 'I' to 'we.'
     The Western States are nervous under the beginning change.  Need is the stimulus to concept, concept to action.  A half-million people moving over the country; a million more restive, ready to move; ten million more feeling the first nervousness.
      And tractors turning the multiple furrows in the vacant land."

Please complete a second-draft read of chapter 14 and in a short essay, show how the ideas expressed in Chapter 14 are illustrated in the next two chapters.  Be sure to include at least one quoted instance from Chapter 15 and 16 that help to support your claims.

Chapters 7-13: Personal Connections

This post is meant to help you think about the reading that you've done so far.  Your blog post should use the same format as what you see below.  If you'd like you may copy and paste it to your new post and complete the entry.

<Begin with a freewrite about your book. Write non-stop about your book. What have you been thinking about your book since you read last?>

I <am / am not> <verb ending with "-ing" that shows emotion> <Title>, by <Author's First and Last Name> because <Finish this sentence.> An example of what I mean is on page < ___ >.  "<Copy a couple of lines or a paragraph from the book.>" I think this is <adjective> because... <Add 1 or 2 sentences>
So far, the <plot / characters / themes> in <Title> reminds me of something important in my life. For me. <Finish this one, then add 3 or 4 more sentences explaining how you see the big idea of this book playing out in your life.>

I <am / am not> looking forward to reading the rest of this book because <Add 2 or 3 sentences explaining why you feel this way.> What's probably going to happen next is <Make predictions about what will happen next to one or more of the characters in your book>

Chapters 3-6: Economic and Political Pressures

When Tom makes it home with Casy he is surprised to find that his family has been run off the farm.  Before long, the men meet up with Muley Graves and over dinner they discuss what happened.

Discuss the role of the banks, the impact on the farmers, and why farmers decide to work with the banks to, "look out for their own."

Chapters 1-2: Meeting Tom Joad

    The hitch-hiker stood up and looked across through the windows.
"Could ya give me a lift, mister?"
    The driver looked quickly back at the restaurant for a second.  "Didn't you see the No Riders sticker on the win'shield?"
    "Sure - I seen it.  But sometimes a guy'll be a good guy even if some rich bastard makes him carry a sticker."
    The driver, getting slowly into the truck, considered the parts of this answer.  If he refused now, not only was he not a good guy, but he was forced to carry a sticker, was not allowed to have company.  If he took in the hitch-hiker he was automatically a good guy and also he was not one whom any rich bastard could kick around. 

There is a lot going on in the first conversation we see with Tom Joad and the truck driver.  Please consider the deeper meaning of this introduction and post a response that discusses Tom's persuasive technique for getting the ride and the drivers reasoning behind breaking company rules.  Your response should include some references to how the poor may view the wealthy.