Grapes

Finmandos12 · 09-03-2001, 09:17 PM

I have to read Grapes of Wrath and man, its boring! He spend a whole chapter talking about a turtle crossing aroaad! ARGH!

AACHOO · 09-04-2001, 01:22 AM

Patience grasshopper,'tis a work of literary greatness.

Sakata · 09-13-2001, 10:01 PM

yikes, I got to read that in a few months for English class, is it really bad?

Finmandos12 · 09-14-2001, 03:55 PM

It is UNIMAGINABLY BORING!!!

Sakata · 09-20-2001, 11:47 PM

Thanks for encourgement...

Finmandos12 · 10-02-2001, 08:49 AM

It's gotten a little better Sakata, once you get to about the 20th chapter..... (sigh)

Sakata · 10-03-2001, 01:35 AM

How many pages?

Werewolf · 10-17-2001, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by AACHOO
Patience grasshopper,'tis a work of literary greatness.

I didnt think it was that great...

Renille · 10-19-2001, 09:01 PM

A turtle crossing the road??? Is there really a chapter about a turtle crossing the road??? What is the book about, anyway? (I'm sure I'll have to read it at one point in the next 4 years of accelerated english courses.)

Churl · 10-23-2001, 03:24 PM

To me, The Grapes of Wrath is a great, yet unpretentious, masterpiece. That said, it's very sad and devoid of many uplifting moments.

Without revealing any of the plot, it's largely about people doing what they have to (and eventually whatever they can) to survive when everything they had is torn away from them.

What struck me most was its scope: sure, there's a passage involving a turtle crossing a road … undoubtedly full of symbolism which is best interpreted in the context of the story. But there's also a chapter which sweeps across the entirety of 1930s California, revealing the population's factions by exploring their goals, fears, and plans. (Trust me: it's more interesting than I make it sound.)

Something that might have helped my enjoyment of the book is the fact that I read it by choice, not "under the gun" in a classroom setting. I also read it in my late twenties instead of in high school, for whatever that's worth.

I doubt that anyone would describe The Grapes of Wrath as a "fun" read. But for me, at least, it was definitely worthwhile.

Finmandos12 · 11-01-2001, 09:20 PM

I finished it a while ago, and the ending was *different* to say the least. (shudder)

How far are you Sakata.

Churl · 11-02-2001, 02:36 AM

You're right … without ruining anything, the ending is rather shocking, even today. Considering the social climate at the time, I can only imagine readers' reactions when it was first published!

Elanor · 01-15-2002, 01:01 AM

In my opinion Grapes's controversial nature is the main (perhaps the only) reason it's so popular among English classes. They never have you read The Lord of the Rings (unless you are lucky enough to have a very intelligent teacher), although it's full of symbolic and historically relevant (although as Tolkien says, not based on current history) material, as well as many thoughtful insights on life and religion. My AP English teacher in HS said it's not considered "of literary merit", I can only guess because it's not all that controversial. It astonishes and amazes people but doesn't really make them mad by deliberately challenging and offending their beliefs like Grapes does.

Churl · 01-15-2002, 02:55 PM

Well, I do think there's a lot to The Grapes of Wrath, but at the same time, I have absolutely no patience with people (teachers especially) who casually dismiss The Lord of the Rings or other great works of genre fiction.

Admittedly, there are a lot of bad fantasy novels. But there are also a lot of bad "realistic" novels as well. Just because Jackie Collins wrote 20th century mainstream American fiction, does that mean that Faulkner, Welty, Steinbeck, Buck, Ellison, Fitzgerald, Hurston, Cather, or Hemingway are equally irrelevant? Of course not. And it's equally ludicrous to lump Tolkien together with the pulp fantasy hacks.

Often such dismissals of Tolkien are made by people who A) have never read Tolkien, or B) are, for some reason, biased against fantasy — no matter how good it is. It's too bad that such narrow-minded people find their way into teaching.

A better argument against reading Rings in high school is because it's just too long of a book to cover in a typical lit class setting. I'll buy that argument; at least it doesn't attach flawed value judgments to an unquestionably worthy book.

Finmandos12 · 01-21-2002, 02:34 PM

The reason the liberal education establishment doesn't like LOTR is because of its themes. It is about sacrifice, heroism, friendship, etc. The books they like are never uplifting, but instead focus on the worst in human nature.

fireworks19 · 01-21-2002, 05:38 PM

I never read the book, but we had to watch the movie for some reason at school. It was bad....just bad.

09-03-2001, 09:17 PM	#1
Finmandos12 Elven Warrior Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Tampa Posts: 327	Grapes I have to read Grapes of Wrath and man, its boring! He spend a whole chapter talking about a turtle crossing aroaad! ARGH! __________________ The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

09-04-2001, 01:22 AM	#2
AACHOO Enting Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 52	Patience Patience grasshopper,'tis a work of literary greatness.

09-13-2001, 10:01 PM	#3
Sakata Elven Warrior Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Lothlorien Posts: 216	yikes, I got to read that in a few months for English class, is it really bad? __________________ "When evil people come to destroy me, when my enemies and foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will know no fear." -Psalms 27:2-3 -Dare you venture into Gollum's Lair? JESUS LIVES!

09-14-2001, 03:55 PM	#4
Finmandos12 Elven Warrior Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Tampa Posts: 327	It is UNIMAGINABLY BORING!!! __________________ The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

09-20-2001, 11:47 PM	#5
Sakata Elven Warrior Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Lothlorien Posts: 216	Thanks for encourgement... __________________ "When evil people come to destroy me, when my enemies and foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will know no fear." -Psalms 27:2-3 -Dare you venture into Gollum's Lair? JESUS LIVES!

10-02-2001, 08:49 AM	#6
Finmandos12 Elven Warrior Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Tampa Posts: 327	It's gotten a little better Sakata, once you get to about the 20th chapter..... (sigh) __________________ The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

10-03-2001, 01:35 AM	#7
Sakata Elven Warrior Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Lothlorien Posts: 216	How many pages? __________________ "When evil people come to destroy me, when my enemies and foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will know no fear." -Psalms 27:2-3 -Dare you venture into Gollum's Lair? JESUS LIVES!

10-19-2001, 09:01 PM	#9
Renille Elven Lady of Speed-posting Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the cheese state Posts: 988	A turtle crossing the road??? Is there really a chapter about a turtle crossing the road??? What is the book about, anyway? (I'm sure I'll have to read it at one point in the next 4 years of accelerated english courses.) __________________ Oh the thinks you can think! Think and wonder and dream...far and wide as you dare! When your thinks have run dry, in the blink of an eye, there's another world there... (from Seussical the Musical. Listen to it...watch it...really.)

10-23-2001, 03:24 PM	#10
Churl Elven Warrior Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Pennsylvania, USA Posts: 128	To me, The Grapes of Wrath is a great, yet unpretentious, masterpiece. That said, it's very sad and devoid of many uplifting moments. Without revealing any of the plot, it's largely about people doing what they have to (and eventually whatever they can) to survive when everything they had is torn away from them. What struck me most was its scope: sure, there's a passage involving a turtle crossing a road … undoubtedly full of symbolism which is best interpreted in the context of the story. But there's also a chapter which sweeps across the entirety of 1930s California, revealing the population's factions by exploring their goals, fears, and plans. (Trust me: it's more interesting than I make it sound.) Something that might have helped my enjoyment of the book is the fact that I read it by choice, not "under the gun" in a classroom setting. I also read it in my late twenties instead of in high school, for whatever that's worth. I doubt that anyone would describe The Grapes of Wrath as a "fun" read. But for me, at least, it was definitely worthwhile.

11-01-2001, 09:20 PM	#11
Finmandos12 Elven Warrior Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Tampa Posts: 327	I finished it a while ago, and the ending was different to say the least. (shudder) How far are you Sakata. __________________ The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

11-02-2001, 02:36 AM	#12
Churl Elven Warrior Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Pennsylvania, USA Posts: 128	You're right … without ruining anything, the ending is rather shocking, even today. Considering the social climate at the time, I can only imagine readers' reactions when it was first published!

01-15-2002, 01:01 AM	#13
Elanor Hobbit in the Music Join Date: Nov 1999 Location: Westmarch Posts: 1,111	In my opinion Grapes's controversial nature is the main (perhaps the only) reason it's so popular among English classes. They never have you read The Lord of the Rings (unless you are lucky enough to have a very intelligent teacher), although it's full of symbolic and historically relevant (although as Tolkien says, not based on current history) material, as well as many thoughtful insights on life and religion. My AP English teacher in HS said it's not considered "of literary merit", I can only guess because it's not all that controversial. It astonishes and amazes people but doesn't really make them mad by deliberately challenging and offending their beliefs like Grapes does. __________________ Middle Earth Crossword Puzzle on the Tolkien Site of DOOM Segovia Mazes

01-15-2002, 02:55 PM	#14
Churl Elven Warrior Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Pennsylvania, USA Posts: 128	Well, I do think there's a lot to The Grapes of Wrath, but at the same time, I have absolutely no patience with people (teachers especially) who casually dismiss The Lord of the Rings or other great works of genre fiction. Admittedly, there are a lot of bad fantasy novels. But there are also a lot of bad "realistic" novels as well. Just because Jackie Collins wrote 20th century mainstream American fiction, does that mean that Faulkner, Welty, Steinbeck, Buck, Ellison, Fitzgerald, Hurston, Cather, or Hemingway are equally irrelevant? Of course not. And it's equally ludicrous to lump Tolkien together with the pulp fantasy hacks. Often such dismissals of Tolkien are made by people who A) have never read Tolkien, or B) are, for some reason, biased against fantasy — no matter how good it is. It's too bad that such narrow-minded people find their way into teaching. A better argument against reading Rings in high school is because it's just too long of a book to cover in a typical lit class setting. I'll buy that argument; at least it doesn't attach flawed value judgments to an unquestionably worthy book. Last edited by Churl : 01-15-2002 at 02:57 PM.

01-21-2002, 02:34 PM	#15
Finmandos12 Elven Warrior Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Tampa Posts: 327	The reason the liberal education establishment doesn't like LOTR is because of its themes. It is about sacrifice, heroism, friendship, etc. The books they like are never uplifting, but instead focus on the worst in human nature. __________________ The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

01-21-2002, 05:38 PM	#16
fireworks19 Elven Warrior Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Indiana Posts: 156	I never read the book, but we had to watch the movie for some reason at school. It was bad....just bad. __________________ Just Watch the Fireworks Just Meet Fireworks =)

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