CliffsNotes: Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath

by CliffsNotes, Kelly McGrath Vlcek (Editor)

The original CliffsNotes study guides offer a look into key elements and ideas within classic works of literature. The latest generation of titles in this series also features glossaries and visual elements that complement the familiar format.CliffsNotes on The Grapes of Wrath explores John Steinbeck's Pulitzer Prize-winning—and controversial—novel, a work based on the what the author saw for himself as a reporter covering migrant worker camps.

Following the story of the Joad family as they travel from the Oklahoma Dust Bowl to California in search of farming opportunities and wealth, this study guide provides summaries and critical commentaries for each part within the novel.  Other features that help you figure out this important work include


Personal background on the author, including career highlights
Introduction to and synopsis of the book
In-depth character analyses
Critical essays to take you into the author's personal philosophy
Review section that features interactive questions and suggested essay topics and practice projects
Resource Center with books, films, and Web sites that can help round out your knowledge
Classic literature or modern-day treasure—you'll understand it all with expert information and insight from CliffsNotes study guides.

112 pages, Paperback

First published June 5, 2000

About the author

CliffsNotes is the original (and most widely imitated) study guide. CliffsNotes study guides are written by real teachers and professors, so no matter what you're studying, CliffsNotes can ease your homework headaches and help you score high on exams.

Reviews

[Robin Redden · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will occasionally use CliffsNotes or sparknotes when reading a classic novel or text where I might miss some of the important literary themes, symbols, etc. If I’m investing my time in a classic, I want to fully engage. For The Grapes of Wrath, I happened to have a version of each of these study guides and decided it would be interesting to read both. This review is the same compare/contrast review I’ve posted on my review for both guides.

First off, both are comprehensive and easy to read. They provide extra material on the author, characters, quizzes, sample essays etc. I’ve tried to capture the major differences in bold below.

CliffsNotes
- Personal Background and Career Highlights of Steinbeck
- An introduction that contains the historical background, Steinbeck’s writing experience, critical reception of the novel, the unconventional (at the time) structure of the novel and a summary of the social philosophies espoused in the work.
- A plot synopsis and character list
- Deeper dive into main characters
- Both contain detailed summaries and analysis of each chapter
- Two critical essay examples
- Quiz, Key quotes, example essay and project ideas
- A Resource Center with further reading and films

sparknotes
- A briefer level of information about Steinbeck and more of a general context around society at the time of the novel
- A plot synopsis and character list
- Deeper dive into main characters
- Themes, motifs, symbols
- Both contain detailed summaries and analysis of chapters (in groups of 3 chapters)
- Deeper dive into select quotations
- Key facts including setting, genre, publisher, point of view, type of narrator, tone, tense, major conflict, rising action, climax, falling action, use of foreshadowing
- 3 examples of study questions and answers
- The key difference is that sparknotes provides a 7 step, 12-page general section on “How to Write Literary Analysis”
- An example A+ essay
- A glossary of literary terms
- A note on plagiarism
- A quiz
- Selections for further reading

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read these cliff notes in 9th grade and they made me cry. Very well written!

[Kathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had to read this (along with the Reader's Guide put out by the National Endowment for the Arts pamphlet)to make sure I was gettting every I should out of The Grapes of Wrath.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saves my life.

[Georgette · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great companion to the novel.

[Abigail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bless up.