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Descriptive Language In The Grapes Of Wrath

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Descriptive Language In The Grapes Of Wrath
The Grapes of Wrath John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath is a classic piece of literature published in 1939. Winning the Nobel Prize in 1962, this novel provides solid ideas with an addictive storyline. Within the language of the book, there is connotative meaning that takes analyzation. These segments stand out to me because they provide information such as allusions and foreshadowing.
A notable piece of text would be when Tom Joad and the preacher were walking along a beaten road. The descriptive language adds to the imagery and enhances the audience's understanding of the current scene. “The sky grayed among the stars, and the pale, late quartermoon was insubstantial and thin. Tom Joad and the preacher walked quickly along a road that was only wheel tracks and beaten caterpillar tracks through a cotton field” (Steinback, 67). The author may have used this specific language to show the gloomy dark times within the story. Describing the road was very effective in showing the migration of people and the hard times they were
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The way the machines were talked about gives them more meaning and adds depth to the explanation. “The tractors which throw men out of work, the belt lines which carry loads, the machines which produce, all were increased; and more and more families scampered on the highways, looking for crumbs from the great holdings, lusting after the land beside the roads” (Steinbeck, 238). This language portrays new technology and machines as evil and disruptive to people's lives. Although it does not directly say, these tractors and belt lines are putting people out of work and making the lower class suffer. When talking about the great holdings, Steinbeck is referring to the higher class economy. They are holding jobs back and leaving the poor to fend for themselves. Overall, this quote is significant and shows a hidden message within the given

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