1. Tom Joad has just gotten out of McAlester Penitentiary. He was there for four years, serving time for manslaughter after killing a man in a bar fight.
2. When Tom returns to his house, he finds it abandoned and falling apart. The land is barren and dusty, with no signs of life or recent activity.
3. Tom Joad's family has been evicted from their farm and is preparing to leave Oklahoma. They are all going to California, hoping to find work and a better life.
4. The bank sent notices and representatives to inform the farmers they must leave their land because it is being foreclosed. They also used tractors to plow under homes and crops to force people off the land.
5. The advertisement Uncle John holds reads: “The Promised Land—California—Work and Wages—Fruit Picking—Good Pay—Free Transportation.”
6. Grandpa suffers a stroke just as they are about to leave. The family tries to calm him and keep him comfortable, but he dies shortly after.
7. Shortly after getting on the road, Grandpa dies. The family buries him along the roadside to avoid legal complications and continue their journey.
8. The man at the camp tells them that the advertisements for work in California are mostly lies. He explains that there’s very little work, wages are low, and conditions are harsh.
9. Family members react with awe and excitement upon seeing California for the first time. They are hopeful and relieved, believing they’ve finally reached the promised land.
10. Grandma dies while crossing the California border. The family discovers her body after stopping to rest and realizes she passed away quietly during the night.
11. At the transient camp, the scenery is crowded and chaotic, with many families living in tents. The children gather around the Joads’ tent because Ma is cooking and sharing food, showing kindness and generosity in a desperate environment.
12. When a man in a fancy car offers work in Tavares County without a contract, a man in the crowd yells, “You can’t trust ’em! They’ll cheat you!” indicating widespread distrust of employers offering vague job promises.
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of grapes of wrath worksheet.
