Jeremy M, Hannah M, Cassy J
Setting/Mood/Theme
Conflict/Plot & Character Development
Literary & Figurative Devices

Setting/Mood/Theme
 Setting:
 Route 66 is the main setting between chapters 11-15.
 We see that the Joad family is travelling along this road to get to California
where they think their lives will improve.
 Theme/Mood:
 The main theme is these chapters is based mainly on family and
how the Joad’s must stick together if they want to make it. They
find positive in the negative situations in order to move forward
and accomplish their goal.
 The road that they have to travel is long and arduous, this relates to
the suspenseful and tense theme, because of feelings that are
present in the Joad family.
 Narrative Tone:
 Steinbeck makes us look at the different
perspectives and develops a tense mood by These all relate because they are
important in creating a meaningful and
showing us how everyone is affected by the interesting piece of literature. They
fallen economy. develop a place for the characters to
grow and learn.

Conflict/Plot &Character
Development
Conflicts:
 Man vs. Environment – Joad family and their travels on Route 66.
 Man vs. Man – People are looking out for personal interests while
possibly harming others.
 Man vs. “The Man”– The struggles for the strong business to compete
with large companies.
Plot:
 The journey has just begun and the family is slowing realizing just how
difficult it actually is, while still trying to keep hope. On their travels
they meet many people who have been affected by the fallen economy,
everyone is competing against everyone.

Conflict/Plot &Character
Development (continued)
 Character Development:
 Dealing with the hardships in an emotionless manor, and not
allowing themselves to be bothered by what is going on.
 In order to stay hopeful, they have optimistic views on their new
loss of loved ones in order for them to move on and continue on
their travels.
 Develop an understanding of one another abilities so they are more
efficient on their journey. (Al and Tom with the truck, Ma’s ability
to cook etc)
 Meeting new people along the way allowed for them to have greater
knowledge of the new situations they may experience in their new
life.
In order for the characters to develop as a group, they need to have these conflicts
between the environment and other people so they can learn to deal with tough
situations . The plot of these chapters is also important because if the characters can
get through the hardships together, then they will still have hope to reach California.

Literary & Figurative Devices
Symbolism:
 The dog and the fathers death were symbolism because they
represented the bad and the hard in the Joad’s travels.
 Route 66 – Life line, it is the families path to the “Promise Land.” It is a
risky journey, and every moment counts.
Metaphor:
 “66 is the mother road, the road of flight” (pg. 160) in chapter 12 is a
metaphor about how the road gives new lives to many families. It is the
only pathway to California, the land that’s supposed to hold the
answers to their problems.
 “Al was one with his engine… He had become the soul of the car” (pg.
167) is a metaphor. It’s representing how important it is for Al to be
harmonious with the car and the fact that everybody depends on him
and his knowledge about the truck.

Archetypes
 Tom: Is the character who always wants to be controlling the situation
and involved in what the others are doing.
 Al: He is able to help whenever it is needed and he wants to be looked
up to and appreciated.
 Ma: The mother – Her role is to feed, nurture, and soothe the
characters.
 Casey: God figure –They turn to him in times of need and use him to
make them feel better with his prayers.