The Grapes of Wrath Trivia

John Steinbeck's 1939 novel, The Grapes of Wrath, is a celebrated yet controversial work of American literature. It follows the Joad family, who leave Oklahoma due to the Dust Bowl and head to California. The novel quickly became a bestseller, selling nearly 500,000 copies by the end of 1939. It vividly depicts the struggles of migrant workers and was criticized for allegedly exaggerating hardships and promoting socialist themes. The book faced bans and public burnings but was defended by figures like Eleanor Roosevelt. It won the Pulitzer Prize and remains a classic, though still banned in some libraries.

What year was The Grapes of Wrath published?

• 1950

• 1945

• 1939

• 1935

Who is the author of The Grapes of Wrath?

• Mark Twain

• John Steinbeck

• F. Scott Fitzgerald

• Ernest Hemingway

What event forces the Joad family to leave Oklahoma?

• The Industrial Revolution

• The Gold Rush

• The Dust Bowl

• World War I

Where do the Joad family hope to find better opportunities?

• Florida

• California

• New York

• Texas

How many copies of The Grapes of Wrath were sold by the end of 1939?

• 250,000

• 500,000

• 100,000

• 1,000,000

What was the initial price of The Grapes of Wrath?

• $1.50

• $4.00

• $2.75

• $3.50

What shocked readers about the depiction of migrant workers in the novel?

• Their wealth

• Their education

• Their happiness

• Their poverty

What did some critics accuse the novel of exaggerating?

• The kindness of strangers

• The beauty of Oklahoma

• The hardships of the Okies

• The wealth of Californians

What political themes did some people associate with the novel?

• Anarchism

• Monarchy

• Socialism

• Capitalism

Which state had a representative denounce the book in Congress?

• Texas

• Oklahoma

• California

• New York