The Grapes of Wrath
Eulogies
Analyzing the Characters
Cumulative Activity
Grades 7–12
Language Arts, History, Performing Arts
Small Group, Critical Analysis, Writing, Oral Presentation
Eulogies are powerful, and should be taken seriously, even though they may contain some elements of humor. This exercise can provide students with empathy, sympathy, and a greater understanding, during any point of the novel, of the characters and situations surrounding death.
Spend about 1 class period to introduce the concept of the eulogy and the students’ writing of a brief one. The next day, a half period can be devoted to the groups reading their eulogies for the class.
After explaining what a eulogy is, students can break up into small groups and write a brief one. This can be done in the form of a poem, a rap, or whatever students wish. After completion, they will perform their eulogies for the class. Please remind students, while they are to have fun with this activity, to be sure to maintain a proper respect for the novel. Consider providing the Eulogies Graphic Organizer for students to use in preparing. For The Grapes of Wrath, eulogies can be performed for:
Steinbeck’s concept of dignity is something that can be lost or gained, and an essential element to society.
Examine the characters who left the family, their motivations, the results of their departure, and determine if these characters betrayed the family.
Examine the push and pull factors families faced during the Great Depression and express those understandings in the form of letters home.
This activity helps students to understand characters and their motivations through the use of a graphic organizer.
Character Webs are graphic organizers that help students to gain a deeper understanding of the characters and the connections between characters.