Objectives
- Students will understand the five layers of The Grapes of Wrath and will cite specific examples from the text that represent each of those layers.
Overview
Steinbeck said of The Grapes of Wrath that “There are five layers to this book, a reader will find as many as he can and he won’t find more than he has in himself" (Steinbeck: A Life in Letters, 178-179) 1
The five layers is a reference to the ideas of Steinbeck’s friend Ed Ricketts. Ricketts was one of the earliest ecologists and a strong influence on the philosophy of John Steinbeck. The Grapes of Wrath, according to Dr. Susan Shillinglaw, examines the ecology of human relationships as Ricketts examined the animal world. 2
The five layers are integral to the themes of The Grapes of Wrath.
Materials Needed/Preparation
- The Grapes of Wrath
- Five Layers organizer
Estimated Time
• On-going: 10-15 minutes per class period
• Cumulative: 1-2 class periods
Procedures
Introduction
- Using the Five Layers handout, discuss each layer and its meaning.
- ~This should be discussed in relation to the study of ecology, especially from the perspective of marine animals and tidepools (the areas studied by Ed Ricketts).
On-going
- Many of the chapters can be directly linked to one or more of the five layers. During daily class discussions the five layers should play a role when discussing the novel. Particularly the various themes.
- In their notes, students should highlight examples of each of the five layers as they read and discuss the book.
- ~You can provide a graphic organizer to help students record their observations.
- ~Student notes should include specific scenes, pieces of dialogue, symbols used, and themes.
Cumulative
- After completing the novel, the five layers can be looked at from a retroactive perspective.
- Students write a 2-3 page (or longer) essay discussing the five layers and how they are present in The Grapes of Wrath.
- ~Prompt suggestions
- ~~Explain the five layers of The Grapes of Wrath, provide specific examples of each layer.
- ~~Explain the five layers of The Grapes of Wrath. Choose one character and examine how she or he displays each of the five layers.
- ~~Explain the five layers of The Grapes of Wrath, provide specific examples from each layer. Which characters reach Steinbeck’s fifth layer, emergence? What causes them to emerge? Which characters do not reach this point? Why not?
Post Activity/Takeaways/Follow-up
Takeaways
- By examining the five layers and The Grapes of Wrath, students gain a deeper understanding of the novel and of the philosophy of John Steinbeck.
- Some themes can help create a deeper understanding and appreciation of other works by Steinbeck. Particularly the importance/connection between people and the land and from “I to We."
Extensions
Many of the themes found in The Grapes of Wrath can also be found in other Steinbeck works (particularly his California novels).
- Discussion/writing prompt: Which other Steinbeck works contain themes related to the five layers?
- ~The depth of this discussion or writing activity will depend on student experience with Steinbeck’s catalogue of works.
- ~Consider the activity The Meaning of Place in the Steinbeck in the Schools curriculum for The Red Pony.
- Read chapter 2 of On Reading The Grapes of Wrath for an in-depth discussion of the five layers
Assessment
- Writing prompts should be graded based on the accuracy of student textual support.
- In a cumulative exam, students should be able to identify all five layers and provide an example of each from the novel.
Common Core State Standards Met
- Reading Standards for Literature 6-12
- ~Key Ideas and Details: 1, 2, 3
- ~Craft and Structure: 4, 5, 6
- ~Integration of Knowledge and Ideas: 7, 9
- ~Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity: 10
- Reading Standards for Informational Text 6-12
- ~Key Ideas and Details: 1,2,3
- ~Craft and Structure: 4,5,6
- ~Integration of Knowledge and Ideas: 7,8
- ~Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity: 10
- Writing Standards 6-12
- ~Text Types and Purposes: 2
- ~Range of Writing: 10
- Speaking and Listening Standards 6-12
- ~Comprehension and Collaboration: 1, 2, 3, 4
- ~Presentation and Knowledge of Ideas: 4
- Language Standards 6-12
- ~Conventions of Standard English: 1, 2, 3
- ~Knowledge of Language: 3
- ~Vocabulary Acquisition and Use: 6
- Reading Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies 6-12
- ~Key Ideas and Details: 1, 2, 3
- ~Craft and Structure: 4, 6
- ~Integration of Knowledge and Ideas: 8, 9
- ~Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity: 10
- Writing Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects 6-12
- ~Text Types and Purposes: 2
- ~Production and Distribution of Writing: 4, 5
Additional Information
- Steinbeck, John, Elaine Steinbeck, and Robert Wallsten. A Life in Letters. London: Penguin, 2001. Print.
- Shillinglaw, Susan. On Reading The Grapes of Wrath. Penguin, 2014.
1. See chapter 2 (pages 8-13).
