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The Oversoul

Literary Elements

Literary Terms Used Within the Text of The Graper of Wrath

Allude, Allusion - To refer to a person, place, or thing believed to be common knowledge (alude), or the act or result of doing so (allusion).  An allusion may point to a famous event, a familiar saying,a noted personality, a well known story or song.  Usually brief, an allusion is a space-saving way to convey much meaning.  To make an effective allusion, you have to be aware of your audience.  If your readers do not recognize the allusion, it will only confuse.   In The Grapes of Wrath, the allusion of the oversoul is one that stands out clearly.  Jim Casey says that, "Maybe all men got one big soul ever'body's a part of.'"  Every living thing is part of one giant soul; everything is connected to every other thing.
 
Unity - The relation of all parts of a work to one central or organizing principle that forms them into a complete and coherent whole.   Within this story, there is a main concept based on the fact that unity is the only way that people like the Joads, and the Wilsons, can survive.  Being part of the oversoul, or the union, is what people rely on to keep them on their feet.
 
Sentimentality - A quality sometimes found in writing that fails to communicate. Such writing calls for an extreme emotional response on the part of an audience, although its writer fails to supply adequate reason for any such reaction.  A sentimental writer delights in waxing teary over certain objects.   In The Grapes of Wrath, Ma piercing Rose of Sharon's ears is a sentimental moment because Ma is passing down her best gold earrings to Rose of Sharon.
 

Slang Diction - Certain words in highly informal speech or writing, or in the speech of a particular group.   Throughout The Grapes of Wrath, the conversation between characters is very informal.  Sentence structure is sloppy and words are loosely used and pronounced.
 
Moral - The lesson to be drawn from a story, especially from a fable or in this sense the word is often used disparagingly from a heavily didactic story.There are many lessons that are taught in this story.  A person should always stick with their people no matter what the situation may be.  One should think always of others, and stick together through hard times.
 
Comparison and Contrast - Two methods of developement usually found together.  Using them, a writer examines the similarities and differences between two things to reveal their natures.  In The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck compares the tractor driver with the people who live on the farms.  The tractor driver, who once lived on a farm, abondoned his people when times got rough and choose to plow over the farms so his family could make money and eat. This tractor driver, however, forgot about the many families who are starving because their farms and homes have been plowed down.  The farmers choose to stick together during this time, even though their homes are being destroyed.  Even worse, their homes are being destroyed by people who once were their own. 

Created by Christina,
Haley and Maggie