California Reading. John Steinbeck's Modern American Classics

Essay , 2018 , 6 Pages , Grade: 1

American Studies - Literature

US-American writer John Steinbeck was 66 years old when he passed away on 20 December 1968. His death in New York bereaved Americans of a prominent citizen and readers of a literary master. Throughout his productive career, he had produced best-selling fiction and had worked as a dramatist, journalist, scenarist, and essayist. His most popular novels, novellas, and short stories had become standard reads of modern American fiction and had been turned into successful Hollywood films. In recognition of his outstanding achievements as an author, he had been awarded the most prestigious prizes available in the world of literature: the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1940 and the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1962.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• John Steinbeck: Life and Work
• Early Life and Education
• Early Career and the Influence of Carol Henning
• The Great Depression and Political Awareness
• The Dust Bowl and the Migration of the Joads
• The Impact of Edward Ricketts
• War and Postwar Years
• The Salinas Valley Project and "East of Eden"
• Later Years and Legacy

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This text provides a comprehensive biography of John Steinbeck, exploring his life, career, and literary achievements. The work delves into the key influences shaping his writing, including his family background, his experiences with migrant workers, and his close friendship with Edward Ricketts. It also analyzes his political awakening during the Great Depression and his enduring fascination with the California landscape.

• John Steinbeck's literary career and his rise to fame as a novelist
• The influence of social and economic conditions on Steinbeck's writing
• The impact of Steinbeck's personal relationships and his collaborations with other artists
• Steinbeck's portrayal of California and its diverse population
• Steinbeck's literary legacy and his enduring influence on American literature

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

• The first chapter introduces John Steinbeck and outlines his early life, education, and influences. It highlights his early career as a writer and his first experiences with California's social and economic realities.
• The second chapter delves into the impact of Carol Henning on Steinbeck's writing and his transition from historical adventure novels to contemporary Californian themes. It also explores the couple's early life together and their move to Pacific Grove.
• The third chapter analyzes how the Great Depression shaped Steinbeck's political awareness and writing style. It discusses his engagement with labor unrest and his adoption of a naturalistic approach to portraying the struggles of working-class Americans.
• The fourth chapter focuses on the Dust Bowl and its impact on Steinbeck's work. It examines the plight of migrant workers and Steinbeck's research into their experiences, culminating in the creation of his masterpiece "The Grapes of Wrath."
• The fifth chapter highlights the influence of Edward Ricketts on Steinbeck's life and work. It recounts their shared interests in marine biology and philosophy, and explores how Ricketts's ideas and perspective shaped Steinbeck's later fiction.
• The sixth chapter examines Steinbeck's work during the war and postwar years. It highlights his engagement in propaganda, his travels to Soviet Russia, and his continued literary output, including the publication of short stories, novels, and screenplays.
• The seventh chapter explores the development of Steinbeck's monumental novel "East of Eden" and its origins in his personal experiences and family history. It discusses the novel's themes, its epic scope, and its lasting impact on American literature.
• The final chapter focuses on Steinbeck's later years, his move to New York, and the challenges he faced with failing health and declining creativity. It concludes with a summary of his final works and his legacy as a literary giant.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

John Steinbeck, California, migrant workers, Dust Bowl, Great Depression, social realism, American literature, "The Grapes of Wrath," "East of Eden," Edward Ricketts, literary influence, political awareness.

• College: University of Vienna
• Grade: 1
• Author: Mag. Bernhard Wenzl (Author)
• Publication Year: 2018
• Pages: 6
• Catalog Number: V433167
• ISBN (eBook): 9783668754300
• Language: English
• Tags: John Steinbeck, California fiction, American literature, Grapes of Wrath, East of Eden, Nobel Prize for Literature, Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, Tortilla Flat, Cup of Gold, To a God Unknown, Burning Bright, Travels with Charley, Monterey, Salinas, California, In Dubious Battle, Depression, Dust Bowl, The Pastures of Heaven, Of Mice and Men, Hollywood, saga, epic, Carol Henning, Tom Collins, Edward Ricketts, Gwyndolyn Conger, Frankin Delano Roosevelt, Elaine Scott, The Pearl, The Wayward Bus, The Winter of Our Discontent