The novel begins with an in depth description of the dust bowl in Oklahoma. The dust was so thick men and women were forced to stay in their houses and only leaving with the protection of a handkerchief and goggles. When the winds died the dust evenly blanketed everything. The crops were ruined, torn right out of the ground. This chapter doesn't deal with any characters it touches on a widespread disaster in the mid-west. The Joad family is just one of thousands that encountered this terrible hardship.

{"Could ya give me a lift, mister?" "Didn' ya se the NO RIDERS sticker in the win'shield?" "Sure -I seen it. But sometimes a guy'll be a good guy even if some rich bastard makes him carry a sticker."} Pg. 11" I've known guys to do screwy things while they're driving trucks. I remember a guy use' to make up poetry. It passed the time."..."Su

"Five dollars not four. I can't haul 'em back-Well, take 'em for four." Pg.112 (example of selling their stuff.)

"How'll we do her?" he began excitedly "S'pose I go in an' say, 'Here's some fellas want some breakfast" pg.93 --Pa Joad"Come in," he cried. "Come right in, mister." And Tom a little shamefacedly stepped over the doorsill. She looked up pleasantly from the frying pan. And then her hand sank slowly to her side and the fork clattered to the wooden floor." Pg. 96 -Pa introducing Tom to Ma."Shut up, you sinful ol' goat." Pg. 104 -Granma talking to Granpa.

Some common words found in the essay are:
Rose Sharon, Tom Joad, Uncle John, , Joad's Wilson's, Mexicans Filipinos, Mississippi California, Granpa Chapter, Indians Pa, Ma Joad, rose sharon, uncle john, ma joad, migrant workers, tom tells, tells tom, tom casy, joad family, hated okies, pa joad, attempts cross road, uncle john dead, tom can't leave, rose sharon goes, people hated okies,
Approximate Word count = 5921
Approximate Pages = 24 (250 words per page double spaced)