hope and hopelessness

Question 1

‘ t - - d - - - c - - - b - - no d - - ‘

Answer 1

‘ the dawn came but no day’

apocalyptic imagery, dawn has connotations of hope and a new day. the dust however has prevented this from occurring, mimicking the despair and lack of hope that the farmers possess

Question 2

‘ t - - c - - - f - - - - - t - - w - - - w - - - i - - w - - - - - - - l - - - - - u - - - - t - - r - - - - w - - - f - - - - by t - - p - - - - - w - - - ‘

Answer 2

‘the corn fought the wind with its weakened leaves until the roots were freed by the prying wind’

‘fought’ militaristic imagery depicts the battle of the crops to survive, the weakened leaves reveal the futility of this battle. the crops already damaged severely by the ‘sharp sun’ of which ‘struck day after day’ the use of the word ‘freed’ suggests relief , reiterating the struggle of the crops in surviving. ‘prying’ is the incessant and never ending re-iterating the lack of hope

Question 3

‘ m - - - - we c - - s - - - - a - - - - , in t - - n - - r - - - l - - - in c - - - - - - - - - w - - - - t - - f - - - - g - - - - . w -‘ - - s - - - - o - - - ‘

Answer 3

‘maybe we can start again, in the new rich land in california, where the fruit grows. we’ll start over’

encapsulates the theme of hope. false advertising and the hope of a better life is the only thing of which the tenant farmers have to move on. hope is the only concept of which has allowed them to sell their possessions and their identity.