Key Quotations - Tom Joad

Question 1

Tom on fighting (Chp28)

Answer 1

‘Wherever they’s a fight so hungry people can eat, I’ll be there. Wherever they’s a cop beating up a guy, I’ll be there’

Question 2

Tom on all men (Chp4)

Answer 2

‘Maybe all men got one big soul ever’body’s a part of.’

Question 3

Tom’s violence (Chp6)

Answer 3

‘If I seen Herv Turnbull coming’ for me with a knife right now, I’d squash him down with a shovel again’

Question 4

Turtles

Answer 4

‘I seen turtles all my life. Ther’re always goin’ someplace. They always seem to want to get there.’

Question 5

Hell

Answer 5

‘They give ya hell if you raise hell.’

Question 6

Tom about Uncle John

Answer 6

‘Sort of wild. Made a damn nuisance of hisself… Give away about ever’thing he got, and still he ain’t very happy.’

Question 7

Tom on doing something

Answer 7

‘It don’t take no nerve to do somepin when there ain’t nothin else you can do.’

Question 8

Survival

Answer 8

‘So we take what we can get huh, or we starve, an if we yelp we starve.’