Steinbeck derived the title Grapes of Wrath from which work?

Steinbeck derived the title Grapes of Wrath from which work?

• A. Star-Spangled Banner
• B. Battle Hymn of the Republic
• C. America the Beautiful
• D. God Bless America

Answer: (B)

This question tests recognizing an allusion in a title and knowing where that phrase comes from. The title Grapes of Wrath is drawn from a line in the Battle Hymn of the Republic, written by Julia Ward Howe during the Civil War era. That hymn uses biblical imagery to describe a righteous, sweeping wrath against oppression and injustice. By borrowing this phrase, Steinbeck signals that the novel will explore the fierce anger and moral struggle of oppressed people—the migrant farmers driven from their homes and treated unjustly during the Dust Bowl era. The reference frames the book as a moral drama about collective suffering, resistance, and the potential for social reckoning. The other options are famous patriotic songs, but they do not contain the phrase or serve as the source Steinbeck chose.

This question tests recognizing an allusion in a title and knowing where that phrase comes from. The title Grapes of Wrath is drawn from a line in the Battle Hymn of the Republic, written by Julia Ward Howe during the Civil War era. That hymn uses biblical imagery to describe a righteous, sweeping wrath against oppression and injustice. By borrowing this phrase, Steinbeck signals that the novel will explore the fierce anger and moral struggle of oppressed people—the migrant farmers driven from their homes and treated unjustly during the Dust Bowl era. The reference frames the book as a moral drama about collective suffering, resistance, and the potential for social reckoning.

The other options are famous patriotic songs, but they do not contain the phrase or serve as the source Steinbeck chose.