The Grapes of Wrath: Chapters 20-24

by John Steinbeck
During the Great Depression, the Joad family leaves a failing farm in Oklahoma in hopes of a better life out west.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–8, Chapters 9–15, Chapters 16–19, Chapters 20–24, Chapters 25–30

Here are links to our lists for other books by John Steinbeck: Of Mice and Men, The Pearl, East of Eden, Cannery Row, Travels with Charley
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. slovenly
    negligent of neatness especially in dress and person
    A Model T Ford sedan and a two-wheel trailer were parked beside the shack, and about the camp there hung a slovenly despair.
  2. vagrant
    a wanderer with no established residence or means of support
    “They’ll pick you right off. You got no name, no property. They’ll find you in a ditch, with the blood dried on your mouth an’ your nose. Be one little line in the paper—know what it’ll say? ‘Vagrant foun’ dead.’ An’ that’s all. You’ll see a lot of them little lines, ‘Vagrant foun’ dead.’ ”
  3. comport
    behave in a certain manner
    Ruthie and Winfield stood inside the circle, comporting themselves with proper frigidity and dignity.
  4. abasement
    a low or downcast state
    In front of the screen door he took off his hat, dropped it into the dust, and ground it with his heel in self-abasement.
  5. servile
    submissive or fawning in attitude or behavior
    Tom said, “Well—” and then his voice took on a servile whine.
  6. bravado
    a swaggering show of courage
    Ruthie, in a burst of bravado, boosted her skirt and sat down.
  7. rampage
    act violently, recklessly, or destructively
    I says, ‘I knowed the devil was rampagin’ in this here camp. Now I know who the devil is. Git back, Satan,’ I says.
  8. reverential
    feeling or manifesting profound respect or awe
    Jessie’s voice became almost reverential. “You ever used this here kind?” she asked, and pointed to the toilets.
  9. gawk
    look with amazement
    They strolled down the line of tents, peering into each one, gawking self-consciously.
  10. clout
    strike hard, especially with the fist
    “Did you clout her?” he asked.
  11. uppity
    arrogant or self-important
    They was a fella had been uppity, an’ he nearly fainted when this fella come in with a plug hat on. Jes’ nearly fainted.
  12. grovel
    show submission or fear
    And the preacher paced like a tiger, whipping the people with his voice, and they groveled and whined on the ground.
  13. contemptuous
    expressing extreme scorn
    In front of their tents the Jesus-lovers sat and watched, their faces hard and contemptuous.
  14. intone
    utter monotonously and repetitively and rhythmically
    The music shrilled out, the caller intoned the figures, the feet thudded on the platform.
  15. pinion
    restrain or bind
    In the moving squad each of the three young men was pinioned, and a hand was over each mouth.
Created on Sat Oct 05 18:11:25 EDT 2013 (updated Fri Aug 01 16:01:48 EDT 2025)

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