East of Eden Chapters 1-4 Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What does the author describe in detail about where they lived?

The area is described by the mountains on the east and west, with the Gabilans on the east and the Santa Lucias on the west. The author describes how evil the west was but how bright the east was.

What is described about the Santa Lucias?

The Santa Lucias are described as terrible, capable of flooding and destroying crops, homes, and other things.

What are the characteristics of the Gabilans?

The Gabilans have rich fertile soil that bursts out in flowers and is pretty to look at.

Who were the Hamiltons?

The Hamiltons were off the radar kind of people, notable only in birth and marriage records. Samuel Hamilton was an Irish man who came to Salinas Valley in California. Signup and view all the answers

Who did Samuel marry and what was their life like?

Samuel married Liza and they had 9 children; they lived on a large plot of land that was mostly unusable, resulting in a very poor lifestyle. Signup and view all the answers

What did Samuel do for a living at the beginning?

He created a machine for boring wells and drilled wells for rich men. Signup and view all the answers

How was Liza characterized?

Liza was an uptight woman who kept her house in good order and had an acute sense of sin. Signup and view all the answers

How did Adam Trask relate to the Hamiltons?

Adam Trask had lots of money and settled in Salinas Valley where he acquired very usable land and built a nice house. Signup and view all the answers

Who was Adam Trask's dad?

Cyrus Trask was Adam's dad; he was a military man who became known for making up grand stories about his service. Signup and view all the answers

What was Cyrus' wife's history?

Cyrus had a pale, quiet wife who eventually died and then married a young farmer's girl who helped raise his children. Signup and view all the answers

How was Alice characterized?

Alice was quiet and didn't talk much but treated Adam nicer after witnessing Charles beat him. Signup and view all the answers

How did Charles and Adam get along?

They mostly got along, but Charles was stronger and sometimes lost his temper, leading to fights between them. Signup and view all the answers

What happened to Adam?

Adam joined the army, and after Alice died and Charles moved away, Charles missed Adam and hoped he'd return. Signup and view all the answers

What was Adam like in the military?

Adam was a sharpshooter who did not like killing and sometimes missed his shots on purpose. Signup and view all the answers

How was Adam discharged from the military?

Adam was discharged with sergeant stripes. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Setting and Characters

The Hamiltons lived in a valley flanked by the Gabilan Mountains to the east and the Santa Lucias to the west, symbolizing contrasting themes of good and evil.
Gabilans featured rich, fertile soil known for blooming flowers, while the Santa Lucias often caused floods that destroyed homes and crops.

The Hamilton Family

Samuel Hamilton, an Irish immigrant, was energetic, attractive, and undocumented except for vital records; he built a modest home for his family.
Samuel married Liza, a strict and orderly woman, and they had nine children, living in poverty on largely unusable land.
Liza maintained a household structure, holding strong beliefs against idleness and pleasure.

Adam Trask and Family Background

Adam Trask emerged as a figure of wealth, settling in Salinas Valley with good land and a fine home.
Cyrus Trask, Adam’s father, served as a less-than-illustrious soldier who glorified his military past through embellished stories; he had a wooden leg from an injury.
Cyrus's marital history included a quiet first wife who died and a younger farmer’s daughter who helped him raise Adam and his brother Charles.

Trask Brothers Relationship

Adam and Charles had a complicated relationship, with Charles often losing his temper and physically fighting Adam, culminating in a near-fatal confrontation.
After Alice's death, Charles felt a deep sense of loss and isolation, longing for Adam to return home after he enlisted in the military.

Adam's Military Experience

Adam served in the military as a sharpshooter who detested killing, often intentionally missing his shots to avoid personal conflict.
He corresponded with Charles during his service; while Charles yearned for Adam's return, Adam found a sense of belonging in the army and chose to re-enlist.

Discharge and Ranks

Adam was discharged from the military with the rank of Sergeant, marking his noteworthy service despite personal conflicts.

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Description

This quiz covers the first four chapters of John Steinbeck's 'East of Eden'. Explore the contrasting landscapes described by the author, along with key themes and character insights introduced in these chapters. Perfect for reinforcing your understanding of Steinbeck's setting and narrative style.