The Jungle

 

 

In a two to three page review, discuss the main issues that author Upton Sinclair attempted to bring to his readers in the novel, The Jungle.  Email your reviews to jevery1@verizon.net by 7:00AM on Sunday, August 10.  You are only responsible for Ch. 1-22, or pages 1-222.  Listed below are questions that you can address within your reviews.

 

  1. What conditions and events quickly transformed the impressions of optimism about the United States to those of pessimism for immigrants arriving in America?

 

  1. Why were immigrants subjected to exploitation once they arrived in America?

 

  1. What were conditions like in the meat packing industry in Chicago?

 

  1. What were working conditions like for employees in packing town?

 

  1. In what ways did Americans take advantage of immigrants?

 

  1. Over time, what physical and psychological changes occurred in the lives of Jurgis and the others?

 

  1. What eventually drove Jurgis into the countryside to become a drifter?

 

8.  Do you believe that this was an effective piece of literature?  Do you believe it was totally accurate?