The RedThe Red Pony Pony

ByJohn

Steinbeck

The Red PonyThe Red Pony A novella of four parts or

short stories, which revolve around the important events in the life of Jody Tiflin

Seen as a coming-of-age story—a

bildungsroman Uses an outside, third person

narrator, who focuses on Jody’s thoughts

Episodes show glimpses of Jody’s maturing and interaction with family

Steinbeck in 1909 with his sister Mary, sitting on the red pony, Jill, at the Salinas Fairgrounds.

Facts about the AuthorFacts about the Author Born: John Ernst

Steinbeck, Jr., February 27, 1902 in Salinas, California, where he spent his boyhood

Died: December 20, 1968 (aged 66) in New York City

Steinbeck’s WorksSteinbeck’s Works Occupations: Novelist,

short story writer, war correspondent

Notable works: Famous Works: The Grapes of Wrath (1939) and East of Eden (1952) and the novella Of Mice and Men (1937).

Steinbeck’s AccomplishmentsSteinbeck’s Accomplishments Wrote a total of twenty-seven books, including

sixteen novels, six non-fiction books and five collections of short stories

Notable awards: Nobel Prize in Literature 1962, and the Pulitzer Prize for The Grapes of Wrath

Known for his keen ability to use descriptive details and provide realism (showing life as it is)

Regarded as one of the greatest American storytellers of the 20th century

Steinbeck CountrySteinbeck CountryIn 1902, Steinbeck was born in Salinas. He lived here until 1919, when he left to attend Stanford University. Salinas is a central location in many works, particularly East of Eden (1952) and The Red Pony (1937).

History of SalinasHistory of Salinas

Located in western California, east of Monterey Settled in 1896 and became a crossroads on the

Spanish trail between San Diego and San Francisco The arrival of the railroad helped make it a cattle

center The "green gold" of lettuce, broccoli and artichokes

made it one of the wealthiest cities per capita in the U.S. after World War I.

Physical and Cultural SettingPhysical and Cultural Setting Ranch in Salinas Valley Foothills between the Gabilan Mountains

and the Santa Lucia Mts, twenty-five miles from the Pacific Ocean Time period: 1930’s

Tiflins live off land and have a comfortable but meager lifestyle

“Westering” had occurred in the 1800s as wagon trains made their way to the Pacific.

Because of the Great Depression in the 1930s, many people flock to California for work.

The Red Pony RanchThe Red Pony Ranch

The Gabilan MountainsThe Gabilan Mountains

Pacific Ocean from SalinasPacific Ocean from Salinas

The Bunk HouseThe Bunk House

The BarnThe Barn

Ideas in the NovellaIdeas in the Novella

Jody’s learning and maturingLife on a ranchCaring for and loving horsesUnderstanding other human beingsDreaming of a better life; Yearning

for adventure

SourcesSources “Center for Steinbeck Studies.”

http://as.sjsu.edu/steinbeck/biography/index.jsp?val=biography_biography_in_depth

“Encyclopedia of Earth.” http://www.eoearth.org/article/North_Coastal_Santa_Lucia_Range_(Bailey)

PPT: “The Red Pony.” santafeenrichment.wikispaces.com/file/view/ The+Red+Pony.Diana.ppt#6 “Steinbeck Country: The Red Pony Ranch.” http://www.sjsu.edu/faculty/scott.rice/redpony.htm