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East of Eden Study Guide

by John Steinbeck

East of Eden study guide contains a biography of John Steinbeck, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

Spanning the period between the American Civil War and World War I, East of Eden presents two generations of brothers as they battle between good and evil. The first generation consists of the placid Adam Trask and his hot-tempered brother Charles, and the second generation is made up of Adam's sons, the fair-haired, mild-mannered Aron and the dark-haired, quick-tempered Cal. Deeply influenced by the biblical story of Cain and Abel, the novel begins in California's Salinas Valley, where the young narrator was born. He recounts the story of his Irish grandparents, Samuel and Liza Hamilton, who settle in the Salinas Valley, where they meet the members of the Trask family.

The first part of the novel concerns the first generation of Trask…

Read the full East of Eden Summary

• East of Eden Summary
• About East of Eden
• Character List
• Glossary of Terms
• Major Themes
• Summary and Analysis of Chapters 1-8
• Summary and Analysis of 9-15
• Summary and Analysis of Chapters 16-22
• Summary and Analysis of Chapters 23 -30
• Summary and Analysis of Chapters 31-37
• Summary and Analysis of Chapters 38-45
• Summary and Analysis of Chapters 46-54
• Cain and Abel
• Related Links on East of Eden
• Suggested Essay Questions
• Test Yourself! - Quiz 1
• Test Yourself! - Quiz 2
• Test Yourself! - Quiz 3
• Test Yourself! - Quiz 4
• Author of ClassicNote and Sources

• East of Eden: Major Themes
• East of Eden: Essays
• East of Eden: Questions
• East of Eden: Purchase the Novel and Related Material
• John Steinbeck: Biography