The Jungle by Upton Sinclair

The Jungleby Upton Sinclair

Quotation 1 The introduction presents the novel’s core issue: “Instead of finding the American Dream, Rudkus and his family inhabit a brutal, soul-crushing, urban jungle dominated by greedy bosses, pitiless conmen, and corrupt politicians” (Intro).

Literary Device • Thematic overview Function/Purpose/Commentary Society takes advantage of those less fortunate, like new immigrants.

Quotation 2 The narrator ____________,“Some one told [Jurgis] that there was a night-school that was free…he would go even if he were in time for only half an hour” (97).

Literary Device • characterization Function/Purpose/Commentary Jurgis is determined to make the best of his new life; he uses what is offered.

Quotation 3 The narrator ___,“America differed from Russia in that its government existed under the form of a democracy… so there were two rival sets of grafters, known as political parties, and the one got the office which bought the most votes” (98-99).

Literary Device • Political Ideologies Function/Purpose/Commentary The new immigrant is aware of the political corruption in the democracy.

Quotation 4 The narrator describes,“ ‘Bubbly Creek’…is really a great open sewer [from the packing plants] a hundred or two feet wide …The grease and chemicals that are poured into it undergo all sorts of strange transformations” (100).

Essay: Literary Analysis Explain the historical significance of The Jungle by Upton Sinclair.

Literary Device • Environmental Issues • The packing plants are not concerned with the by-product of their production Function/Purpose/Commentary

Quotation 5 The narrator discloses, “The people of Chicago saw the government inspectors in Packingtown [and thought] they were protected from diseased meat; [however] they were paid…to certify that all the diseased meat was kept in the state” (101).

Literary Device • Economical Ideologies • The locals were not important to business; export is more profitable. Function/Purpose/Commentary

Quotation 6 The narrator uncovers, “There were cattle …covered with boils. It was a nasty job killing these, for when you plunged your knife into them they would burst and splash foul-smelling stuff into your face” (101).

Literary Device • Working conditions • The workers were expected to work in dangerous and disgusting conditions. Function/Purpose/Commentary

Introductory Context • Title • Author • Genre • Setting • Characters • Background/bit of plot • Thesis

The Jungle • Upton Sinclair • Novel • Chicago’s meat-packing industry during Industrial Revolution (1906) • JurgisRudkus • Immigrant from Lithuania working in meat-packing industry • Thesis: The Jungle is best known for exposing the unsanitary conditions in the meat-packing industry; however, the novel’s purpose goes beyond this issue and reveals the corruption and abuse immigrants face in the process.

First Paragraph: Introduction The muck-racking novel The Jungle by Upton Sinclair takes place in Packington, the meat-packing district of Chicago, during the Industrial Revolution. JurgisRudkus, the main character, is a Lithuanian immigrant working in the slaughter-houses. Instead of achieving the American Dream, he and his family endure countless struggles. The Jungle is best known for exposing the unsanitary conditions in the meat-packing industry; however, the novel’s purpose goes beyond this issue and reveals the corruption and abuse immigrants face in the process.

Second Paragraph: Unsanitary Food • Topic sentence (with NO TE!) • 1-2 examples of TE • CM for each! The narrator exposes, “A man could run his hand over these piles of meat and sweep off handfuls of the dried dung of rats…The packers would put poisoned bread out for them; they would die, and then rats, bread, and meat would go into the hoppers together” (135). The narrator reveals, “There were open vats near the level of the floor…[workers] fell into the vats…sometimes they would be overlooked for days, till all but the bones of them had gone out to the world as Durham’s Pure Leaf Lard!” (99).

Third Paragraph: Corruption The narrator discloses, “The people of Chicago saw the government inspectors in Packingtown [and thought] they were protected from diseased meat; [however] they were paid…to certify that all the diseased meat was kept in the state” (101). The narrator ___,“America differed from Russia in that its government existed under the form of a democracy… so there were two rival sets of grafters, known as political parties, and the one got the office which bought the most votes” (98-99). • Topic sentence (with NO TE!) • One ex of TE about Corruption & one example about struggles • CM for each! • Wrap up sentence

Third Paragraph TOO: Hardship/Abuse The narrator laments, “They had dreamed of freedom; of a chance to look about them and learn something; to be decent and clean, to see their child grow up to be strong…They had played the game and had lost” (136). • The CM relates to theme! • Put in a wrap-up sentence

The Jungle by Upton Sinclair