Feminism in John Steinbeck's "The Chrysanthemums." At first glance John Steinbeck's "The Chrysanthemums" seems to be a story about a woman whose niche is in the garden. ... The drifter feigns great interest in Elisa's chrysanthemums and asks her many questions about them. ... Elisa is overjoyed by any interest in her flowers and gives the man chrysanthemum sprouts to bring to his friend. ... Seeing the chrysanthemums lying on the side of the road is a hard slap in the face for Elisa. ...

• Word Count: 797
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

John Steinbeck's short story, "The Chrysanthemums," centers around a woman named Elisa, an avid gardner who is strong, "blocked and heavy" (Steinbeck). ... It was her chrysanthemums that she had given to the tinker. ...

• Word Count: 821
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

The Chrysanthumums In the story "The Chrysanthemums" by John Steinbeck, Elisa and Henry Allen live on a ranch in the Salinas Valley where she raises chrysanthemums. ... The protagonist in this story is Elisa, whose character is round, has a love for raising chrysanthemums. ... In her garden, the chrysanthemums grew with the work of her hands and the care of her heart. ... He often jokingly teases her work in the garden as well as compliments and praises her efforts with the chrysanthemums. ... She will probably keep living her life through the chrysanthemums, until the day she d...

• Word Count: 1046
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

John Steinbeck utilizes two main characters to contrast different forms of strength in the short story " The Chrysanthemums". ... Steinbeck points this out by saying " The chrysanthemum stems seemed too small and easy for her energy." ... Speaking with him gives Elisa a chance to express her skill with chrysanthemums which makes her feel powerful and clever in her expertise of gardening. As Elisa is describing her mechanical way of getting rid of the old buds off her chrysanthemums she sounds like she could burst with enthusiasm and craze. ... The repair man uses his strength in ways of fa...

• Word Count: 694
• Approx Pages: 3