Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of gender discrimination.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Have you read any other novels by John Steinbeck? How would you compare East of Eden to works such as The Grapes of Wrath or Of Mice and Men?

2. East of Eden contains many allusions to the Bible and particularly to the story of Cain and Abel. How much knowledge of the Bible do you think a reader needs to fully appreciate Steinbeck’s use of allegory and allusion?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. East of Eden depicts two pairs of brothers with complex sibling dynamics. Why do you think that relationships between siblings can be complicated and challenging? Do you think that siblings of the same gender face different challenges in their dynamic than those of different genders?

2. Discuss the book’s depiction of inheritance and intergenerational trauma through its representation of two generations of the Trask family. Would you say that your personality and family dynamics may have been shaped by the experience of previous generations? If so, in what way?