American Lit Mr Lancto Author Background John Steinbeck

American Lit Mr. Lancto

Author Background Ø John Steinbeck was born in 1902 in Salinas, California Ø This will be the setting for our book too! Ø He worked in New York after high school in construction, helped build MSG Ø Wrote Of Mice & Men in 1937 Ø His masterpiece The Grapes of Wrath was written in 1939 and won many awards Ø His other major piece of work is East of Eden where he tells the biblical story of Cain and Abel Ø Won the Novel Prize for Lifetime achievement in 1962 Ø When asked if he deserved the award, Steinbeck said “Frankly, No!”

Of Mice & Men Background Ø Story is set in Salinas River Valley in California during the Great Depression Ø “The economic conditions of the time victimized workers like George & Lennie, whose quest for land was thwarted by cruel and powerful forces beyond their control, but whose tragedy was marked, ultimately, by steadfast compassion and love. ” Ø Due to the erosion of overworked farmland in the Great Plains, the Dust Bowl sent thousands of families and farmers to California for work. These migrant workers were met with scorn which made their already dismal situation worse. Ø California Dreamin’- Most migrant famers saw Cali. as a land of hope because of their mild climate which made a longer growing season. Also, it promised the opportunity to earn money to buy their own land (American Dream) yet few migrant farmers ever found happiness

Themes Ø Dreams- Humans give meaning to their lives and their future by creating dreams. Without dreams and goals, life is an endless stream of days with no connection or meaning. Ø Loneliness- Humans crave interaction with others to give life meaning Ø Chance or Fate- Things often happen in life that are unpredictable and full of overwhelming difficulties. Try as we may to plan out our lives, we are ultimately a part of chance or fate. Ø Powerlessness- Different kinds Intellectual, Financial, & Societal. Lennie lacks the power to understand his urges to do “bad things. ” The migrant workers are victims of not earning enough to save, but also wanting instant gratification by spending money in town on the weekends. Crooks represents the powerlessness of African Americans during the early part of the 1900’s. Ø “Am I my Brothers Keeper? ”- Steinbeck was highly influenced by the Biblical story of Cain and Abel and asks the question in Of Mice and Men should mankind go alone in the world or be responsible and helpful of others who are less fortunate.

Character List Ø George Milton- Migrant worker who cares and protects Lennie. Shares dream with Lennie to buy their own piece of land. Ø Lennie Small- A migrant worker who is mentally handicapped, tall, and very strong! He depends on George for advice and protection like a child would with a parent. He likes to pet soft things and dreams of tending the rabbits on the farm he hopes to buy with George. Ø Slim- Leader of the mule team and the men of the ranch. He has compassion and understanding of George & Lennie’s situation. All the men respect and follow Slim’s opinion. Ø Candy- Old swamper who cleans out the bunk houses. He lost his hand in a ranch accident and wants to join in with George & Lennie to buy the farm. Ø Crooks- The black stable buck who cares for the horses. He lives in the barn Ø Curley- The son of the ranch owner. He is a little guy who picks fights with big guys. Curly is always worried about who his wife is talking to. Ø Curley’s Wife- Only character that is not given a name because she is Curly’s possession. She flirts with the guys because she is lonely and unhappy with her life.

Why the title Of Mice & Men? Ø Steinbeck decided on the title Of Mice and Men from reading a poem by Robert Burns. The poem written in 1785 was titled “To a Mouse On Turning Her Up in Her Nest with a Plow. ” The lines that lend Steinbeck’s novel its name are also a key theme in the story of George and Lennie. “The best laid schemes O’ mice and men Often go awry And lea’e us nought but grief and pain For a promised joy” Ø Looking at the lines of this poem how does it fit in with theme of Fate [Things often happen in life that are unpredictable and full of overwhelming difficulties. Try as we may to plan out our lives, we are ultimately a part of chance or fate. ] and The American Dream ?

Chapter 1 Ø The setting of the novel is “SOLEDAD” which in Spanish means loneliness or solitude Ø Steinbeck loved to use powerful description especially of the Californian landscape Ø We meet our main characters Lennie & George who are both described before being revealed. Lennie is a strong, tall, awkward, bear-like creature. George is a small, built man. Ø George and Lennie’s relationship is like that of a concerned parent for a small child. While George yells at Lennie and tells him how much better his life would be without him, he truly loves Lennie and is trying to protect him from harms way. Ø The image of them having a farm represents the American Dream of owning their own land, being independent, having material possessions, and running their own lives. Ø Steinbeck uses a number of foreshadowing events in this chapter by having George tell Lennie that if something “bad” happens he needs to return to the exact place in the woods. Also, we find out that Lennie has a history of doing bad things unintentionally because he is big, clumsy, and likes soft things

Chapter 2 Ø The bunkhouse is a different “scene” from the tranquil pond in the first chapter. Steinbeck does this in order to create a contrast in the freedom of nature and the unpredictable pattern of humans and their sometimes dangerous ways. ØLennie comments on his feelings of the ranch by saying “I don’t like this place George, ” which in turn foreshadows a feeling of uneasiness and danger. Curley’s wife is tempting and dangerous for everyone at the ranch, especially Lennie! ØEach character that we meet at the ranch represents a different part of American Society during the Depression: lonely, rootlessness, and poverty ØMigrant farmers are all of these three examples because they are stuck in a life where they must work for a time in one place then move some place else just as lonely.

Chapter 2 cont. Throughout this chapter we see characters question why Lennie and George travel together. It is repeated 3 times to show unusual it was for two migrant farmers to travel around with each other during this time period. Yet, also it gives us some insight to the different characters who ask the question: • The Boss- He assumes George is trying to take Lennie’s pay for financial gain. This reveals that the boss is a business man and only interested in the bottom line. • Curley- Assumes the relationship is sexual “Oh, so it’s that way. ” This shows Curley’s evil intentions and his cruel nature. • Slim- His reaction to the answer is that he is the only compassionate one because he understands that traveling with someone might help the loneliness. “Ain’t many guys travel around together…I don’t know why. Maybe ever’body in the whole damn world is scared of each other. ”

Chapter 2 cont. Ø Each character at the ranch can be paired for similarities and differences: • George and Candy- They are responsible and care for those unable to care for themselves. This pairing foreshadows the final scene between George and Lennie • Crooks and Candy- These two show the alienation from the rest of the ranch and society because of artificial barriers. Candy has a physical handicap by only having one arm and he is very old. Crooks is black which immediately makes him and outcast during this time period. Both connect with the Dream George and Lennie have because they see it as a way out of their loneliness as well. • Slim and Carlson- While Slim is very compassionate and understanding, Carlson is animalistic and insensitive. Carlson is the only one who thinks Candy’s dog should be shot. This shows how each man in society deals with loneliness; some by compassion, some by having no emotions.

Chapter 3 Ø We see just how much George needs Lennie in this chapter when George tells Slim about Lennie listening to everything he tells him Ø George likes that Lennie looks up to him for advice and as his leader. Ø Whit plays his biggest role in this chapter. Steinbeck uses him to show the typical life of the ranch worker when he isn’t working. Ø Whit reads Pulp magazine, plays cards, and goes to a cat house on the weekends Ø He simply lives for today with no regard for tomorrow and saving money Ø This illustrates Steinbeck’s purpose for writing the book because even the best intentions can be hurt by the human need for instant gratification and relief from boredom Ø Steinbeck uses Curley’s wife and Candy’s dog to foreshadow later events: Ø Curley’s wife is referred to as “Jailbait” Ø Candy says, “When they can me here I wisht somebody’d shoot me. ” & “ I ought to shoot that dog myself, George. I shouldn’t ought to of let no stranger shoot my dog. ” Ø When the 3 of them talk about the dream we see how passionate & hopeful they are to get out of the current situation. Each long for meaning in life, away from the lonely ranch

Chapter 4 Ø Crooks’ room is symbolic of so many things in Of Mice and Men. His room is neat and properly kept. He has his personal possessions on the floor that he has accumulated over the years. Unlike the other workers, he has stayed in his job. He has books, and gold-rimmed glasses. He is intelligent but also very lonely. It is big enough for him alone and only made up of things he needs. Ø Crooks’ appreciates and is probably jealous of George and Lennie’s relationship. He mentions, “A guy goes nuts if ain’t got nobody. Don’t make no difference who the guys is, long’s he’s with you…I tell ya a guy gets too lonely, he gets sick. ” Ø We see Crooks pick on Lennie because everyone has always put him down so now it is his turn to put another man down. Crooks’ has built barriers to protect him from others. Candy has never even stepped foot in Crooks’ place, Crooks is harsh, and does not talk to anyone. However, there artificial barriers put up by society that Crooks’ has to deal with, mainly racism. Ø When Curley’s wife puts Crooks in his place, we see how each member in the barn at that time are all victims in society: Crooks with his race, Candy with old age, Lennie with his handicap, and Curley with her gender.

Chapter 4 cont. Ø “I seen guys nearly crazy with loneliness for land, but ever’ time a whorehouse or blackjack game took what it takes. ” The life of the ranch hand or people in general can never see beyond the end of the week or what is happening now. We want instant gratification because we know the elusive dream will always be there but the here and now might not. Ø Everyone wants to feel a part of something and in this case land is a way to ease the loneliness and fear. Candy’s fear that he will be thrown out because he is too old to work, Crooks’ fear he’ll be gone because of his race and back, George and Lennie’s dream to be free from authority and do what they want. Ø Yet, Crooks’ speech puts this in a realist perspective, “Just like heaven. Everybody wants a little piece of lan’. I read plenty of books out here. Nobody never gets to heaven, and nobody gets no land. It’s just in their head. They’re all the time talking about it, but it’s jus’ in their head. ”

Quote Analysis Ø Read each quote carefully and explain what the character means by it Ø Identify what theme it fits with or describes Ø Explain why it fits or describes that particular theme 1. “Ain’t many guys travel around together, ” he mused. “I don’t know why. Maybe ever’body in the whole damn world is scared of each other. ” (35) 2. “With us it ain’t like that. We got a future. We got somebody to talk to that gives a damn about us… If them other guys gets in jail they can rot for all anybody gives a damn. But not us. ” (14) 3. “I ought to of shot that dog myself, George. I shouldn’t ought to of let no stranger shoot my dog. ” (61) 4. “ S’pose they was a carnival or a circus come to town, or a ball game, or any damn thing…We’d just go to her, ” George said. “We wouldn’t ask nobody if we could. Jus’ say, We’ll go to her, ’ an’ we would. ” (60 -61)