Of%20Mice%20and%20Men%20John%20Steinbeck

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Of Mice and MenJohn Steinbeck

• Genre Fiction tragedy
• First Publication 1937
• Narrator Third-person omniscient
• Protagonists George and Lennie
• Antagonists Curley society the cruel,
  predatory nature of human life
• Setting 1930s, South of Soledad, California

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John Steinbeck

• Born in Salinas, CA in 1902
• Died in 1968
• Won the Nobel Prize for his novel Grapes of Wrath

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History to 1920s

• After World War I, a recession led to a drop in
  the market price of farm crops, which meant that
  farmers were forced to produce more goods in
  order to earn the same amount of money.
• Farmers bought more land and invested in
  expensive agricultural equipment, which plunged
  them into debt.

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Great Depression

• The stock market crash of 1929 forced banks to
  foreclose on mortgages and collect debts.
• Unable to pay their creditors, many farmers lost
  their property and were forced to find other
  work.
• Nations unemployment rate skyrocketed peaking at
  nearly twenty-five percent in 1933.

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Conditions in the U.S. 1930s

• In 1930, California had 5.7 million residents,
  and the population shrank as 120,000 Mexicans
  were repatriated.

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Move to California

• In the 1930s, farmers from the Midwestern Dust
  Bowl states, especially Oklahoma and Arkansas,
  began to move to California 250,000 arrived by
  1940. During the 1930s, some 2.5 million people
  left the Plains states.

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Into the book

• Setting
• Soledad, CA

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Prereading

• "The best laid plans of mice and men go oft
  astray." - Robert Burns
• This saying so impressed John Steinbeck that he
  titled his novel after it.  What does this saying
  mean to you?
• Write a paragraph analyzing this quote. Relate
  it to your own life. (sec. 3)

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Characters

• Lennie a large, lumbering, childlike migrant
  worker. Due to his mild mental disability,
  Lennie completely depends upon George, his friend
  and traveling companion, for guidance and
  protection. The two men share a vision of a farm
  that they will own together, a vision that Lennie
  believes in wholeheartedly. Gentle and kind,
  Lennie nevertheless does not understand his own
  strength. His love of petting soft things, such
  as small animals, dresses, and peoples hair,
  leads to disaster.

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• George A small, wiry, quick-witted man who
  travels with, and cares for, Lennie. Although he
  frequently speaks of how much better his life
  would be without his caretaking responsibilities,
  George is obviously devoted to Lennie. Georges
  behavior is motivated by the desire to protect
  Lennie and, eventually, deliver them both to the
  farm of their dreams. Though George is the
  source of the often-told story of life on their
  future farm, it is Lennies childlike faith that
  enables George to actually believe his account of
  their future.

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Due Friday, Nov. 14 Reading Section 2 pgs. 17-37

• Write two paragraphs, one for each character
  Section 3 Writing -40 pts.
• Write about Lennie and Georges characters. Find
  one quote for each character that best describes
  his personality. Cite the quote i.e. (Steinbeck,
  pg 2). Explain why this quote characterizes each
  person.

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Chapter Two Vocabulary                          
                                       apprehensiv
e (adj.) anxious fearful archly (adv.)
playfully bridled (v.) to pull one's head back
in anger or pride especially when one feels one
has been offended buckers (n.) people who buck
grain bags calculating (adj.) shrewd
scheming cesspool (n.) a deep hole in the ground
into which sewage from sinks, toilets, etc. is
drained. cockier (adj.) To be cocky is to be
conceited, overbearing, and aggressive. complacent
ly (adv.) in a pleased, satisfied
manner cultivator (n.) a large farm machine used
for cultivation (the preparation of the earth for
planting). derogatory (adj.) belittling and
insulting disengage (v.) free dousing (n) to
douse is to be drenched with liquid. A dousing
refers to someone having been covered with a
liquid, in this case water, during a
washing. dragfooted (adj.) lame dragging a lame
foot gingerly (adv.) in a careful, cautious
way graybacks (n.) lice parasites. Lice are
small, wingless insects that live off the blood
of other animals. hatchet face (n) a lean, sharp
face heavy-laden (adj.) heavily loaded insteps
(n.) the parts of the shoes between the toe and
the ankle jerkline skinner laboring (adj.)
working, particularly work that involves physical
labor. lamely (adv.) To be lame is to be
crippled especially to have an injured leg or
foot. lashed (v.) swung around quickly leaves
(n.) pages levelly (adv.) Something that is
level is flat and horizontal. To stare at someone
levelly is to stare at that person straight on --
not looking up nor down. lightweight (n.) a
boxer who weighs between 127 - 135
pounds liniment (n.) a medicated liquid rubbed
on the skin to ease sore muscles and sprains (25)
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Vocabulary cont mollified (adj.) soothed
pacified mules (n) a type of shoe or slipper
than does not cover the heal. muzzle (n.) the
projecting part (the part that sticks out) of a
dogs head that includes the mouth, nose, and
jaw. ominously (adv.) in a threatening
way peered (v.) To peer is to look closely or
squint at something to see it more
clearly. pocket (n.) in this instance, a pocket
would be a hollow or cavity in the land filled
with gold ore precede (v.) go before or ahead
of pugnacious (adj.) eager and ready to
fight scourges (n.) a scourge is anything that
inflicts discomfort or suffering in this case,
any variety of insects and pests scowled (v.) a
scowl is an angry look achieved by frowning and
scrunching the eyebrows together. skeptically
(adv.) To be skeptical is doubt or question
something. George is doubting that the bunk
house, and especially his mattress, is really
clean slough (v) get rid of squirmed (v.)
twisted and turned wriggled stable buck (n.) a
stable is a building where horses are kept. A
buck, in this case, is a derogatory word for a
black man. A staple buck, then, would be a black
man who works in a stable. stocky (adj.) heavily
and solidly built swamper (n.) a handyman
someone who performs odd jobs often involving
cleaning tart (n.) a woman of loose morals one
who is prone to be sexually unfaithful tick (n.)
mattress covering ticking (n.) the cloth case
for a mattress. In this instance, the cloth case
was made from burlap. time book (n) a book used
to record the hours of workers trace chains (n)
the chains that connect a horse's harness to a
vehicle tramp (n.) In this case, a tramp is a
woman of loose morals who is sexually
promiscuous vials (n.) small bottles viciously
(adv.) cruelly in a mean way wheeler (n.) the
horse harnessed nearest to the front wheels of a
vehicle (25)        
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Task for section 2

• Individually or in pairs, students will be
  assigned vocabulary words.
• Find the sentence where the word(s) are being
  used. Record the sentence.
• Identify the content of the sentence what is
  taking place, who is speaking, what is being
  said, and why?

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Section 2 pgs. 16-37 Lennie and George arrive
at the farm

• Allusions a literary reference to a familiar
  person, place, thing, or event.
• All page numbers refer to the Penguin Books
  edition, 1993.
• "On his head was a soiled brown Stetson hat...(p.
  20)."
• " 'You got your work slips (p. 21)?' "
• " 'Well, that glove's fulla vaseline (p. 27).' "
• " 'An' I bet he's eatin' raw eggs and writin' to
  the patent medicine houses (p. 32).' "
• " '...we'll shove off and go up the American
  River and pan gold (p. 33).' "
• "His hands, large and lean, were as delicate in
  their action as those of a temple dancer (p.
  34)."

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Section 3 pgs.38-65

• Assignment On a separate sheet of paper,
  complete a Reading Log while reading section 3.
  
• Record information about all the characters.
  What motivates each character?
• Record vocabulary words, allusions, and idioms
• Record what you already know, what you learned,
  and what you would like to know.
• Due Tuesday, Nov. 18 60 pts.

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Reading Log- 60 pts.

•  Name ____________________________
• Chapter _______Date _________________
• Characters (8) George, Lennie, Slim, Candy,
  Curley, Carlson, Crooks (stablebuck), Wilt (young
  man)
• What motivates this character? What does he want
  from life? What is important to him or her?  
• Setting and Atmosphere (2)
• Vocabulary (10 words) with definitions, part of
  speech, and in text sentences
• Allusions (5) with page numbers and sentence
• Idioms (5) with page numbers and sentence
•  
• What I understand from this section (1)
• What I learned from this section (1)
• What I wonder about after reading this section
  (1)
•     

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Chapter Three Lennie, George, and Candy spend
some time with Crooks as they discuss their plans
for the future.

• Read this section closely.
• Answer the following questions
• 1. What are the plans now that Candy is
  included in Lennie and Georges dream?
• 2. How does the dream change now that Candy is
  involved?

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More of chapter 4

• Saturday night at Crook's room in the barn. All
  but Crooks, Candy and Lennie go to town. Lennie
  drops in on Crooks who philosophizes about
  companionship. Candy drops by and talks of their
  dreams. Curley's wife shows up and insults them
  all. Candy brags of their ranch. She infers that
  Lennie is the machine which got Curley. She
  threatens Crooks with a lynching. George arrives
  and all leave Crooks' room.

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Chapter 4 Writing Task

• In your binders, make a T chart. List Main
  Idea on one side, What the Text says on the
  other.
• Starting with chapter 4, record the references
  make to loneliness.
• Go back through the earlier chapters and record
  any references to loneliness.
• NOTE References can be things said that show a
  person is lonely, actions which show the person
  is lonely, or desires stated that indicate he
  doesnt want to be lonely.

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Chapter 5

• What is mental retardation?
• The definition used most often in the
  United States is from the American Association on
  Mental Retardation (AAMR). According to AAMR,
  mental retardation is a disability that occurs
  before age 18. It is characterized by significant
  limitations in intellectual functioning and
  adaptive behavior as expressed in conceptual,
  social and practical adaptive skills. It is
  diagnosed through the use of standardized tests
  of intelligence and adaptive behavior. Mental
  retardation is generally thought to be present if
  an individual has an IQ test score of
  approximately 70 or below and a significant
  deficit in at least one area of adaptive behavior
  (AAMR, 2002).

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Chapter 6 George finds Lennie and proceeds to
determine his fate.

• What are the causes of mental retardation?
• Mental retardation can be caused by any condition
  that impairs development of the brain before
  birth, during birth or in the childhood years.
  Several hundred causes have been discovered, but
  in about one-third of the people affected, the
  cause remains unknown. The three major known
  causes of mental retardation are Down syndrome,
  fetal alcohol syndrome and fragile X syndrome.

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Chapter Six Two murders are committed
one of a puppy, the other of Curley's wife.
Curley and the farm hands begin their search for
the killer.

• Vocabulary All page numbers refer to the Penguin
  Books edition, 1993.
• "...over the pile hung the four-taloned Jackson
  fork suspended from its pulley (p. 84)."
• "The resting horses nibbled the remaining wisps
  of hay...(p. 84)."
• "He looked sullenly up at her (p. 86)."
• "But Lennie was not to be drawn (p. 86)."
• "She said darkly, 'Maybe I will yet (p. 88).' "
• "Her feet battered on the hay and she writhed to
  be free...(p. 91)."
• "Around the last stall came a shepherd bitch,
  lean and long, with heavy, hanging dugs (p. 92)."
• "...a moment settled and hovered and remained for
  much more than a moment (p. 93)."
• " 'Then -- it's all off?' Candy asked sulkily (p.
  95)."
• "The sound of the men grew fainter (p. 98)."

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The Task

• Your task is to analyze one or more of the
  characters in the novel, Of Mice and Men, by John
  Steinbeck, to determine how the theme of
  loneliness is revealed.
• Write an essay to demonstrate your understanding
  of character motivation and how the theme of
  loneliness is revealed in the novel.
• PROMPT Where is the theme loneliness shown in
  the novel?

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Five Paragraph Essay

• Paragraph 1 Introduction paragraph
• (includes thesis statement)
• Paragraph 2 Body paragraph
• (includes topic sentence)
• Paragraph 3 Body paragraph
• (includes topic sentence)
• Paragraph 4 Body paragraph
• (includes topic sentence)
• Paragraph 5 - Conclusion

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Eleven Sentence Paragraph

• Sentence 1 Topic sentence expresses the main
  idea about the subject
• Sentence 2 Reason 1 support for the topic
  sentence
• Sentence 3 Example 1 textual quote or example
  from text
• Sentence 4 Explanation 1 explaining the quote
  and typing it back to reason 1
• Sentence 5 Reason 2 support for the topic
  sentence
• Sentence 6 Example 2 quote or example from
  text
• Sentence 7 Explanation 2 explaining the quote
  and why it supports the topic sentence
• Sentence 8 Reason 3 support for the topic
  sentence
• Sentence 9 Example 3 - quote or example from
  text
• Sentence 10 Explanation 3 explains the quote
  and why it supports the topic sentence
• Sentence 11 Conclusion sentence

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Sample 11 sentence paragraph Body paragraph 1

• Prompt Where is the theme loneliness shown in
  the novel?
• (Topic sentence) The theme of loneliness is shown
  by the migrant workers lifestyle.
• Sentence 2 (Reason 1) The migrant worker living
  on the ranch have difficulty forming lasting
  relationships.
• Example 1
• Explanation 1
• Sentence 5 (Reason 2) The migrant workers
  lifestyle causes men to move around so that
  relationships can not be formed.
• Example 2
• Explanation 2
• Sentence 8 (Reason 3) A migrant worker can be
  seen as weak if he does not show some sense of
  loneliness.
• Example 3
• Explanation 3
• Conclusion Sentence Loneliness is built into
  the migrant workers lifestyle.

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Prewriting

• The prompt asks for you to look at a character or
  characters and what motivates him. What he is
  after? What does this character desire? Want
  from life? Working for? Need?
• Construct a reason why this character
  demonstrates loneliness by his action.

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Brainstorming - cont

• Think about the theme of loneliness. Are the
  characters motivations linked to loneliness in
  some way? How?
• Now answer the prompt How is the theme of
  loneliness revealed through characters
  motivations?
• Develop a thesis statement in response to the
  prompt.

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Outline Format
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Outline

• I. Introduction with Thesis statement
  expresses a central idea
• i.e. The state of loneliness becomes familiar for
  the migrant men of Steinbeck novel therefore,
  causing the men to preserve their isolation.
• II. Body Paragraphs
• A. Crooks exemplifies the man who permanently
  stays to himself.
• B. Slim shows his loneliness by never getting
  close to his men.
• C. Carlson promotes loneliness by removing
  things that would help
• the men from being lonely.
• III. Conclusion restate the thesis statement
• 
  

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Essay Questions Pick one

• When all the other ranch hands go to town,
  Lennie, Crooks and Candy are left behind.
  Describe what each of these three do after the
  others leave, and explain what they have in
  common that causes them to be left out.
• Curley's wife appears three times in the novel.
  Briefly describe what takes place on each
  occasion. On which occasion does she reveal the
  most about herself, and what is it? 
• Describe in some detail the incident where Lennie
  crushes Curley's hand. What does this incident
  reveal about each of these two characters? 
• While Curley is physically aggressive towards
  Lennie, his wife is sexually provocative. Show
  how these two characters create trouble for
  Lennie, and combine to cause his death. 
• Many people in the novel suffer from
  disappointment. Choose any three of the following
  characters and discuss what reasons they have to
  be disappointed about their life Crooks - Curley
  - George - Candy