Of Mice and Men

Of Mice and MenOf Mice and Men

By John By John SteinbeckSteinbeck

John SteinbeckJohn Steinbeck One of The Great American One of The Great American Writers of the 20Writers of the 20thth Century Century

A Look at the AuthorA Look at the Author Born February 27Born February 27thth in 1902 in Salinas, California, in 1902 in Salinas, California, John was the third of four children, and the only son.John was the third of four children, and the only son.

During his childhood, Steinbeck During his childhood, Steinbeck learned to appreciate his surroundings learned to appreciate his surroundings and loved the Salinas countryside and and loved the Salinas countryside and the nearby Pacific Ocean; it would be the nearby Pacific Ocean; it would be this appreciation that would later come this appreciation that would later come out in his writing.out in his writing.

Steinbeck worked during his summers as a hired Steinbeck worked during his summers as a hired hand in nearby ranches.hand in nearby ranches.

The Fields of Salinas, The Fields of Salinas, CaliforniaCalifornia

The Beauty of SalinasThe Beauty of Salinas

At the age of 14 he decided to be a writer At the age of 14 he decided to be a writer and spent a lot of time writing in his room.and spent a lot of time writing in his room.

In high school, Steinbeck did well in English In high school, Steinbeck did well in English and edited the school yearbook.and edited the school yearbook.

From 1919-1925 Steinbeck attended Stanford From 1919-1925 Steinbeck attended Stanford University to please his parents, but only chose University to please his parents, but only chose courses that interested him, classical and British courses that interested him, classical and British Literature, writing courses, and an odd science Literature, writing courses, and an odd science course.course.

However, Steinbeck did not receive a degree However, Steinbeck did not receive a degree because he would drop in and out of school, because he would drop in and out of school, sometimes to work with migrant workers and sometimes to work with migrant workers and bindlestiffs on California ranches.bindlestiffs on California ranches.

During the late 1920s and 1930s, he During the late 1920s and 1930s, he concentrated on writing and wrote several novels concentrated on writing and wrote several novels set in California.set in California.

Steinbeck gained Steinbeck gained great success bygreat success byreaders and critics.readers and critics.

In 1929, he published his first novel, In 1929, he published his first novel, Cup of GoldCup of Gold

In 1930, Steinbeck married Carol Henning, and theyIn 1930, Steinbeck married Carol Henning, and theymoved into his family’s home. His father helped moved into his family’s home. His father helped

support support the struggling couple, but unfortunately, they divorced the struggling couple, but unfortunately, they divorced

in in 1942.1942.

In 1935, he won his first literary prize,In 1935, he won his first literary prize,Commonwealth Club of California Commonwealth Club of California Gold Medal for Best Novel by a Gold Medal for Best Novel by a Californian for his novel, Californian for his novel, Tortilla Flat.Tortilla Flat.

In 1936, In 1936, Of Mice and Men Of Mice and Men was published, was published, and was so widely accepted that Steinbeck and was so widely accepted that Steinbeck began a book tour that led him to Europe.began a book tour that led him to Europe.

In 1939, In 1939, The Grapes of WrathThe Grapes of Wrath was published and became an was published and became an instant best-seller; in 1940 it was instant best-seller; in 1940 it was awarded the Pulitzer Prize, one awarded the Pulitzer Prize, one of the most prestigious literary of the most prestigious literary awards in the world.awards in the world.

This novel, just like This novel, just like Of Mice and MenOf Mice and Men, , stemmed from his experience working stemmed from his experience working among migrant workers. among migrant workers.

Steinbeck’s experiences in the fieldsSteinbeck’s experiences in the fields researching migrant workers led him to researching migrant workers led him to have more compassion for these workers,have more compassion for these workers,and stirred up his concern for social and stirred up his concern for social justicejustice..

John Steinbeck died on December 20, 1968, at John Steinbeck died on December 20, 1968, at his apartment in New York City.his apartment in New York City.

His wife took him home to Salinas to be buried His wife took him home to Salinas to be buried near the land that he spent his life writing near the land that he spent his life writing about.about.

Mural overlooking The Mural overlooking The National Steinbeck Center in National Steinbeck Center in

SalinasSalinas

The BookOf Mice and Men was originally called Something That Happened.

When Steinbeck first thought of the idea for the book he intended it to be for children. Steinbeck told a friend that he was experimenting with a new “dramatic form.”

In May 1936, he wrote a manuscript, but his puppy (a setter called Toby) ate it!

He said of the book:

"It is an experiment and I don't know how successful."

Of Mice and MenOf Mice and Men

The novel deals The novel deals with the issues dear with the issues dear to Steinbeck’s to Steinbeck’s heart: poverty, heart: poverty, homelessness, the homelessness, the exploitation of exploitation of itinerant workers, itinerant workers, the failure of the the failure of the American Dream, American Dream, and America’s and America’s general moral general moral decline.decline.

The 1930s – The Great DepressionThe 1930s – The Great Depression

Depression Depression

- an economy with high unemployment, falling - an economy with high unemployment, falling income, failing business, decline in production income, failing business, decline in production and sales.and sales.

Causes: Causes: Uninsured banksUninsured banks Stock Market CrashStock Market Crash Living above meansLiving above means

From 1932-1936 the annual rainfall didn’t From 1932-1936 the annual rainfall didn’t exceed 12 inchesexceed 12 inches

Dust clouds lifted and settled over millions Dust clouds lifted and settled over millions of acresof acres

By 1934, it was estimated that 100 million By 1934, it was estimated that 100 million acres of farmland had lost all or most of the acres of farmland had lost all or most of the topsoil to the winds.topsoil to the winds.

Farmers and farmhands moved into Farmers and farmhands moved into California as migrant workersCalifornia as migrant workers

Why Migrant Workers?Why Migrant Workers?

Before farm machinery Before farm machinery was developed, was developed, humans had to do a lot humans had to do a lot of the farm work by of the farm work by hand.hand.

Between the 1880s and Between the 1880s and the 1930s, thousands the 1930s, thousands of men would travel the of men would travel the countryside in search countryside in search of work.of work.

Such work included the Such work included the harvesting of wheat harvesting of wheat and barley.and barley.

Migrant WorkersMigrant Workers These workers would earn These workers would earn

$2.50 or $3.00 a day, plus $2.50 or $3.00 a day, plus food and shelter.food and shelter.

During the 1930s, the During the 1930s, the unemployment rate was unemployment rate was high in the U.S., and with so high in the U.S., and with so many men searching for many men searching for work, agencies were set up work, agencies were set up to send farm workers to to send farm workers to where they were needed.where they were needed.

In the novel, George and In the novel, George and Lennie (the two main Lennie (the two main characters) were given work characters) were given work cards from Murray and cards from Murray and Ready’s, which was one of Ready’s, which was one of the farm work agencies.the farm work agencies.

The setting in The setting in OfOf Mice and Mice and MenMen

The novel is set in the The novel is set in the farmland of the Salinas farmland of the Salinas valley, where John valley, where John Steinbeck was born.Steinbeck was born.

The ranch in the novel The ranch in the novel is near Soledad, which is near Soledad, which is south-east of Salinas is south-east of Salinas on the Salinas river.on the Salinas river.

The countryside The countryside described at the described at the beginning of the novel, beginning of the novel, and the ranch itself is and the ranch itself is based on Steinbeck’s based on Steinbeck’s own experiences. own experiences.

Main Characters: Lennie Main Characters: Lennie & George& George

Lennie Small

George MiltonGeorge Milton

Soledad, CaliforniaSoledad, California

California in the 1930sCalifornia in the 1930s

CandyCandy

CurleyCurley

Curley’s WifeCurley’s Wife

SlimSlim

Exit Slip

1. List one work written by Steinbeck other than Of Mice and Men. 2. Name and describe one of Steinbeck’s careers.  3. What location serves as the setting for many of Steinbeck’s stories? What is one possible reason for this? 4. Who are migrant workers and what historical event cause these men to migrate?

5. Write down one thing you learned about Steinbeck or the background of OMAM that is NOT on this exit slip.