JOHN STEINBECK

Of Mice and Men

John Ernst Steinbeck Biography

• Born in Salinas, California, on February 27

• Parents encouraged his love of writing

• Learned about ranch life as a teen during summers

• These experiences would help him create rich characters and beautiful descriptions of the land

• Graduated from Salinas High School in 1919

• Attended Stanford University

• His attendance was poor, and he only took classes that interested him (for example, writing, literature, and marine biology)

Biography, Continued

•Left Stanford in 1925

•Moved to New York City

•His first novel, Cup of Gold, was published in 1929

•The Pastures of Heaven and To a God Unknown followed

•Married his first wife, Carol Henning, in 1930

• Lived in Pacific Grove (close to Monterey).

•Tortilla Flat (1935) received the California Commonwealth Club's Gold Medal for best novel by a California author.

Biography

• The Grapes of Wrath (1939) won the Pulitzer Prize.

• War Correspondent during World War II

• Some of his war articles were published in Once There Was a War.

• Awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1962

• A private person who did not seek publicity.

• Died December 20, 1968, in New York City

• Survived by his third wife, Elaine (Scott) Steinbeck and one son, Thomas.

• His ashes were placed in the Garden of Memories Cemetery in Salinas.

 

National Steinbeck Center—Salinas

1930s Great Depression Era Photos

1930s Hooverville

1930s Salinas Valley Lettuce Pickers

1930s Dust Bowl

1930s California Migrant Camp

1930s Migrant Family

The Most Famous Photo of the Depression

Of Mice and MenSETTING

▣ Of Mice and Men is set on a Salinas Valley ranch in California during The Great Depression of the 1930s.

Additional Background

▣ Many migrant workers from the Midwest and South (notably, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and Kansas), migrated to California in search of work.

Of Mice and Men Characters

Lennie -  Large and childlike character Mentally challengedDepends on his best friend, GeorgeThey share a dream of owning a ranch Nice and lovingDoes not know his own strength.

George - •Lennie’s traveling companion •Like a parent to Lennie•Talks about how much better his life would be without needing to care for Lennie•Good hearted•Easily frustrated by Lennie

Of Mice and Men Characters

Curley -  •boss's son•wears high-heeled boots to set him apart •former prizefighter•Physically, he is a small man •Full of bravado and implied threats

Candy -  •old handyman (“swamper”) •lost his hand in an accident •has an old dog that is sick, who smells, and is crippled Curley's wife -  •only female character •Steinbeck never gave her a name•recently married to Curley•flirtatious with other men.

Of Mice and Men Characters▣  

▣ Crooks - ◼ The only

African-American on the ranch

◼ Gets his name from his crooked back

◼ Lives in separate quarters

OF MICE AND MEN CHARACTERS

Slim -  He is more than competent at his job and is well respected. The other characters often look to Slim for advice. Everyone looks up to Slim, and his word is taken as the final stance.

 Carlson -  He is a ranch-worker, and he complains constantly about Candy's old, smelly dog. He’s a minor character, but is significant in many ways.

Of Mice and Men: Themes

Themes to Consider as we Read:

▣ Friendship▣ Loneliness▣ Mental Disability▣ Racism▣ Strong vs. Weak▣ Dreams vs. Reality