Of Mice and MenOf Mice and Men

Pre-reading notesPre-reading notes

Author: John SteinbeckAuthor: John Steinbeck

His work focuses on the outcasts of societyHis work focuses on the outcasts of society—the poor, the demented, the uneducated —the poor, the demented, the uneducated and the rebellious.and the rebellious.

Steinbeck was described as “lonely, Steinbeck was described as “lonely, frightened, insecure, and incapable of frightened, insecure, and incapable of relating to other people.”relating to other people.”

John SteinbeckJohn Steinbeck

Steinbeck wrote many books based on his Steinbeck wrote many books based on his early experience growing up in the Salinas early experience growing up in the Salinas Valley, California. Valley, California. The Grapes of WrathThe Grapes of Wrath in in 1939, for which he received a Pulitzer Prize1939, for which he received a Pulitzer Prize

Steinbeck received the Nobel Prize for Steinbeck received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1962. Literature in 1962.

Why Why Of Mice and MenOf Mice and Men??

The title of the novel comes from a poem by The title of the novel comes from a poem by the Scottish poet Robert Burns (1759 - 96):the Scottish poet Robert Burns (1759 - 96):

““The best laid schemes o' mice and menThe best laid schemes o' mice and menGang aft agley Gang aft agley [often go wrong][often go wrong]And leave us nought but grief and painAnd leave us nought but grief and painFor promised joy!”For promised joy!”

The settingThe setting Of Mice and Men Of Mice and Men is set in the farmland of is set in the farmland of

the Salinas valley in the 1930s, where John the Salinas valley in the 1930s, where John Steinbeck was born and which he knew all Steinbeck was born and which he knew all his life.his life.

The Great DepressionThe Great Depression

The novel takes place in the 1930sThe novel takes place in the 1930s During this time, the country was suffering During this time, the country was suffering

an economic depression caused by the an economic depression caused by the stock market crash of 1929 and a serious stock market crash of 1929 and a serious drought that greatly affected the midwest drought that greatly affected the midwest agricultural region.agricultural region.

Americans suffered from poverty and homelessnessAmericans suffered from poverty and homelessness

The Midwest agricultural region was The Midwest agricultural region was turned into a virtual desertturned into a virtual desert

Millions were forced to become Millions were forced to become migrants, leaving their homes to find migrants, leaving their homes to find

work in other parts of the countrywork in other parts of the country

Migrant WorkersMigrant Workers

George and Lennie are some of the last of the George and Lennie are some of the last of the migrant farm workers. Huge numbers of men migrant farm workers. Huge numbers of men traveled the countryside between the 1880s and traveled the countryside between the 1880s and the early 1930s harvesting wheat. the early 1930s harvesting wheat.

They earned $2.50 or $3.00 a day, plus food and They earned $2.50 or $3.00 a day, plus food and very basic accommodation.very basic accommodation.

During the 1930s, when there was very bad During the 1930s, when there was very bad unemployment in the United States, agencies unemployment in the United States, agencies were set up under the New Deal to send farm were set up under the New Deal to send farm workers to where they were needed. George and workers to where they were needed. George and Lennie got their works cards from Murray and Lennie got their works cards from Murray and Ready's, one of these agencies.Ready's, one of these agencies.

Migrant workersMigrant workers waiting for work cards waiting for work cards

Conditions were difficultConditions were difficult for migrant workers for migrant workers

Theme #1Theme #1The American DreamThe American Dream

The American DreamThe American Dream

The term was first used by James Truslow The term was first used by James Truslow Adams in his book Adams in his book The Epic of AmericaThe Epic of America which was written in 1931. He states: "The which was written in 1931. He states: "The American Dream is "that dream of a land in American Dream is "that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement.”according to ability or achievement.”

The American DreamThe American Dream

For the American society as a whole the For the American society as a whole the idea of the American Dream ended with the idea of the American Dream ended with the Wall Street crash of 1929.Wall Street crash of 1929.

However the dream survived for individuals. However the dream survived for individuals. Thousands made their way west to Thousands made their way west to California to escape from their farmlands in California to escape from their farmlands in the mid-West.the mid-West.

George and Lennie dreamed of their “little George and Lennie dreamed of their “little house and a couple of acres.”house and a couple of acres.”

The growing popularity of cinema was the The growing popularity of cinema was the last American Dream for many, Curley's wife last American Dream for many, Curley's wife was one: “Coulda been in the movies, an' was one: “Coulda been in the movies, an' had nice clothes.”had nice clothes.”

Theme #2Theme #2AlienationAlienation

Almost everyone in the story is lonely or Almost everyone in the story is lonely or alienated. Most are focused only on survivalalienated. Most are focused only on survival

However, George and Lennie have a bondHowever, George and Lennie have a bond—they travel together and watch out for —they travel together and watch out for each othereach other

In a society where the necessity to make In a society where the necessity to make enough money to survive comes first, the enough money to survive comes first, the very need for friendship becomes a mysteryvery need for friendship becomes a mystery

Therefore, George and Lennie are often Therefore, George and Lennie are often viewed with mistrust by the other viewed with mistrust by the other characters.characters.

Many charactersMany characters suffer from alienation suffer from alienation

Candy is alienated because of his age and Candy is alienated because of his age and physical disability.physical disability.

Curley’s wife is alienated because she is the Curley’s wife is alienated because she is the only woman on the ranch and her husband only woman on the ranch and her husband is cruel and unloving.is cruel and unloving.

Crooks is alienated because of his race.Crooks is alienated because of his race.

Theme #3Theme #3

Economic InjusticeEconomic Injustice

The cruelty unleashed by the Great The cruelty unleashed by the Great Depression led to economic injustice. Depression led to economic injustice. Workers’ rights were nonexistent and people Workers’ rights were nonexistent and people were left to fight among themselves for were left to fight among themselves for work. work.

Workers were at the mercy of landowners, Workers were at the mercy of landowners, who reaped the benefits from their labor.who reaped the benefits from their labor.

Workers, desperate for Workers, desperate for jobs, toiled at poverty-jobs, toiled at poverty-level wages and often level wages and often lived in sub-standard lived in sub-standard housing.housing.

Many farmers and Many farmers and ranchers reaped the ranchers reaped the financial benefits of the financial benefits of the cheap labor force.cheap labor force.

Your taskYour task

Your assignment is to Your assignment is to create a collage using create a collage using images and words from images and words from the internet and the internet and magazines to illustrate magazines to illustrate the historical context or the historical context or one of the main themes one of the main themes of of Of Mice and Men.Of Mice and Men.

The collageThe collage

In a good collage, every bit of white space is In a good collage, every bit of white space is covered.covered.

You should overlap items and not paste You should overlap items and not paste them on in straight rows.them on in straight rows.

Try to get a good combination of real Try to get a good combination of real pictures, illustrations, words, phrases, and pictures, illustrations, words, phrases, and cartoons.cartoons.

Choose from one of these topics:Choose from one of these topics:

Alienation or lonelinessAlienation or loneliness Economic injusticeEconomic injustice The plight of migrant workersThe plight of migrant workers The American DreamThe American Dream The Great DepressionThe Great Depression

Good Luck!!Good Luck!!