introduction to of mice and men

John Steinbeck

Of Mice and Men

Steinbeck’s biography

• 1902-1968

• Born in Salinas, California

• 1902-1968

• Enrolled in Stanford University in 1919, but never earned a degree

• 1902-1968

• Steinbeck worked the fields while in college picking strawberries, lettuce, sugar beets and broccoli

• 1902-1968

• Steinbeck worked the fields while in college picking strawberries, lettuce, sugar beets and broccoli

• Published his first book Cup of Gold (1929), received first literary success in his book Tortilla Flats (1935)

• 1931: Drought hit the midwestern and southern plains (Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas and other states).

• 1932-1933: Dust storms ravage the region. In 1932, there were 14 such storms, the number increased to 38 in 1933.

• Crops, livestock, and the remainder of the region’s livelihood begin to crash.

• Farmers migrated primarily to the San Joaquin Valley in California.

• Migrants are promised a new, better life, but that promise is rarely fulfilled.

The People

Dust storms

Steinbeck’s “Dust Bowl” trilogy

Steinbeck’s “Dust Bowl” trilogy• Steinbeck wrote three books that

chronicled the trials encountered by migrants, who travelled from Dust Bowl regions to the San Joaquin Valley in California.

• Of Mice and Men and The Grapes of Wrath are the two most famous of the “Dust Bowl” novels.

• In these novels, Steinbeck glorified the unity of these workers and family members, but often portrayed farm owners and county representatives in a negative light.

• These novels were very controversial at the time, and remain so until this day.

Of Mice and Men

• Comes from “To a Mouse,” a poem by Robert Burns:

• This stanza is included in the poem:

The best laid schemes o’ mice and menGang aft agley [often go wrong]And leave us nought but grief and painFor promised joy!

• Read and listen to the entire poem on my blog• What does Burns mean by this stanza?

Of Mice and Men

• Published in 1937

Of Mice and Men

• Chronicles the travel of two of these Dust Bowl migrants - George and Lenny

Of Mice and Men

• Lenny is based upon a real person

Of Mice and Men

• “He’s in an insane asylum in California right now. I worked alongside him for many weeks. He didn’t kill a girl. He killed a ranch foreman. Got sore because the boss had fired his pal and stuck a pitchfork right through his stomach. I hate to tell you how many times. I saw him do it. We couldn’t stop him until it was too late.” - Steinbeck to the New York Times in 1937

Of Mice and Men

• The two had worked on other farms, but had continuously been fired because of Lenny’s actions.

Of Mice and Men

• The two had worked on other farms, but had continuously been fired because of Lenny’s actions.

• They have the dream of buying their own small parcel of land and being their own bosses.

Possible themes and things to think about

• While reading, be sure to note parts of the novel in which the following themes are discussed:

• The American Dream, or impossibility of achieving it

• Loneliness and isolation during the Great Depression

• Friendship and camaraderie

• Nature

• Violence

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