By: John Steinbeck

Of Mice and Men

A novella about the “longing of men for some kind of home - roots [to] believe in, land [to] care for - and the

painful search for self” (excerpt from Mice and Men cover jacket).

ANTICIPATION GUIDE

• Read over the handout that has been given to you. Mark the comments you agree with, those that you do not agree with.

• Be prepared for movement and discussion.

• Remember our argument techniques – if you feel strongly about something, be prepared to defend it in an attempt to “convince” your peers of your position.

Defining the American Dream

As a class, let’s contemplate the many pieces we have read this year that lend to the idea of what the American Dream is. We pondered, early on in the year, what “makes” the American Dream. Now let’s

define it as a class so that we have an operating definition

PERIOD 2

• Desire to improve• Gain independence• Help others (selflessness)• Being content with what you have• Freedom• Attain happiness

The American Dream is the desire to improve one’s life by achieving independence and happiness, in addition to being content with what you have and offering help to those in need.

PERIOD 3

• Possibility of success• Living dreams to the fullest• Enjoy life• Experience freedom• Education• Work for achievement• Setting goals and standards• Prosperity• Contentment/Happiness

The American Dream is the desire to maintain one’s livelihood by setting goals and standards and working to attain personal success, all in the name of freedom.

Family Interviews

• Interview a parent or other family member (some of whom may be immigrants) about the American Dream. 

• You must develop your own questions that allow them to reflect on what this concept means to them. 

• Be sure to carefully and accurately record their responses

• Some starter questions :• What does the “American Dream” mean?• How has the “American Dream” been a part of

your life?• OTHERS???• Make a list of 7-10 total (these 2 included if you

wish!)

Biography

•John Ernst Steinbeck was born in Salinas, California, on February 27, 1902 , of German and Irish ancestry.

•His parents encouraged his love of writing! His father, John Steinbeck, Sr., was the County Treasurer and his mother, Olive (Hamilton) Steinbeck, was a former school teacher.

•Young Steinbeck learned about ranch life as a teen during summers. He did odd jobs on the ranches and paid close attention to his environment and the people around him. Later, these experiences would help him create rich characters and beautiful descriptions of the land.

•After graduating from Salinas High School in 1919, Steinbeck attended Stanford University. He was not too interested in completing a full educational program. His attendance was poor, and he only took classes that interested him (for example, writing, literature, and marine biology

Biography

•Steinbeck attended Stanford but left permanently in 1925 and moved to New York City to follow his dream of becoming a writer.

•Steinbeck continued writing, using a lot of research, personal experiences, and observations about people and their hopes, sorrows, and dreams. The Grapes of Wrath (1939) won the Pulitzer Prize.

•John Steinbeck was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1962 “...for his realistic as well as imaginative writings, distinguished by a sympathetic humor and a keen social perception.”

•Pretty much, Steinbeck was a private person who did not seek publicity.

•He died December 20, 1968, in New York City and was 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

The Great Depression

• The Great Depression and the Dust Bowl uprooted hundreds of thousands of Americans. At its worst, the Depression saw 25% of the work force unemployed. People lost not only their jobs, but their homes, their land, and any savings they might have had.

• The average person struggling to survive the Depression is a common theme in the writings of Steinbeck. in Of Mice and Men, the great migration of men, women, and children caused by the Depression and the Dust Bowl is more of a traditional element of setting—yet important nonetheless.

• While viewing the following images, write down a one-two word reaction you experience. What feeling comes to mind? What are your reactions?

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

Reading Primary Source Letters

Silently read and annotate the letter you have been given.

Working with your assigned team/partner, complete the handout provided.

After completion, be prepared to summarize to the class what you discovered in your letter. Share your reactions and thoughts as you present. Each member must comment for credit!

NOTEBOOK SET-UP

• What should already be in your ISN:• Anticipation Guide• Notes• Box Car Letter

• What to INCLUDE:HANDOUTS:•Character Chart•Slang Terms•Symbols•Lit terms•Themes•Section Discussion

To Record:•Daily Vocab•Setting Notes

Of Mice and Men

Setting

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

Lennie -  He is a large and childlike character who is mentally challenged. Lennie depends on his best friend, George, for direction and friendship. Together, they share a dream of owning a ranch and “living off the fatta the ‘lan.” Lennie, at heart, is nice and loving, but his downfall is that he does not know his own strength.

George -  He is Lennie’s traveling companion and serves pretty much as an adult to the childlike behavior of Lennie. He often talks about how much better his life would be without his obligation to Lennie. George is good hearted, too, but he is easily frustrated by Lennie.

OF MICE AND MEN CHARACTERS (CONTINUED)

Curley -  The boss's son, Curley, wears high-heeled boots to set him apart from the migrant workers and the field hands. He is a former prizefighter, and always seems to be looking for a fight. Physically, he is a small man and always seems to be compensating for his size with bravado and implied threats.

Candy -  He’s the old handyman (“swamper”) on the ranch. Candy lost his hand in an accident and no longer contributes much to the ranch. He has an old dog that is sick, who smells, and is crippled.  Curley's wife -  She is the only female character in the novel; Steinbeck never gave her a name. She has been recently married to Curley, but is flirtatious with other men.

• 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.

• Crooks -  Crooks, the stable-buck, is the only African-American on the ranch. He gets his name from his crooked back. He lives in separate quarters because of the color of his skin.

Of Mice and Men: Themes

Themes to Consider as we Read:

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