A story would lack inspiration would it not be for a leader. Someone whom fellow members of the same society or organization looked up to. In the book Of Mice and Men the character Slim captures this role with honor. Slim is the ranch's mule driver, and is known as the "prince" of the farm. While others in the story lack purpose, organization and focus, Slim is a firm yet steady and peaceful character. Others in the ranch look to him for guidance. The first example of this was when Candy, a fellow ranch-hand was having trouble deciding whether or not to let his impaired dog live or die. Although others in the ranch offer their advice, the thoroughly sincere advice from Slim to allow his dog to be killed was the only advice seriously considered and eventually followed.
Slim goes on to support the friendship between George and Lennie throughout the story, through the many trials the two friends encounter. "He's a nice fella," said Slim. "Guy don't need no sense to be a nice fella. Seems to me sometimes it jus' works the other way around. Take a real smart guy and he ain't hardly ever a nice fella"(45). When observing his traits, Slim resembles August from the book The Secret Life of Bees in the way that she was looked at as the Queen bee and stronghold in the story. She, like Slim was the character that everyone respected, looked up to and could trust and confide in. This particular type of character is vital to a meaningful story and Slim fulfilled his role as leader in a refreshing and ultimately tranquil way.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Bibliography
Of Mice and Men- John Steinbeck - Covici-Friede - New York - 1937
http://www.steinbeck.org/bio.html
http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/literature/laureates/1962/steinbeck-bio.html
http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/johnstei.htm
http://www.steinbeck.org/bio.html
http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/literature/laureates/1962/steinbeck-bio.html
http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/johnstei.htm
Character Sketch: Candy
One of the main characters of the story, Candy, is an elderly man who works as the swamper on the ranch, where he is constantly harrassed by his co-workers for his lack of one of his hands and his ownership of an equally old dog. Candy faces a dilemma when one of the ranch hands convinces him that taking the life of his dog would be better for the dog, since it was supposedly suffering. The loss of his dog leaves Candy vulnerable and made him want to get off the ranch. When Candy overhears George discussing his dream ranch, he offers to invest in the purchase of the land, and to leave all of his belongings to George when he dies. His hopes are crushed when, after Lennie has killed Curley's wife, George admits that there really was no ranch.
"I got hurt four years ago. They'll can me purty soon. Jus' as soon as I can't swamp out no bunk houses they'll put me on the county."(p.66)
"I got hurt four years ago. They'll can me purty soon. Jus' as soon as I can't swamp out no bunk houses they'll put me on the county."(p.66)
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Modern Comparison
A modern comparison to Of Mice and Men can be made when looking at the current state of the American economy and the steadily rising rates of homeless/jobless Americans. Those who have recently lost their jobs due to the economic conditions can be compared to George and Lennie, as they are now in the same search for work just so they can get by. George's main concern was not keeping a job, but earning the money that he could from the job as fast as possible and then moving on. The state America is in currently reflects how some Americans may feel about their job opportunities, as many jobs have become sporadic with their hiring. Some Americans are forced to travel to different areas of the country, as George and Lennie did, in order to find work. When compared to modern society, it's astounding how the society of the 30's is similar.
Literary Elements
John Steinback writes the novel Of Mice and Men to enlighten others of struggles going on with their fellow citizens all working towards their own American Dream. During this time the American Dream differed because people worked towards gaining land and freedom which contrasts with the wants of materialistic items of today.
The author has a negative tone towards the novel because in the end his characters do not acquire their dreams which they were striving for. This relates to the harsh reality of the American Dreams today. Also, the characters in the novel all have a lot of conflict not only with others, but internally as well. They fight to achieve their personal goals, but in the end they end up failing because they were resistant towards accepting help.
While reading this novel, the reader may be shocked by the actions taken by George because of his inability to succeed and his murdering Lennie. It is difficult for the reader to comprehend such cruelty between friends. It is an uncomfortable story to read, but it is quite true because it is a life lesson because a lot of the time you have to watch out for yourself without the dependence of another.
The author uses improper language and syntax to express the characters and their situations. The specific syntax can be known as "southern" slang because this is the setting of the novel. Some examples are "ya", "Sat'day", and "coulda".
Steinbeck uses symbolism throughout the novel. One form of symbolism was the mouse that Lennie found and kept in his pocket, which he eventually crushed to death. The mouse can be seen as the dreams of the characters, small but always kept close by. Also like their dreams, they are destroyed in the end, just like the mouse itself.
There is also conflict found within Of Mice and Men, more specifically, the conflict of Man versus Society. Lennie and George fight against the way society has placed them, at the bottom with the worst jobs. The two want to rise above and defeat the stereotypical role they are suppose to play.
Vivid imagery is used as well, especially in the beginning of the novel where the setting is being described. For example it says, "...willows fresh and green with every spring, carrying in their lower leaf junctures the debris of the winter's flooding..."(1). The imagery allows the readers to clearly see where the characters are and what is happening in the scene.
The author has a negative tone towards the novel because in the end his characters do not acquire their dreams which they were striving for. This relates to the harsh reality of the American Dreams today. Also, the characters in the novel all have a lot of conflict not only with others, but internally as well. They fight to achieve their personal goals, but in the end they end up failing because they were resistant towards accepting help.
While reading this novel, the reader may be shocked by the actions taken by George because of his inability to succeed and his murdering Lennie. It is difficult for the reader to comprehend such cruelty between friends. It is an uncomfortable story to read, but it is quite true because it is a life lesson because a lot of the time you have to watch out for yourself without the dependence of another.
The author uses improper language and syntax to express the characters and their situations. The specific syntax can be known as "southern" slang because this is the setting of the novel. Some examples are "ya", "Sat'day", and "coulda".
Steinbeck uses symbolism throughout the novel. One form of symbolism was the mouse that Lennie found and kept in his pocket, which he eventually crushed to death. The mouse can be seen as the dreams of the characters, small but always kept close by. Also like their dreams, they are destroyed in the end, just like the mouse itself.
There is also conflict found within Of Mice and Men, more specifically, the conflict of Man versus Society. Lennie and George fight against the way society has placed them, at the bottom with the worst jobs. The two want to rise above and defeat the stereotypical role they are suppose to play.
Vivid imagery is used as well, especially in the beginning of the novel where the setting is being described. For example it says, "...willows fresh and green with every spring, carrying in their lower leaf junctures the debris of the winter's flooding..."(1). The imagery allows the readers to clearly see where the characters are and what is happening in the scene.
Historical Context
Of Mice and Men, set in the West during the Great Depression, captured and addressed many social issues of the time. George and Lennie, two bindlestiffs (or in layman's terms, hobos), are constantly searching for a new job to take on. They cannot keep a steady job due to Lennie's incompetence and the poor economy, leading them from one odd job to another just to earn their stake. The novel shows how poorly some Americans had to live just to get by from day to day.
Another issue that was addressed by the novel is that of racial segregation. Crooks, a black ranch hand whose back was crooked, was repeatedly shunned from being around the white ranch hands as well as threatened just because of his skin color. When Lennie ventures into Crooks' bedroom, the reader is shown a different side of Crooks that wasn't shown before. Crooks is a simple man who just wants to be treated as an equal to the other men on the ranch. The boldness Crooks feels when talking to Lennie quickly disappates when Curley's wife appears and threatens to have him killed.
Vocabulary
1.Jeering: to speakor shout derisively; scoff or gibe rudely
"From outside came the clang of horseshoes on the playing peg and the shouts of men, playing, encouraging, jeering" (92).
2. Meager: lacking respectable or desirable qualities including richness and strength
"In the stable buck's room a small electric globe threw a meager yellow light"(74).
3.Bindle: describes a bag or sack that it sterotypically carried by a hobo
"George undid his bindle and brought out three cans of beans" (11).
4.Acrhly: an arch or roguish manner
"She smiled archly and twisted her body" (35).
5. Recumbent: lying down; reclining; leaning
"...and sycamores with mottled, white, recumbent limbs and branches that arch over the pool" (1).
6. Drone: to speak in a dull tone; monotone
"Lennie droned to himself softly, "I ain't gonna say nothin'....I ain't gonna say nothin'....I ain't gonna say nothin' "(7).
7. Irrigation: the watering of land by fake attempts to enhance plant growth
"She yells and we got to hide in an irrigation ditch all day with guys lookin' for us, and we got to sneak out in the dark and get outta the country"(12).
8. Woodenly: awkwardly stiff or solid
"He said woodenly, "If I was alone I could live so easy"(114).
9. Contemptuously: an attitude of disrespect and utter despise toward another
"Awright," she said contemptuously. "Awright, cover 'im up if ya wanna. Whatta I care"(86)?
10. Fawning: to display affection; expressing feelings of a flattering manner
"Lennie gulped and his smile grew more fawning"(75).
"From outside came the clang of horseshoes on the playing peg and the shouts of men, playing, encouraging, jeering" (92).
2. Meager: lacking respectable or desirable qualities including richness and strength
"In the stable buck's room a small electric globe threw a meager yellow light"(74).
3.Bindle: describes a bag or sack that it sterotypically carried by a hobo
"George undid his bindle and brought out three cans of beans" (11).
4.Acrhly: an arch or roguish manner
"She smiled archly and twisted her body" (35).
5. Recumbent: lying down; reclining; leaning
"...and sycamores with mottled, white, recumbent limbs and branches that arch over the pool" (1).
6. Drone: to speak in a dull tone; monotone
"Lennie droned to himself softly, "I ain't gonna say nothin'....I ain't gonna say nothin'....I ain't gonna say nothin' "(7).
7. Irrigation: the watering of land by fake attempts to enhance plant growth
"She yells and we got to hide in an irrigation ditch all day with guys lookin' for us, and we got to sneak out in the dark and get outta the country"(12).
8. Woodenly: awkwardly stiff or solid
"He said woodenly, "If I was alone I could live so easy"(114).
9. Contemptuously: an attitude of disrespect and utter despise toward another
"Awright," she said contemptuously. "Awright, cover 'im up if ya wanna. Whatta I care"(86)?
10. Fawning: to display affection; expressing feelings of a flattering manner
"Lennie gulped and his smile grew more fawning"(75).
Monday, March 22, 2010
Theme
A major theme throughout the novel is the pursuing of ones dreams. Each character has their own individual dreams in life. To begin with, George and Lennie have formed the idea of owning a large ranch with several animals and land where they may do as they wish. They travel from job to job with the same purpose in mind, and that is to raise enough money to buy their dream place.
While on the ranch, George and Lennie share their dream with a couple of other ranch hands, Crooks and Candy. Candy and Crooks develop the dream of following George and Lennie in their pursuit of happiness.
While on the ranch, George and Lennie share their dream with a couple of other ranch hands, Crooks and Candy. Candy and Crooks develop the dream of following George and Lennie in their pursuit of happiness.
Character Sketch By:Jessica
George Milton is a man with not much intelligence, but has common sense. George has dreams for himself that are not very realistic, but allow him to continue moving forward in his mundane life. George has been put in charge of Lennie, who is mentally disabled, so it is difficult for George to take part in things that he normally would do if he was alone. It is hard for George to deal with Lennie a lot of the time, but he truly does care for Lennie and want the best for him. However, it is the bond that George and Lennie share that allows George perseverance. George is hoping to save up enough money to own his own piece of land one day and have Lennie live there with him.
A quote that expresses George's charcter is when he states, "No, Lennie, I ain't mad. I never been mad, an' I ain't now. That's a thing I want ya to know" (116-117). This shows that George was happy to travel with Lennie and have him as a companion for the little time he could. Also, it tells how much he regrets killing Lennie, even if it was for his own good.
Plot Summary
(4.) The two main characters from Of Mice and Men are George Milton and Lennie Small. George is a small man with common sense and Lennie is rather large with the mental capacity of a child. They travel together because Lennie's Aunt Clara made George promise to take care of Lennie after she passed away. George is always a loyal friend to Lennie and they are able to bond due to their individual loneliness.
The novel begins with George and Lennie traveling to a farm to be ranch hands and buck barley. When they arrive at the ranch they meet a swamper named Candy and are introduced to the rest of the workers on the ranch such as Slim, Carlson, Crooks, and the boss' son, Curley. Shortly after they arrived, it was easy for George to discern the potential threats.
George and Lennie have a dream of owning their own piece of land which will include rabbits, alfalfa, and a few chickens. Even though this dream is unrealistic, it is illuminated by Lennie's childlike manner. George tries to keep their goals a secret, but it inevitably spreads to the other ranch hands. Candy and Crooks begin pondering their own placement in George and Lennie's ideal world once they raise enough money by working.
When George and Lennie obtained their dream ranch, Lennie wanted to be able to tend to the rabbits, but he knew George would never let him do this job if he caused any more trouble. This is why when Lennie accidentally kills the puppy given to him by Slim he becomes distraught and tries to hide the puppy's body. While sitting in the barn worrying about what George will say, Curley's wife comes in and tries to speak with him. She brings up the subject of her hair and because Lennie has a fixation with soft objects, he grabs ahold of her and doesn't let go, even when she begins to scream. Lennie becomes even more distressed and is unsure of what to do, so he ends up killing Curley's wife. He does not do this out of cruelty, but out of lack of awareness and fear. Lennie realizes that he has done something wrong, so he runs away to the hiding place that George has informed him to run to if bad things happen. Curley and the rest find out about his wife's death, so he decides the only thing to do is kill Lennie. When everyone on the ranch is forced to go on a man hunt, George is the one who ends up shooting Lennie in the back of the head.
The novel begins with George and Lennie traveling to a farm to be ranch hands and buck barley. When they arrive at the ranch they meet a swamper named Candy and are introduced to the rest of the workers on the ranch such as Slim, Carlson, Crooks, and the boss' son, Curley. Shortly after they arrived, it was easy for George to discern the potential threats.
George and Lennie have a dream of owning their own piece of land which will include rabbits, alfalfa, and a few chickens. Even though this dream is unrealistic, it is illuminated by Lennie's childlike manner. George tries to keep their goals a secret, but it inevitably spreads to the other ranch hands. Candy and Crooks begin pondering their own placement in George and Lennie's ideal world once they raise enough money by working.
When George and Lennie obtained their dream ranch, Lennie wanted to be able to tend to the rabbits, but he knew George would never let him do this job if he caused any more trouble. This is why when Lennie accidentally kills the puppy given to him by Slim he becomes distraught and tries to hide the puppy's body. While sitting in the barn worrying about what George will say, Curley's wife comes in and tries to speak with him. She brings up the subject of her hair and because Lennie has a fixation with soft objects, he grabs ahold of her and doesn't let go, even when she begins to scream. Lennie becomes even more distressed and is unsure of what to do, so he ends up killing Curley's wife. He does not do this out of cruelty, but out of lack of awareness and fear. Lennie realizes that he has done something wrong, so he runs away to the hiding place that George has informed him to run to if bad things happen. Curley and the rest find out about his wife's death, so he decides the only thing to do is kill Lennie. When everyone on the ranch is forced to go on a man hunt, George is the one who ends up shooting Lennie in the back of the head.
Title/Author
(1.) Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
(2.) About the author:
The author of Of Mice and Men, John Ernst Steinback was born in Salines, California on February 27, 1902. His ancestors were of German and Irish decent. John's father, John Steinbeck, Sr., worked as a County Treasurer and his mother, Olive Hamilton Steinbeck was a school teacher. It was Olive who nourished John's love of literature and the art of writing. As a young boy, John's summer job was working as a hired hand on ranches near where he lived.
John graduated high school in 1919 and then was accepted into Stanford University. He started out majoring in English, but soon acquired habits of sporadic attendance to class, pursuing an independent study. During his time at Stanford he worked at different jobs, and in 1925 he decided to leave Stanford permanently and he went to New York City to pursue his career as a writer. At the inception of his career, he was unsuccessful and ended up moving back to California. Later in his career, however, he became an esteemed author. Some of his literary works include Of Mice and Men, The Pearl, The Grapes of Wrath, Travels with Charlie: In Search of America, and Cannery Row.
In 1962, Steinbeck was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature "...for his realistic as well as imaginative writings, distinguished by a sympathetic humor and a keen social perception."-The Swedish Academy. Throughout his life, John was a reserved person who rejected publicity. He died on December 20, 1968 while living with his third wife Elaine, with a son by the name of Thomas. John will always be remembered for his famous literary works and the way his unique personality was illuminated by them.
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