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“The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry” Robert Burns

“The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry” Robert Burns. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. John Steinbeck. Born in Salinas, Ca. in 1902 First successful novel was Tortilla Flat published in1935 The Grapes of Wrath won The Pulitzer Prize in 1939

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“The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry” Robert Burns

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  1. “The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry”Robert Burns

  2. Of Mice and Menby John Steinbeck

  3. John Steinbeck • Born in Salinas, Ca. in 1902 • First successful novel was Tortilla Flat published in1935 • The Grapes of Wrath won The Pulitzer Prize in 1939 • Steinbeck won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1962

  4. Steinbeck’s Writing • His stories are almost always set in the Salinas Valley • He likes to write about the working man, the under dog • His biggest talent is in creating vivid, believable characters • Many of his most memorable characters are bullies

  5. He often examines the cruel nature of the world He appears to be a fan of Darwin, but his true heroes always display compassion He is often examining the accessibility of the American Dream Steinbeck’s Writing

  6. What does it mean to be a friend?

  7. What is the American Dream?

  8. Setting • The novel is set in the Salinas Valley, Ca. • It is set during the Great Depression • The two main characters find work on a farm helping with the harvest

  9. Characters • George: A “bindle bum” who looks out for Lennie • Lennie: A very large, strong, mentally challenged man who travels with George • The boss: Owns the farm Lennie and George will be working on.

  10. Characters • Curly: The bosses son, and he is married to a very pretty woman. He is short, and he is a bully • Curly’s Wife: She is bored and lonely. She is always trying to get attention • Candy: He is an old, injured handyman. He has a very old, very smelly dog.

  11. Characters • Slim: A highly skilled worker on the farm, he is the only character who seems to be at peace with himself. • Carlson: One of the other workers at the farm. • Aunt Clara: Lennie’s Aunt who cared for him but has passed away

  12. Characters • Crooks: He runs the stable. He was hurt in an accident with a horse and his back crooked—that’s where his name comes from. None of the other men will mix with him because he is black.

  13. Chapter I • Lennie and George are on their way to a new job. • They barely got away alive from their last job because Lennie was “petting” a woman’s coat.

  14. Chapter I • George is obviously the leader of the two. • Lennie is not capable of taking care of himself, so George has to look out for him • Lennie is very big and very strong • Lennie loves soft things, but he is too rough with them.

  15. Chapter I • George wants to spend one more day “free” before they go to work. So they camp by the river. • Lennie and George have a dream: • Own their own land • Have their own house • Raise rabbits • Be free

  16. Chapter I • George tells Lennie that he has to make sure to stay out of trouble, but if Lennie can’t, he needs to run away and meet George by the river.

  17. Significant symbols to watch • Soft things • Nature vs. civilization • Lennie and George’s dream

  18. Chapter II • George and Lennie arrive late at the farm and the boss is mad • The boss is suspicious of Lennie and George’s relationship • They meet Candy in the bunkhouse

  19. Chapter II • Candy explains how things work at the ranch • Curly comes in and immediately starts to try to pick a fight with Lennie—Curly has a Napoleon Complex—Picks fight to prove he is strong and brave because he is short

  20. Chapter II • Curly’s Wife—what is her name?—comes in and flirts with the men. • Carlson wants to shoot Candy’s old dog and have Slim give Candy a new one • Lennie wants a brown and white puppy

  21. Symbols to Watch • Candy’s Dog • Curly’s wife • The puppies • The bunkhouse

  22. Chapter III • George explains Lennie to Slim • Carlson shoots Candy’s dog • George and Lennie let Candy in on their dream • Curly picks a fight w/ Lennie and Lennie crushes Curly’s hand • Curly won’t fire Lennie as long as no one tells how the hand got broken

  23. Important Symbols • The puppies • The death of Candy’s dog • Candy joining the dream

  24. Chapter IV • Lennie meets Crooks • At first, Crooks is cruel to Lennie • Then, he joins the dream • Curly’s wife comes in and destroys the moment

  25. What does loneliness do to a person? • Crooks • Curly’s Wife • Candy

  26. Chapter V • George goes into town and leaves Lennie alone • Lennie pets the puppy to death • Curly’s wife tells Lennie he can pet her hair • He accidently kills her

  27. Chapter VI • The men get together and go after Lennie • Lennie runs to the meeting place George told him about • George shoots Lennie

  28. Themes • In his novel of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck maintains that friendship can make a even the hardest life easier to live.

  29. Themes • The American Dream is equally available to all as John Steinbeck demonstrates in his novel Of Mice and Men.

  30. Themes • As John Steinbeck illustrates in his novel Of Mice and Men, only the strong survive in this cruel world

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