Introduction to Of Mice & Men

1. Introduction to Of Mice & Men http://questgarden.com/47/17/3/070228114001/index.htm

2. Of Mice and Men • Author is John Steinbeck (1902-1968) • Of Mice and Men published in 1937 • Deals with poor migrant workers in California • What major events were occurring in the 1930s, when this novel takes place? • Image: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/585.John_Steinbeck • Information taken from SparkNotes: Context information

3. Economic conditions of the time victimize the main characters, George and Lennie, who dream of a better life • Have “steadfast love and compassion” for each other • Steinbeck won the Nobel prize for literature in 1962 • This novel “demonstrates how grueling, challenging, and often unrewarding the life of migrant farmers could be.” • Information taken from SparkNotes: Context information • Image: http://hphs.dist113.org/library/Library/mice_and_men_webquest.htm

4. -The “n” word-Lynching-RacismComment on what you know/your feelings on these issues.

5. “Bad” Language:Why use it?Why is it so prevalent?

6. “Retard”What does this mean? Why do people use it?

7. Violence:Is it ever justified?Why? When?

8. Censorship:Define. Examples?

9. BANNED • Racial slurs • Profanity • “Derogatory towards women, African-Americans, mentally disabled” • Violence • http://www.marshall.edu/library/bannedbooks/books/miceandmen.asp

10. Take some time on the back of your half sheet of paper to detail what your dreams are. Try to be detailed. What do you hope to do in your future? Where do you want to end up? What do you want to be?

11. Dreams… • Are dreams and goals important? Why? • What happens when those dreams are never fulfilled? • What if other people make fun of or doubt our dreams? • Is it more important to look at reality or to have dreams? Can you do both?