Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

Of Mice and Menby John Steinbeck ‘the writer…is charged with exposing our many grievous faults and failures, with dredging up to the light our dark and dangerous dreams for the purpose of improvement.' Nobel Prize Speech

Of Mice & Men • Linking characters and settings with themes is a central part of exam preparation. For each image below, discuss how it is relevant to the story.

“Of Mice & Men” Steinbeck named his novel from a phrase in a poem by Scots’ poet, Robert Burns. In the poem, a ploughman accidentally wrecks a mouse nest and seeing the mouse frightened and looking lost, cradles it and speaks to it, realising that with winter around the corner, it will be too late for the mouse to create another shelter in time: “The best laid schemes o’ mice and men Gang aft agley And leave us nought but grief and pain For promised joy!” From “To a Mouse” by late 18C Scots’ poet, Robert Burns

“Mice & Men...” • The title could be seen as a kind of metaphor for something small and vulnerable pitted against something large and powerful. Discuss these ideas in relation to the story: • The powerless against the powerful • The individual against society • Fate and destiny • Reality vs. hopes, wishes and dreams

“...Mice & Men” • What part do Lennie’s mice, rabbits and the puppy in the story? • They are a literary device called a symbol or motif. They work to represent Lennie's need for comfort and suggest his vulnerability when faced with what can be a frightening and confusing world. Readers can relate to this motif as we all have feelings like this at times. • But think about this. What we treat as a 'pet' is really a creature, born free. We ‘use’ such creatures for our own ends – our own comfort. We as the more powerful exert control over the weak. We view the natural world as if it were there for our own use. • In Steinbeck’s story, the powerful use and exploit the less powerful: the Boss and the workers; the strong workers and the weaker workers; Curley and Curley’s Wife, Crooks, Candy... …. • Discuss the idea of power and society's hierarchies.

Of Mice & Men: Themes • The outsider, loneliness and the need for friendship • Power • Violence & brutality • Wealth & poverty • Self-determination • Hopes, wishes and dreams • Men and women • Prejudice • Society • Steinbeck was a man with a disturbed conscience. He felt that life was wrong for some people in society. It seemed to him that these people were being ill-prepared for the kind of life rural America offered. This is the land of the “American Dream”, after all. He desired change. His story, then, can best be analysed and discussed successfully if it is seen objectively as a piece of persuasive writing. It’s a very clever and effective kind of persuasion which we call a “novel”; but it’s persuasion nonetheless. Here are some of the aspects of society that pricked Steinbeck’s conscience and which gave rise to “Of Mice and Men”. • For each one, how does Steinbeck try to persuade us to see things his way?

Of Mice and Men: Dreams "'Well,' said George, 'we'll have a big vegetable patch and a rabbit hutch and chickens. And when it rains in the winter, we'll just say the hell with goin' to work, and we'll build up a fire in the stove and set around it an' listen to the rain comin' down on the roof...'" Why does Steinbeck have these characters relate their 'dreams'? • George • “...live off the fatta the lan”. The “American Dream” is the ability to pursue your goals through hard work and free choice' – WikipediaThis is a dream built on the idea of a “meritocracy”: all have equal opportunities and if you work hard, you will achieve success. Discuss this idea in class. • And think of this: to fulfil his dream, whose dream was going to be shattered? Who was George planning to buy the ranch from and why was it such a bargain?

Of Mice & Men: Dreams... • Curley’s Wife • “...He says he was gonna put me in the movies. Says I was a natural.‘” • Do we ever see Curley’s wife when she is not “acting”; is she a “natural” – in what way? Why does Steinbeck present her in this way? • Now discuss the following characters and why Steinbeck has them “dreaming” of a better future. • Curley • “...He done quite a bit in the ring. He’s a lightweight, and he’s handy.” • Crooks • “…If you... guys would want a hand to work for nothing – just his keep, why I’d come an’ lend a hand. I ain’t so crippled I can’t work like a son-of-a-bitch if I want to.” • Candy • “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. Maybe if I give you guys my money, you’ll let me hoe in the garden ...an’ I’ll be let to work on our own place...” • The Ranch Workers • “'I read your mag for six years and I think it’s the best on the market. I like stories by Peter Rand. I think he is a whing-ding. Give us more like the ‘Dark Rider’.”

Of Mice & Men: Loneliness“Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world”… Lennie broke in. “But not us! And why? Because… because I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you, and that's why.” Think about loneliness. The chances are you have felt lonely at some point – but have you ever been genuinely lonely? • How does Steinbeck use the idea of loneliness in the following characters’ lives? How do the methods he uses work on his readers? • Candy • Crooks • Curley’s Wife?

Of Mice & Men: PowerCan you imagine a society with power acting “horizontally” rather than “vertically”: you go to doctor for help with your health; to a teacher for help with your studies; to a lawyer because you need help with an aspect of law… Discuss why we seem to need to construct our society “vertically” so that we see people whose job is to help us in a power relationship? Could it be otherwise? Think about the power hierarchy Steinbeck presents in “Of Mice and Men”; most especially discuss the role of Slim. • The Boss • Curley • Slim • Carlson • George • Curley's Wife • Candy • Lennie • Crooks

Of Mice and Men: “-isms” • Candy • Crooks • George • Lennie • Curley's Wife How does Steinbeck explore aspects of ageism, sexism and racism through the following characters? What would you do if you were president to support those in need? Why does such prejudice exist – what role does it perform?

Of Mice & Men: Characters Never forget that characters in stories are fictional creations. They are being “used” by the author to persuade the reader to see society in a certain way – the author’s way. How does Steinbeck use characterisation in this story, i.e. how does he use language to create characters who seem emotional and real and who affect us emotionally, too? • He seems to have a knack of creating a vivid character sketch through just a few choice adjectives or descriptions of action: a kind of “snapshot”. Find “snapshot” descriptions for the main characters and learn these for your exam as potential quotations. • Steinbeck uses everyday speech incorporating dialect words, slang and swearing; but it is the reader who judges and decides what kind of character this suggests. Are we guilty of stereotyping, too? • Steinbeck gives Candy, Crooks, George and Curley's wife individual speeches in which they let us into their innermost thoughts. How does this contrast or support the image we already have of them from other dialogue and description?

Of Mice & Men: George • “small and quick” • “a smart little guy” • “sharp, strong features” • “restless” • George seems altruistic – thinking of others rather than himself; but does he also need and use Lennie in any selfish way? What is Steinbeck suggesting by their relationship? • George often loses his temper with Lennie. What might this suggest and what is Steinbeck’s purpose?

Of Mice & Men: Lennie • “a huge man, shapeless of face with large, pale eyes, with wide, sloping shoulders. He walked heavily, dragging his feet a little, the way a bear drags his paws.”' • a “nice fella... he ain’t mean” • Lacks intelligence and education • Entirely dependent on others. • Vulnerable yet potentially dangerous • “You’re nuts,... But you're a kinda nice fella. Jus’ like a big baby.”

Of Mice & Men: The Boss • “...he’s a pretty nice fellow. Gets pretty mad sometimes, but he’s pretty nice. Tell ya what... Brang a gallon of whisky right in here and says, ‘Drink hearty boys. Christmas comes but once a year.’” • “The boss turned to George. ‘Then why don’t you let him answer? What you trying to put over?’... ‘Say, what you sellin’?” • “...But don’t try to put nothing over, ’causeyou can’t get away with nothing.”

Of Mice & Men: Curley • “a thin young man with a brown face, with brown eyes and a head of tightly curled hair.” • Compare Curley’s appearance with that of Crooks. Why might Steinbeck have focused on Curley’s hair type, eyes and skin colour? • “pants is just crawlin’ with ants” • “alla time picking scraps with big guys” • “He ain’t a nice fella.” • This is full of irony. Just what might Curley’s wife really be trying to say?

Of Mice & Men: Slim • “the prince of the ranch”. • “has understanding beyond thought”. • Try this. Think of the characters in this novel as being more or less “evolved” in Darwin’s terms. Steinbeck was trained as a biologist and was fascinated by the individual and by human society – and the still fairly new and developing ideas of evolution were fascinating to him. One of the main attributes that separates us from the animals is our memory. It gives us the ability to reflect and act thoughtfully rather than acting purely out of thoughtless instinct. Steinbeck uses many animal metaphors in his story – perhaps he wondered just how “evolved” some of us were – even the powerful and successful among us! • Work through each character and place each on an “evolutionary” scale of your own according to how much their thoughts and actions show evidence of reflection or instinctiveness. Lennie, naturally, will come at the bottom – but he has reason for this, of course! Slim will come at the top… Think of why Steinbeck might have done this. What is he saying about society? • And think about this: is Slim the one true ‘natural’ in the story? Free from the kind of peer pressure that leads others to “act” out “roles” to impress others?

Of Mice & Men: Candy • “a tall, stoop-shouldered old man” • Needs the comfort of his pet dog – compare Lennie’s need for mice. • “on'y one hand.” • frightened

Of Mice & Men: Carlson • “powerful” • “big-stomached” • an “’ard” man

Of Mice & Men: Crooks • “Nice fella...” • “his eyes lay deep in his head, and because of their depth seemed to glitter with intensity” • “he had thin, pain-tightened lips which were lighter than his face.” • “The boss gives him hell when he’s mad.” • “He reads a lot. Got books in his room.' • “nobody gets to heaven, and nobody gets no land”

Curley’s Wife • “Her face was heavily made up. Her lips were slightly parted.” • “her voice had a nasal, brittle quality” • “I never get to talk to nobody. I get awful lonely.” • “Listen, Nigger,” she said. “You know what I can do to you if you open your trap?” • 'Curley's wife lay with a half-covering of yellow hay. And the meanness and the plannings and the discontent and the ache for attention were all gone from her face. She was pretty and simple, and her face was sweet and young. Now her rouged cheeks and her reddened lips made her seem alive and sleeping very lightly.'

Of Mice & Men: Form • Steinbeck uses three important narrative devices (i.e. literary ways to make the story more effective): • A narrator created in a way that makes him seem entirely authentic and authoritative, yet warm and trustworthy. A highly persuasive narrative device indeed! • “A few miles south of Soledad, the Salinas River drops in close to the hillside bank and runs deep and green. The water is warm too, for it has slipped twinkling over the yellow sands in the sunlight before reaching the narrow pool. On one side of the river the golden foothill slopes curve up to the strong and rocky Gabilan Mountains, but on the valley side the water is lined with trees…” • “The bunk house was a long, rectangular building. Inside, the walls were whitewashed and the floor unpainted. In three walls there were small, square windows, and in the fourth, a solid door with a wooden latch. Against the walls were eight bunks, five of them made up with blankets and the other three showing their burlap ticking. Over each bunk there was nailed an apple box…” • A use of highly focused description with an intensity at times that its images almost 'etch' themselves into the mind • Authentic-seeming dialogue that uses dialect spellings: down-to-earth and convincing.

Of Mice & Men: Structure • Divided into six separate sections with a circular plot starting and ending in the same place. • Each “section” (there are no chapters in the original story) is like a scene in a play adding to and developing the plot but also deepening the reader’s appreciation of the themes in persuasive ways. • A chronological plot with no use of devices such as flashbacks. All the events occur over a few days.

Of Mice & Men: Foreshadowing • Foreshadowing hints at what is to come and subtly creates tension • Lennie's killing of mice • The death of the dog • The fight with Curley and the obvious strength of Lennie when provoked • The death in the barn of the puppy • Lennie's voiced fears, always ignored by George: “I don’t like this place, George. This ain't no good place. I wanna get outa here.” • Can you think of more and show how Steinbeck creates effects from this narrative device?

Of Mice & Men: the Exam Answer • Create your answer in the form of an argument, opening it with a super-compressed overall “answer” to the question which you then go on to elaborate, discuss and support. • Always be sure to tackle each bullet point in the question Try this with this past question: Qu. How far do you think Steinbeck presents dreams as futile in 'Of Mice and Men'? Write about: • the dreams the characters have • the effects of the dreams on the characters • the extent to which Steinbeck presents the dreams as futile. • What “argument” could you formulate and express as a single condensed sentence that you could write in the opening paragraph to show the examiner your opinion of this question? • Think up six points – written as a paragraph each – could you write to support such an argument? • Find a quotation that would support each one. • Analyse the language and style of each quotation to show its effects, the methods used and the purpose intended. Try to discuss the purpose in a two-fold way: discuss the “local” purpose to the development of some aspect of the plot; and then link it to some overall aim of the novel.

Of Mice & Men: - creating an “argument” style exam answer For each question below, develop a single sentence in which you give a highly condensed overall “answer” (one you could follow up with five or sixpoints, each developed into its own paragraph with a quotation and explanation and analysis of language/literary style for each). Qu. How does Steinbeck present loneliness and isolation in the novel? • Write about characters who are lonely and isolated, why they are lonely and isolated, how Steinbeck's settings reflect characters' loneliness and isolation. Qu. How does Steinbeck prepare you for the idea that Curley's wife's death is inevitable?

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck