Of Mice and Men

1. Of Mice and Men Aim: Can I identify Steinbeck’s historical context? Do Now: Before/After Reading Activity

2. 1. About the Author: John Steinbeck • His books are set in California and deal with problems of working people. • Characters in his books are immigrants from Mexico or from other parts of the U.S. who went to CA looking for work or a better life • (The American Dream). Born in Salinas, California 1902-1968

3. 2. SettingSalinas Valley, CA*Farmland

4. Time period of Story: 1930’s THE GREAT DEPRESSION

5. Dust Bowl- Tons of topsoil were blown off barren fields and carried in storm clouds for hundreds of miles.

6. Many lost their farms because they could not produce any crops. People decided to abandon their farms and go in search of work.

7. The Wall Street Crash of 1929 • deepest economic depression the nation had ever known. • It lasted until 1939. • Effects: business bankruptcies, bank closings, farm foreclosures, and massive unemployment.

9. 3. Migrant Farm Workers • farm worker/Harvester= someone who gathers a crop • People, especially men, traveled the countryside harvesting crops. • The main characters, George and Lennie, are migrant farm workers.

10. Why did people MIGRATE ?

11. Lost their jobs • No Money • Lost their farms

12. 4. The American Dream • The American Dream= people that come to America in search of a better life. *How do you reach the American Dream? What do you want to accomplish?

13. A Better Life Education Freedom Home Money/Wealth

14. However, for many the dream became a nightmare. • No Jobs= No Money= No food

15. 5. Poem??? The best laid schemes* o’ mice and men Often go wrong And leave us nought* but grief* and pain For promised joy! *schemes= set out plan *nought= with nothing but *grief=sorrow/sadness What is this poem about? Summarize it in 2-3 sentences. How might this poem be related to the book (Of Mice and Men)?

16. 5. Poem??? • The title of the novel comes from a poem by the Scottish poet Robert Burns (1759 -96) The best laid schemes o’ mice and men Gang aft agley [often go wrong] And leave us nought but grief and pain For promised joy! The best laid schemes of mice and men often go wrong- referring to a little mouse who had so carefully built her burrow in a field to protect herself and her little mice babies – and the burrow is turned over and destroyed by the man plowing.