Setting (is it more than time and place?)

1. Setting (is it more than time and place?) Chapter 1 (p.1-2)________ George and Lennie’s dream setting___ Chapter 2 (p.17)__________ Chapter 3( p.38)___________ Chapter 4 (p.66)___________

2. Setting continued • Chapter 5 (p.84)_________________ • Chapter 6 (p. 99)________________ Could this story work in a different setting? How important is setting to this story?

3. George is kind:__________ Curly is a bully that likes to pick fights: How do you feel about these characters? Lennie is mentally slow: Curly’s wife is thoughtless and lonely: Who do you care most about? Why? Characters:(What characters say, do, look like or what others say about them. Give 2 examples from the story that show these statements.)

4. Characters (cont’d)(Briefly say who these characters are/ how they fit in the book.) • Candy— • Slim--- • Crooks--- • Carlson--- • Which character has the most power? How do you know?

5. The n-word & realism • History of the n-word— *Comes from the Latin Word Niger meaning black. *Then it became a word that meant slave. *After slavery it became a word which also meant “lazy, ignorant, stupid” *During the time Of Mice and Men people black and white used it, whenever they referred to a black person. SHOULD WE JUST BAN THIS WORD, NOW THAT WE REALIZE HOW BAD IT IS? WHY OR WHY NOT? WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER SWEARING IN THE BOOK?

6. SLANG –What does each phrase mean?(pick 5 to write down and define) • “haven’t got the poop anymore” • “blubberin like a baby” • Old “swamper” • “bum steer” • “A piece of jail bait” • Keep his big “flapper” shut • “get the can” • “stake” • “got the eye” • “What you sellin?” What words/phrases would need to be in a realistic dialog between teenagers in White Bear? (6-10) • Example: “the square”

7. Our slang: • Chillin bro, bromance, dank,donk, adorbs, awksauce, dope, jank, probs, lol, omg, roflol,ghetto, trippin, tweakin, hotmazin, • Dawg,grody, NAF, pwned • Chillaxin • Sick • Nasty • Baller • Swag • game

8. CONFLICT!(Could be internal or external) • List 5 conflicts in the story so far– Label each as either internal or external. • 1. • 2. • 3. • 4. • 5. • Does conflict help you empathize with the characters? Which ones are you worried about and why?

9. Foreshadowinga hint/clue of something that happens later.Examples:1.Lenny getting in trouble in WeedPrediction:2.When Curly first sees Lenny his hand closes into a fist.Prediction:3.______________________________________________Prediction:How important is foreshadowing? Doesit help you keep reading??How?

10. Motif—a situation, idea, image, or character type that is repeated in multiple works of literature, or several times in one. Examples- • Lennie’s obsession with soft things • The opening setting (peaceful spot) • Living off the “ fatta of the land” (The American Dream)

11. The American Dream Is this the same as hope? Do you have an American Dream? Is the American dream only a dream or is a goal worth pursuing? What is Steinbeck saying about it?

12. Universal truth! • “The best literature is about old universal truths such as love, honor, pride, compassion, and sacrifice.” ---(Wm. Faulkner) • In other words, the literature has a message of substance that is true for all of us. • Example: In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare reminds us of the power of love and that people who love each other should be allowed to be together. • In The Odyssey…. • In Of Mice and Men….Does it have a universal truth about having a dream? About the rights of every person, poor, uneducated or not, black or white?

13. The End If its good-- *The end of the story sticks with you– it’s unforgettable *you think about it *you wonder what you would have done in that situation What questions do you have about how it ends? Write 5 higher level think questions about the ending.

14. Quotes to consider in your search for Universal Truth • “A guy goes nuts if he aint got nobody.” • “Nobody gets to heaven and nobody gets no land.” • “Ever’body out doin’ som’pin’. Ever’body! An’ what am I doin’? Standin here talkin’ to a bunch of bindle stiffs…and likin’ it because they ain’t nobody else.” • “I oughtta of shot that dog myself ,George. I shouldn’t oughtta of let no stranger shoot my dog.”

15. Moral dilemma • A character in the story faces a dilemma/ decision involving right and wrong. • Example: First Candy and then George face a moral dilemma about_________________ What would you have done if you were Candy?, George? • A more subtle Example: Who in this story treats, Crooks with respect and who doesn’t? • Does anyone treat Curly’s wife with respect?

16. Do, and then share with a partner: • What 3 characteristics are most important to this story? Put a star in your notes. • Setting? Character? Conflict? Moral Dilemmas?….etc. (Write your reason on each of these pages where you made a star.)

17. Make a table of contents for your notes on colored paper. • FINAL REFLECTION—Write a paragraph expressing what you got out of this novel. Do you think the story has had an impact on you or changed you in any way? What do you think Steinbeck wants us to think about? • This novel was originally going to be titled Something that Happened. Which would do you think is a better title and why? (Of Mice and Men comes from a line from a poem by Robert Burns ) • “The best laid schemes of mice and men go often askew, • And leave us nothing but grief and pain, for promised joy”

18. EXTRA CREDIT OPPORTUNITIES: • 1. Answer the questions thoughtfully at the bottom of the pages. • 2. Add artwork • 3. Add other literary characteristics such as climax, vivid description, symbolism etc. that you feel is important to this story.