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Of Mice and Men. Background Information. Story Setting. Begins in California Dust Bowl The Great Depression. Author and Genre. John Steinbeck (1902-1968) Grew up in Salinas, CA Attended Stanford University Known for reflecting common man’s experiences in America and the American Dream
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Of Mice and Men Background Information
Story Setting • Begins in California • Dust Bowl • The Great Depression
Author and Genre • John Steinbeck (1902-1968) • Grew up in Salinas, CA • Attended Stanford University • Known for reflecting common man’s experiences in America and the American Dream • “Steinbeck's novels can all be classified as social novels dealing with the economic problems of rural labour, but there is also a streak of worship of the soil in his books, which does not always agree with his matter-of-fact sociological approach” (nobelprize.org). • Novella written in 2nd Person POV
Primary Theme • Dream Deferred • What happens to a dream deferred?Does it dry upLike a raisin in the sun?Or fester like a sore--And then run?Does it stink like rotten meat?Or crust and sugar over--like a syrupy sweet?Maybe it just sagslike a heavy load.Or does it explode?
Reading Questions Pages 1-15 • How would you describe George and Lennie’s relationship? • What is Lennie’s dream? • Where is this part of the story set? • What words does Steinbeck use to characterize George and Lennie? (Use direct quotes with PC’s.) • What clues does the author give you to show that Lennie has “the mind of a young child”?
Reading Questions 16-37 • What is a bunkhouse and how was it described? • Explain who “the boss” is. • How does Steinbeck characterize Curley? Slim? Use direct quotes to answer this question (including PC’s). • What are George and Lennie’s last names? • What are the three main events of this chapter?