“The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.”

1. “The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.” • Robert Burns, Scottish poet • What does this proverb mean to you? Discuss the meaning by giving an example from your own experiences. (5-7 sentences)

2. Of Mice and Men John Steinbeck’s Modern Novel An Introduction

3. Robert Burns’ poem • Title—Analyze • Connotation—Why would the poet write it? • Connect—what can you predict about the novel?

4. We are learning about cultural ideals

5. How does this image evoke emotional complexities? Intellectual ones?

6. Author • Steinbeck was born in Salinas, CA • Spent summers working at factories and ranches, inspiring his fiction. • Displays empathy for the less fortunate and the need for harmony in the universe • Man + nature

7. The Novel • Published in 1937 • Setting: California during the depression

8. Historical Background: The stock Market crash

9. Reflect • What caused the stock market crash? • What were the short term effects? Long term effects?

10. Effects on farmers

11. Reflect • What was the cause of the western migration? • What were the effects? • Why would men want to return to a “normal” life?

12. Structure • Act I • Scene i. A sandy bank of the Salinas River • Scene ii. The interior of a bunk house • Act II • Scene i. The same as Act I, scene ii • Scene ii. The room of the stable buck, a lean-to • Act III • Scene i. One end of a great barn • Scene ii. Same as Act I, scene i

13. Structure • We learn about the characters through DIALOGUE. What type of characterization is this? • Narrator: Third person Omniscient BUT • The characters’ actions and dialogue are the substance.

14. Thematic Connections • Loneliness— • Based on the background, why would loneliness be a common theme in Depression Era literature? • Can you be alone and still be around people? Explain.