Of Mice and Men

1. Of Mice and Men Of Mice and Men John Steinbeck

2. Objective • INTRODUCE AND IDENTIFY THE AUTHOR OF OF MICE AND MEN Bloom's: knowledge, analysis, synthesis

3. Meet the Author Meet the Author of OF MICE AND MEN John Steinbeck

4. About the Author John Steinbeck was born February 27, 1902 in Salinas, California. While growing up, Steinbeck worked a variety of labor jobs in the Salinas area, which made a lasting impression on him. Steinbeck attended Stanford University and majored in English, but left after six years without a degree. In 1929, Steinbeck published his first novel, Cup of Gold. It was not until 1935 that Steinbeck won praise for his novel Tortilla Flats. Tortilla Flats won the San Francisco Gold Medal of the Commonwealth Club best novel of the year award. Steinbeck used his writing to show the plight of the laborers that he observed during this time. Steinbeck’s mother was a teacher and his father was the county treasurer; they encouraged reading and exploring different cultures. Tortilla Flats is a coastal town in Northern California, just north of Monterey.

5. About the Author Of Mice and Men was published in 1937. In 1939, Steinbeck published The Grapes of Wrath; for which he won the Pulitzer Prize for Literature. During World War II, Steinbeck worked as a newspaper reporter. In the 1950s, Steinbeck wrote speeches for presidential candidates. In 1962 Steinbeck won the Nobel Peace Prize in Literature. Steinbeck served as an advisor to President Johnson in 1964. Steinbeck died December 20, 1968. Steinbeck wrote Of Mice and Men to be read or performed as a play, and was performed in New York 207 times. The Nobel Prize for Literature is awarded each year to an author who has written the most outstanding piece of literary work. Johnson awarded Steinbeck the United States Medal of Freedom.

6. Comprehension Check Directions: select the best answer to each question 1. Who wrote Of Mice and Men? a) John Smith b) John Steinbeck c) John Jones b) John Steinbeck 2. Of Mice and Men was published in a) 1967 b) 1947 c) 1937 c) 1937 3. Steinbeck wrote speeches for a) students b) presidential candidates c) his mother b) presidential candidates

7. Objective • EXAMINE THE HISTORICAL CONNECTIONS Bloom's: knowledge, analysis, synthesis

8. John Steinbeck’s California Steinbeck loved the Salinas Valley. With its rich agricultural fields, and miles of farm land, it was the ideal place for a young boy to grow up. The Great Depression of the 1930’s brought hard times for many. For farmers, the best hope for a better life was in California. They packed what possessions they had, and looked for work in the agricultural fields or cities of California. These people are known as migrant workers. Steinbeck’s inspiration for many of his novels came from the Salinas Valley. Although Steinbeck left the valley throughout his lifetime he always returned. Today the valley honors it greatest son by hosting a National Steinbeck Center in the heart of the Salinas Valley. Salinas is Spanish for “salt marsh”. If you want to learn more about the Great Depression, click on the map below. The center honors Steinbeck and his great literary achievements.

9. Historical Background During the 1930s drastic weather changes turned large areas of the American west into a dust bowl of barren land. The farmers who were able to keep their farms took advantage of the migrant workers. Working conditions were poor and the pay was low. The work was seasonal, forcing a lonely life and rarely included family. This issue concerned Steinbeck and most of his novels are about these social issues. It was not until the 1960s that the migrant farm workers organized under Cesar Chavez and fought for fair wages. Many farmers lost their farms during this time, forcing them to become migrant workers. Migrant workers are people who move from place to place. Their pay was $2.50 to $3.00 a day. Most of Steinbeck's novels are considered social novels that explore the hardships of the farm workers.

10. Historical Background Because the time period for Of Mice and Men takes place during The Great Depression, it is important to understand what life was like during this era. In 1929 the stock market crashed, bringing about the Great Depression. People lost their jobs. Many people lost their homes and could not afford to buy food. The homeless created Hoovervilles, communities with homes made from tin. Great? Well, not in the sense of being wonderful. Great as in really big and significant. The stock market is for trading company stock. About 15 million people lost their jobs during the Great Depression. Does this sound familiar?

11. Comprehension Check Directions: select the best answer to each question 1. Steinbeck’s inspiration for many of his novels came from a) his mother b) the Salinas Valley c) his war experiences b) the Salinas Valley 2. During the 1930s the American west was turned into a a) land of cowboys b) dust bowl c) large city b) dust bowl 3. In what year did the stock market crash? a) 1919 b) 1929 c) 1939 b) 1929

12. Did You Know... The title of the novella was taken from a line in the poem To a Mouse, by Robert Burns. “The best laid schemes o’ mice and men/Gang aft-a-gley.” This means that no matter how well-planned a project is, something may still go wrong with it. A novella is longer than a short story, but shorter than a novel; a novella has 20,000 to 50,000 words. In the mid 1990s the New York Times declared Steinbeck the most popular American writer. One of Steinbeck’s novels, East of Eden, became the #2 bestselling book in 2003 afterOprah Winfrey added it to her book club. Burns was a farmer who disturbed a nest of mice while plowing one of his fields. Who counts all the words? Quite remarkable, because the book was # on the bestsellers list when it was published in 1952.

13. Did You Know? • Before he became a well-known author, Steinbeck worked as a sales clerk, farm laborer, ranch hand, and factory worker. • Besides the Nobel Prize for Literature, Steinbeck won the United States Medal Of Freedom and the Pulitzer Prize. • Notes in the Salinas museum honoring Steinbeck’s achievements read: "Steinbeck's writings were publicly burned in Salinas on two occasions, and at times he did not feel welcome in his own hometown. Yet he ultimately was honored for his achievements”. • The U.S. Postal Service issued a John Steinbeck Commemorative Stamp in 1979. Many of Steinbeck’s characters reflect his days as a blue collar worker. The Pulitzer Prize, is an American award and is regarded as the highest national honor. Back then the price of a first class stamp was only 15 cents.

14. Comprehension Check Directions: select the best answer to each question 1. A novella has approximately how many words? a) 10, 000 – 25, 000 b) 20,000 – 50,000 c) 25,000 – 55,000 b) 20,000 – 50,000 2. In the 1990s, Steinbeck was declared the most popular American writer by the a) Los Angeles Times b) California Times c) New York Times c) New York Times 3. The U.S. Postal Service issued a John Steinbeck Commemorative Stamp in ________. a) 1978 b) 1979 c) 1980 b) 1979