Of Mice & Men

By John Steinbeck

New Procedure Read a chapter Then fill out the “Note-Taking and

Summarizing” chart. Turn in for a HW grade.

Format Question – Characters, Where, question Predict – what will happen next? Connect – to yourself, to a situation, to a

book, to a film Summarize – 5-7 sentences about the chapter. Reflect – Themes?

Ch 1 - Question Characters: George & Lennie

Where? Near Soledad, the Salinas Valley in Northern California. In a wooded area next to a pond.

Question: Why is George looking out for Lennie? Are they related? What exactly happened in the town of Weed?

Predict I predict that Lennie will open his big mouth

when they meet the boss.

I predict that eventually Lennie will get in trouble and come back to this place.

Connect George speaks to Lennie like a child, making him

throw away the dead mouse, but then Lennie tries to sneak it back. So this reminds me of how I interact with my own son often, like the other night when he told me that he had brushed his teeth, but when I asked to smell his breath, he admitted that he hadn’t.

But it’s also a two-way relationship, because having Lennie to care for gives George’s life more meaning than the ordinary solitary ranch hand – “Cause I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you.”

Reflect A theme of the book is going to be about how

caring for another human being brings meaning to our lives.

Another theme will be about hopes & dreams & plans for the future, because their dream right now seems too good to come true (live off the fat of the land, not work on rainy days, cream on the milk so thick you can hardly cut it, green rabbits – millions of ‘em).

Of Mice & Men – Chapter 2, p. 17-37 Characters: George & Lennie, Candy,

Candy’s dog, boss, Curly, Curly’s wife, Slim, Carlson,

Where: The bunkhouse on the ranch

Question: Are George & Lennie related? Why do they travel around together?

Predict I predict that Lennie will open his big mouth

when they meet the boss – he does but it’s not a big deal.

I predict that eventually Lennie will get in trouble and come back to this place – George & Lennie rehearse this idea again.

I predict that Curley & his wife will get Lennie in trouble.

Connect This scene reminds me of the first day of

college, moving in and meeting new roommates. I remember my mom getting really upset over some trivial things (like George does, suspecting lice). She thought my dorm was across Route 18, & my room was in the basement. The people you meet are what you need to watch out for.

Summary George & Lennie have arrived at the ranch

and shown to the bunkhouse by Candy. They are introduced to the boss. George tells the boss that they are cousins. We learn later that this is a lie; they are not related by blood. We are then introduced to Curley, the boss’s son who likes to pick fights, and Curley’s wife (no name) who is inappropriately flirtatious. George understands that these two characters could cause trouble for Lennie, so he rehearses the idea of going back to the pond in case of trouble. Other characters are introduced.

Reflect Curley’s wife is a stereotype character & a

sexist stereotype – a “tart” who is going to cause trouble. She doesn’t even get a name.

Is this a defect in the book? Laziness by the author? Or an effective way to keep the book short, tight, & focused?

Steinbeck uses irony & allusion in Ch 2. Our main characters are Lennie Small & George Milton.

Irony Dictionary definition – DON’T write this down!

1. A manner of discourse in which hat is literally said is meant to express its opposite.

2. A result the reverse of what was expected. 3. A situation, event, or pairing in which the main

elements are rationally or emotionally incompatible because of contrast, but are nevertheless undeniable.

Intended meaning Actual meaning Expectation Result

Irony - Example “I’m George Milton. This here’s Lennie Small.” “Glad ta meet ya,” Carlson said again. “He

ain’t very small.” He chuckled softly at his joke.

Why is it surprising that Lennie’s last name is Small?

Because he’s huge, & super strong.

But when you think about it, why is his last name actually very appropriate?

Because mentally, he’s a child.

Irony Write this definition down:

Something that seems surprising when you first look at it, but when you think about, it’s actually very fitting.

“Isn’t that ironic?” “No, that’s just sarcasm.” “No, it’s just a

coincidence.”

Allusion “I’m George Milton. This here’s Lennie Small.” “Glad ta meet ya,” Carlson said again. “He

ain’t very small.” He chuckled softly at his joke.

Allusion “I’m George Milton. This here’s Lennie Small.” “Glad ta meet ya,” Carlson said again. “He ain’t

very small.” He chuckled softly at his joke.

What’s an allusion? A reference to another book, story, poem, movie,

song, or work of art.

What if I don’t know the other story or poem or movie?

It’s ok. It doesn’t mean you’re not smart. It just means you haven’t gotten a chance to experience it yet. This is where a teacher should help out.

Allusion

Why do authors use allusions? To connect this story

with the ideas and themes of another story.

Steinbeck Milton Genesis, the Torah, the Bible

Paradise is lost and we can never go back to the Garden of Eden again.

Allusion The title is also an

allusion. Steinbeck borrowed

a line from the poem “To A Mouse” by Robert Burns.

“To a Mouse” by Robert Burns https://www.youtube.

com/watch?v=cy8lehO7nqg

Listen & write down any rhyming words that you can hear.

Of Mice & Men, Ch 3, p. 38 - 65 Characters: George & Lennie, Slim, Candy,

Candy’s dog, Carlson, Curley, Whit

Where? The bunkhouse at the ranch

Question: How are George & Lennie ever going to afford to buy their own ranch?

Predict I predict that eventually Lennie will hurt or

even kill his new puppy (accidentally).

I predict that this book with deal with the topic of euthanasia – the idea of a “mercy killing.” When is it appropriate to euthanize a dog or other animal? Is it ever appropriate to euthanize a human being?

Connect I remember when I was a kid and our dog

Mollie the collie was put down. My parents dropped my younger brother & I off at my grandparents. I had the flu, and because I was sick my parents hadn’t told me about it. My brother told me, “One hour until doomsday.” I didn’t understand what he meant. He had to tell me what was going on. It was strange because as the older brother, usually my parents told me first. I didn’t get to say goodbye to Mollie. It was a very emotional day for all of us.

Summary This chapter comes in four segments:1. George thanks Slim for giving Lennie a puppy. George

gives a more complete account of his background with Lennie, including mean tricks he used to play on Lennie.

2. Carlson convinces Candy that his old dog must be put down. Carlson takes the dog out to be shot. Later, Candy says he shouldn’t have “let no stranger shoot my dog.”

3. Candy overhears George & Lennie talking about the farm they want to buy. Candy has $350 and offers to go in with George & Lennie. With this $, George realizes they might actually be able to do it (up until now it’s been just a fantasy.)

4. Curley comes in looking for a fight and picks on Lennie, who doesn’t fight back until George tells him too. Lennie crushes Curley’s hand. Slim convinces Curley not to tell, not to get George & Lennie fired.

Reflect The episode with Candy’s dog foreshadows the end of

the novel.

George needs Lennie just as much as Lennie needs George: “I ain’t got no people. I seen the guys that go around on the ranches alone. That ain’t no good.”

Despite the trouble, caring for Lennie gives meaning to George’s life. Without Lennie, the dream won’t work.

Steinbeck uses more Biblical allusions – George: “If I was bright, if I was even a little bit smart, I’d have my own little place, an’ I’d be bringin’ in my own crops, ‘stead of doin’ all the work and not getting what comes up outta the ground.”

Biblical allusion? George: “If I was

bright, if I was even a little bit smart, I’d have my own little place, an’ I’d be bringin’ in my own crops, ‘stead of doin’ all the work and not getting what comes up outta the ground.”

Cain & Abel, Genesis Ch 4

Disclaimer I teach literature, not

religion.

What are the connections between Cain & Abel and George & Lennie?

Genesis Ch 4

Cain & Abel George & Lennie

Cain is a farmer Cain kills Abel “Am I my brother’s

keeper?” Cursed

Fugitive Vagabond When he tills the

ground, he doesn’t get to keep it

Fugitives from Weed Wandering vagabonds “doin’ all the work

and not getting what comes up outta the ground.”

But not actual brothers

C’mon, you really think Steinbeck…? WILLIAM GOLDHURST ON THE CAIN AND

ABEL THEME IN OF MICE AND MEN

Write a letter to Mr. Goldhurst responding to his idea.

Dear Mr. Goldhurst, I just read your essay about the Cain and Abel

theme in Of Mice & Men and I think your essay is ….

And the Lord set a mark upon Cain… Candy Carlson Crooks Curley Curley’s wife Aunt Clara Clara (the madam in town)

Why so many names that start with C?

Of Mice & Men, Ch 4, p. 66 - 83 Characters: Lennie, Crooks, Candy, Curley’s

wife

Where? Crooks’s room

Question: How do race relations affect the characters’ relationships? It is the 1930s, California, and Crooks is African-American.

Prediction Lennie won’t care about race. He’s childlike

and innocent. He probably doesn’t understand the racial tension that exists.

Connect When I was 5 years old, I came home from

kindergarten and told my mother: My best friend’s name is Michael, just like me. In fact, we’re exactly alike. We both love football and we’re both really fast and we both want to grow up to play wide receiver in the NFL. Do you know the only way to tell us apart? He’s black and I’m white.

Little kids don’t care about race. Racism is taught to them. Lennie, being childlike, is innocent of racism.

Summary In this chapter, we get more information about Crooks,

the only African American character in the novel. He lives alone in a small, neat room off the barn. He has a crippled spine. He keeps to himself to avoid any trouble.

Lennie wanders in & lets slip about the plan to buy a farm. Crooks is skeptical. Then Candy arrives & explains they almost have the $. Crooks asks if he can go in with them too.

Then Curley’s wife enters, asking how Curley got hurt, and she realizes Lennie did it. When Crooks orders her to leave his room, she threatens to get Crooks lynched.

Crooks says he was only kidding about going in on the farm.

Reflect For a moment, the dream to buy their own

ranch almost expands across racial lines, to include Crooks. But then Curley’s wife reminds Crooks of his place in this society, a very tenuous place in a society very dangerous to him.

Crooks’s defense mechanism is to isolate

himself, to remain a loner. To him, this seems the safest, wisest course.

Vocab of Of Mice & Men Use a dictionary or your phone to look up the

definitions in your assigned chapter. Do only the exercise that corresponds to your

chapter.

Teach your words to the rest of class.

Do the crossword at the end. Turn in the crossword at the end of class.

These words (for all 6 chapters) will be on Friday’s test.

Of Mice & Men, Ch 5, p. 84-98 Characters: Lennie, Curley’s wife, Candy,

George, Curley & the other minor characters

Location: The barn

Question: In this chapter, do we get enough background on Curley’s wife to sympathize with her? To make her more than just a sexist stereotype?

Prediction Steinbeck will manipulate the scene so that

Lennie remains innocent.

Connection I don’t like the part on p. 95 where Candy

blames the victim and scolds the corpse of Curley’s wife. Steinbeck is encouraging us to blame it on Curley’s wife and think that “she got what was coming to her.”

It reminds me of law school studying criminal law and criminal procedure and the discussion of rape cases. The film The Accused with Jodie Foster was also out at the same time, so there was a lot of discussion in the media about blaming the victim in cases of rape and sexual assault.

Summary Lennie is in the barn, nervous because he has

killed his puppy. Curley’s wife arrives. She discusses her back story: She met a guy who told her she could be in the movies, who told her he would write her a letter. When no letter arrived, she accused her mother of stealing it. So she ran off and married Curley, whom she knows is a jerk. She invites Lennie to stroke her hair, and when he won’t stop, she screams. Lennie puts his hand over her mouth to make her stop and breaks her neck.

Candy discovers the body. Informs George. Curley vows to shoot Lennie’s guts out – to kill him slowly & painfully.

Reflect How is this tragedy in any way the fault of

Curley’s wife? We feel comfortable blaming her because she’s just a stereotype, not a fully developed character. Even her back story about the guy who told her that she “coulda been in the movies” is a cliché. It doesn’t make us feel sympathy for her; it make us think she’s stupid if she fell for that old line. And then we feel no sympathy for her using her resulting conflict with her mother (thinking her mom stole the letter from they guy who was going to put her in the movies) as motivation to marry Curley.

She’s just a prop to move the plot along.

Am I my brother’s keeper? Also a theme of

Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath (1939)

Great Depression + 9 year drought = Okies losing their farms, moving to California

Write a paragraph – Start like this: “Am I my brother’s keeper?” is theme of

Steinbeck’s Of Mice & Men as well as The Grapes of Wrath. The idea that we must reach out and care for our fellow human beings is illustrated by the diner scene from chapter 15 of Grapes.

Now add:1. A brief summary of the scene2. An analysis of the scene – Explain how it

illustrates the theme.

Of Mice & Men, Ch. 6 p. 99 - 107 Am I my brother’s keeper? Yes. But you’re cursed. You bear the mark of Cain

and will forever wander alone, a fugitive, a vagabond, and when you till the earth, it will not yield up unto you its strength.

The inversion: In Genesis, Cain IS NOT being a good keeper when he kills Abel. In OMM, Steinbeck is trying to set it up so that George IS being a good keeper when he kills Lennie.

Slim said, “You hadda, George. I swear you hadda.”

The Karma Review Test on OMM tomorrow.

Do NOT put your name on this paper.

Karma: What goes around comes around. May you get as good as you give.

Rule: Always pass the paper to the same person.

Let’s practice.

Title the review sheet Of Mice & Men by John Steinbeck Test Friday, March 22, 2013

Format: 20 true/false, 20 vocab matching, 5 short answer, 1 open-ended

Pass the paper.

Answer these questions Why is Lennie Smalls

an ironic name for this character?

Explain the allusion in the name George Milton.

What happened in Weed?

Answer these questions According to George, how

are they different than most guys who work on ranches?

What’s George & Lennie’s plan?

Explain why Of Mice & Men is a good title for this book – explain how it relates to the Robert Burns poem & the line “The best laid plans of mice & men often go all wrong.”

Answer these questions Describe the setting of the novel – where does

most of the action take place? What state are they in? What time period?

Describe Curley.

Describe Curley’s wife.

Describe Candy. Why is he included in George & Lennie’s plans?

Answer these questions. Curley, Curley’s wife, Carlson, Crooks, Candy,

Aunt Clara, Clara – why do so many of these characters have names that start with C?

Look back over what’s on the page. Make a correction, comment, or addition.

How does Lennie get in trouble at the ranch?

Answer these questions Evaluate Curley’s wife. In your opinion, is Curley’s wife

just a stereotype? Or do you feel some sympathy for her? Or is she an evil character who got what was coming to her?

What’s the climax of the novel?

Why does George shoot & kill Lennie?

Slim says that George “hadda” do it. Do you agree?

Is Steinbeck arguing that the mentally challenged should be euthanized? If so, shouldn’t this book be banned? Explain your answer.

Answer these questions Look back over what’s on the page. Make a

correction, comment, or addition.

How is George like Cain from the book of Genesis?

Is George his brother’s keeper? Did he do the right thing?

Do you agree with critic William Goldhurst that Steinbeck is trying to reference the story of Cain & Abel in Of Mice & Men? Explain why or why not.

Answer these questions Define these vocab words:

Belligerently Monotonous Scornfully Sullenly

Look back over what’s on the page. Make a correction, comment, or addition.

Put your name on the page. This is your Of Mice & Men review sheet. Study this for tomorrow’s test.