Predictions…Predictions…

What will this novel be about?

How do you know?

…a classic American novella of the 1930’s

John Steinbeck

• Born in 1902• Graduated from Salinas High in 1919• Worked as a ranch hand during the

summers• Wrote his first book in 1929 (age 27)• Published Of Mice and Men in 1937• Received the Nobel Prize in 1962• Died in New York in 1968 (age 66)

Setting: The Dust BowlSetting: The Dust Bowl

1930’sA Decade of DustCaused by Human Carelessness

Can you imagine living this life?

Or perhaps this one…?

Characters: Migrant Characters: Migrant WorkersWorkers

What caused the What caused the migration?migration?

Stock Market crash of 1929

Farmers lost farms

Over-cultivation of lands causing drought

People sought better life in California

Why California? Why California?

• Mild climate offered longer farming season

The Setting of Of Mice and Men

• Weed — Town Lenny and George had previously worked

• Salinas — Big city near the ranch they currently work

• Soledad — Where the ranch is located

• Weed

• Salinas• Soledad

Characters• George: protagonist• Lennie: protagonist• Candy: swamper• Slim: jerkline skinner• Curly: boss’s son and antagonist

• Curly’s wife: only woman on the ranch

• Crooks: stable buck

Of Mice and Men

• As you read Chapters 1 & 2, look for details about the characters to annotate: – Appearance– Relationships to Others– Dialogue (what is said and unsaid)– Strengths & Weaknesses– Habits, Mannerisms, Idiosyncrasies

Make 10+ annotations for each chapter.

Theme: Theme: Companionship/FriendshipCompanionship/Friendship

Throughout life we all encounter friends that are important to us. Complete the following quick write:Who do you consider to be your best and closest friend?

What qualities does that person possess that you admire?

What flaws does that person have that you tolerate?

Why do you stay their friend?

Themes to Look For• Loneliness vs. Friendship• Dreams vs. Reality• Power vs. Weakness/Innocence• Prejudice• Look for evidence of the 5 Basic Human Needs:

– Survival– Freedom– Power– Belonging– Fun

Societal Issue: Mental Societal Issue: Mental Retardation Retardation in the 1900’sin the 1900’s

By 1915, mental retardation had caught public attention as perhaps the most significant large-scale social problem of the time.

People showed frightened and often hostile attitudes toward the mentally challenged in the early 1900s. Throughout most of this period, health care specialists, equipped with scientific data from hereditary studies, employed measures such as sterilization of the retarded and segregated them from the larger population by placing them in institutions.

Laws disallowing marriage between mentally retarded people were passed by thirty-nine states.

Societal Issue: Mental Societal Issue: Mental Retardation Retardation in the 1900’sin the 1900’s

Coupled with widespread sterilization, the laws were designed to limit the population of the mentally retarded. California, in fact, was one of the pioneers in adopting a eugenic sterilization measure. This scheme, designed to keep the population genetically superior, was eventually accepted by twenty-three states and later by Nazi Germany.

By 1925, 1,374 sterilization operations had been performed on the mentally retarded, 64 percent of which had taken place in California. Of those who escaped such treatment, most were institutionalized.

How does society, past and present, treat individuals who are mentally challenged?

Why is brotherhood important among

men?

How do characters in novels represent people in our lives and society?

How and why do people seek companionship?

Essential Questions…Essential Questions…