2. John Steinbeck Short Biography and…stuff… SO TAKE NOTES! TEST! WOW!

3. Origins 1902 - Born in Salinas, California - the region that inspired the bulk of his work. - worked as a hired hand on ranches as a teenager; the work inspired characters, dialogue, “Fraternity of Man” concept, and the general authenticity that he was known for. 1919 – Enrolled at Stanford University - studied off and on for six years, and ended up leaving without a degree. - While finishing his first novel, Cup of Gold, he worked as a reporter and as a caretaker for a Lake Tahoe estate for about five years. 1929 – Cup of Gold published. It was an adventure story! - Critical acclaim and commercial success didn’t follow until his next novel, Tortilla Flat, was published in 1935. Finally, he could support himself with his writing!

4. Critical Acclaim 1962 – Won the Nobel Prize for literature! WOW! During his acceptance speech, he said: “…the writer is delegated to declare and to celebrate man’s proven capacity for greatness of heart and spirit – for gallantry in defeat, for courage, compassion and love. In the endless war against weakness and despair, these are the b right rally flags of hope and of emulation. I hold that a writer who does not passionately believe in the perfectibility of man has no dedication nor any membership in literature.” Most of Steinbeck’s novels deal with wandering California workers who, despite harsh living and working conditions, often triumph symbolically. He wrote 3 more novels dealing with the plight of the working class following Tortilla Flat: In Dubious Battle – 1936 Of Mice and Men – 1937 The Grapes of Wrath – 1940 – Pulitzer winner, and most famous work!

5. The Writing Steinbeck’s writing was characterized by some critics as being “superficial,” “sentimental,” and “overly moralistic.” Of Mice and Men – some say it was his “greatest work,” and some say that it was too plot-driven and not as concerned with its one-dimensional characters. YOU BE THE JUDGE!

6. Setting Depression-era America - Huge economic decline lead to “The Great Depression.” - 25% of people were unemployed in 1933. - “The Dust Bowl” – 1931 and on – once-fertile soil got all dried out and terrible – the dust got so bad that it would seep into houses in piles, be in the fridge, in the milk, etc. - “Okies” – adopted slang term regarding families moving west for work – 20% were from Oklahoma. - Of Mice and Men is written about two men wandering from ranch to ranch in California during this time period.

7. Later Career - Steinbeck still wrote through the 1940’s and 1950’s. - He went to Europe and wrote through World War II. - He later became a Hollywood screenwriter, and was responsible for the movie Viva Zapata! (1950). - Other important novels include: - East of Eden (1952) - Travels with Charley (1962) - John Steinbeck died in New York City, New York in 1968.