1. The American Dream Continuing the unit, we will study John Steinbeck and several of his novels. Click for Refresher: Unit Questions 1

2. John Steinbeck Born in Salinas, California (in Monterey County) in 1902 Died in New York City in 1968 2

3. Education Studied marine biology at Stanford University but never graduated 3

4. Connections to Salinas, California Wrote novels that were either set in Salinas and Monterey County or that dealt with his life growing up there Some novels include Tortilla Flat, Of Mice and Men, and The Grapes of Wrath. 4

5. He grew up in Salinas and married his first wife, a local girl. They divorced, and he married again twice. He had two sons with the 2 nd wife, Thomas and John, Jr. 5

6. Trying it in NYC… He moved to NYC after dropping out of college and tried at several odd jobs. He also worked as a freelance writer, but he could never find a publisher to accept his work. He moved back to California. 6

7. North Salinas High School They wanted to name the high school he had attended after him, but he didn’t want school kids to curse his name. “If the city of my birth should wish to perpetuate my name clearly but harmlessly, let it name a bowling alley after me or a dog track or even a medium price, low-church brothel – but a school!” 7