1. Of Mice and Men By John Steinbeck Novella

2. Chronological Setting The Great Depression started with the collapse of stock-market on the New York Stock Exchange in October 1929. Many people lost their jobs and their homes.

3. Chronological Setting The Dust Bowl Drought and strong winds caused the Dust Bowl The winds whipped across the dry fields raising clouds of dust to the skies. Forcing people to leave their homes and find work elsewhere.

4. Physical Setting Salinas Valley, California The bunkhouse The river bank The barn The ranch

5. Migrant Farm Workers During the 1930s, 1.3 million Americans from the Midwest and Southwest migrated to California, these people were called Migrant Farm Workers.

6. The American Dream Is a dream of owning ones own land which makes life better, richer and fuller for every man. Having the opportunity to reach to ones fullest achievement.

7. 1930’s During the Great Depression the American dream had become a nightmare.

8. Characters Curley Crooks Curley’s Wife Carlson George Lennie Slim Candy

9. George Milton Takes care of Lennie. Hard working ranch hand. Easily frustrated and angry, especially when he has to constantly explain the same things to Lennie over and over again. Compassionate: One of the few characters in the novel capable of learning.

10. Lennie Small Childlike, simple, and easily forgetful. Mentally Disabled. Outcast in Society Becomes confused and freezes when in stressful situations. A large man who does not know his own strength. Likes to pet soft things. Dreams of tending rabbits. He only focuses on one subject. Is often referred to as an animal through use of similes and similar devices, i.e "He dabbed his paw in the water".

11. Slim The lead skinner (mule driver) on the ranch. Does not speak often, but when he does, the other ranch hands listen to him. Frequently accused of improper conduct with Curley’s wife by Curley, which is false. Well respected by others: Seen as a figurehead for the working members of the ranch, Everyone, regardless of status respects Slim, including Curley and Carlson.

12. Candy Owns an old dog. Lost his hand in a machine on the ranch (Physically Disabled). Offers money to George and Lennie so that they can all buy the dream property. Has been on the ranch for many years Worries that he'll soon be 'canned', hence his desperation to join the dream. Old and lonely Outcast in Society

13. Curley The boss’s son and an authority figure on the ranch. A small man who likes to pick on larger men who cannot fight back. Very aggressive towards Lennie. Accuses Slim of flirting with his wife, who he is always looking for. Slim's exact opposite ( Eg. Slim is respected for his masculinity and his voice of reason where as Curley has to be respected for his authority through relation and by his viciousness). Arrogant and insecure

14. Crooks The stable buck and the only black person to live on the ranch. Lives in the harness room attached to the barn and does not socialize with the other ranch hands but sometimes plays Horseshoes with them. Gives a direct insight into the Americans view to blacks in the 1930s. He was an Outcast. Often very lonely, and often reads books.

15. Curley’s Wife Married Curley after her dreams of becoming a movie star are dashed. Does not like her husband who only talks about fighting people. Likes to dress up and wear make-up to attract attention. Very flirtatious with the employees of the ranch. Lonely because no one will talk to her on the ranch. Is considered as Curley's possession and not a real person by the ranchers. Outcast in society. Likes to talk to other people because of being lonely.

16. Carlson Wants to shoot Candy’s dog to put him out of his misery. Owns a Luger(gun). Looks up to Curley. A typical ranch hand, wants to keep his job and likes being more powerful then Candy. Tries to appease Curley and Slim, the two 'big men' on the ranch (excluding the boss)

17. Themes 1.Dreams 2.Strength\Weakness 3.Friendship 4.Loneliness 5.Prejudice 6.Morality 7.Dignity\Pride

18. John Steinbeck 1902-1968

19. Plot Structure Title: Of Mice and Men Author: John Steinbeck

20. Exposition Setting: Salinas Valley, California Situation/Climate: The Great Depression, The Dust Bowl, 1930’s Characters: Lennie, George, Slim, Candy, Curley’s Wife, Crooks, Curley, Carlson

21. Conflict Lennie’s obsessive desire to touch soft things gets him into trouble all the time.

22. Protagonist vs. Antagonist Lennie and George vs. Curley and Society

23. Themes Dreams Strength\Weakness Friendship Loneliness Prejudice Morality Dignity\Pride

24. Rising Action George and Lennie have a dream of owning their own ranch. Lennie gets into fight with Curley Lennie kills puppy and pets Curley’s Wife’s hair.

25. Climax ( Turning Point) Lennie kills Curley’s Wife.

26. Falling Action Candy finds Curley’s Wife dead. Candy tells George and the others. The dream of owning the ranch is gone. Lennie hides in the brush.

27. Resolution George kills Lennie.

28. Foreshadowing What led up to the death of Curley’s Wife? Lennie killing the mice. George told Lennie to “hide in the brush.” Lennie touching the girl’s red dress. Lennie crushing Curley’s hand. Lennie killing the puppy. Lennie not knowing his own strength. Lennie holds on when he gets scared.

29. Why did George kill Lennie?

30. Parallelisms Candy’s Dog Candy’s dog depends on Candy to take care of him. Candy’s dog is physically disabled. Carlson shot Candy’s dog in the back of the head. Candy said, “I oughtta of shot that dog myself, I shouldn’t oughtta of let no stranger shoot my dog.” Carlson Shot Candy’s dog for selfish reasons. Lennie Lennie depends on George to take care of him. Lennie is mentally disabled. George shot Lennie in the back of the head. George shot Lennie because it was his responsibility to take care of Lennie. Curley was shooting Lennie for revenge.