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Published byHillary Smith Modified over 6 years ago
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John Steinbeck (1902-1968) Worked as a ranch hand to help his family
Went to Stanford but never completed his degree Often wrote about characters who were part of an unfair world/characters who were poor and/or oppressed
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Steinbeck’s Popular Works
Common characters, settings, and themes Often featured the California working class in the 1930s Stories of real humanity Shattered dreams; innocence; growth Moral dilemmas that come with being human
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The American Dream Idea that better life existed in America
Escaping persecution or poverty People dreamed of making new lives for themselves/their families Finding gold in California was a popular dream
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The American Dream The dream was “put on hold” after the Wall Street Crash on October 29, 1929 (“Black Tuesday”) The Great Depression followed & affected the entire world ¼ of the American working class was unemployed Thousands made their way west toward California looking for work
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Lives of Migrant Workers
Huge numbers of men traveled the countryside between the 1880s and the early 1930s harvesting wheat They earned $2.50 to $3.00 a day, plus food and very basic accommodations Organizations under the New Deal were set up to help people find work
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Salinas Valley Farm country
Common to employ migrant workers to harvest crops Steinbeck born and raised here; familiar to him
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From “To A Mouse” by Robert Burns
But little Mouse, you are not alone, In proving foresight may be vain: The best laid schemes of mice and men Go oft awry, And leave us nothing but grief and pain, For promised joy!
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George and Lennie Travelling together looking for work
Have a dream of owning their own farm one day George Milton: short, not very strong; stern but patient; protective of Lennie; does all the talking Lennie Small: tall, hardy; limited mental functionality; childlike, often oblivious; innocent; looks up to George
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Be sure to look out for… Themes:
Friendship Hope Sacrifice Seclusion Loneliness Repetition of The American Dream & how George uses it to keep Lennie happy
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