1. Steinbeck Background Info

2. John Steinbeck 1902-1968 1902-1968 Believed in the political power of fiction and wrote to deliver a message Believed in the political power of fiction and wrote to deliver a message Born in California’s Salinas Valley Born in California’s Salinas Valley Worked a variety of jobs in his youth: fruit picker, painter, scientist’s lab assistant, etc. Worked a variety of jobs in his youth: fruit picker, painter, scientist’s lab assistant, etc. Of Mice and Men (1937) was his first literary success Of Mice and Men (1937) was his first literary success Won Pulitzer Prize in 1940 and Nobel in in 1962 Won Pulitzer Prize in 1940 and Nobel in in 1962

3. Common Characteristics of Steinbeck’s Writing Most take place in the Salinas Valley Most take place in the Salinas Valley Many works take place in the Great Depression Many works take place in the Great Depression Works known as “Dust Bowl fiction” Works known as “Dust Bowl fiction” Mostly focuses on the lower class Mostly focuses on the lower class

4. Steinbeck Novels East of Eden East of Eden Of Mice and Men Of Mice and Men Grapes of Wrath Grapes of Wrath Cannery Row Cannery Row The Pearl The Pearl The Red Pony The Red Pony The Moon is Down The Moon is Down

5. The Grapes of Wrath Steinbeck spent 2 years living and working with “Okies” Steinbeck spent 2 years living and working with “Okies” This experience inspired The Grapes of Wrath, for which he won the Pulitzer This experience inspired The Grapes of Wrath, for which he won the Pulitzer Story of a family displaced from the Oklahoma dust bowl who found poverty and exploitation in California, in lieu of the wages and land for which they had hoped Story of a family displaced from the Oklahoma dust bowl who found poverty and exploitation in California, in lieu of the wages and land for which they had hoped

6. Of Mice and Men Concentrates on two displaced migrant ranch workers Concentrates on two displaced migrant ranch workers Appears in the American Library Association’s list of Most Challenged Books of the 21 st Century Appears in the American Library Association’s list of Most Challenged Books of the 21 st Century Based on “To a Mouse” by Robert Burns Based on “To a Mouse” by Robert Burns

7. Quotes from To a Mouse “The best laid schemes ‘o mice and men gang aft agley.” “The best laid schemes ‘o mice and men gang aft agley.” “The best laid plans of mice and men often go astray.” “The best laid plans of mice and men often go astray.”