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John Steinbeck’s Biography America in the Great Depression The Novel: Of Mice and Men Student Learning Goals 2
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Analyze the features of setting and their importance in a literary text Compare and contrast the author’s use of direct and indirect characterization Distinguish how conflicts, parallel plots and subplots affect the pacing of the action Explain how literary techniques are used to shape the plot 3
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Born in Salinas, CA in 1902 From a Middle Class Family While in college, he worked with underpaid laborers Wrote about his travels and life experiences Awarded Nobel Prize in 1962 5
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At the age of 14 he decided to be a writer From 1919-1925 Steinbeck attended Stanford University but did not receive a degree because he would drop in and out of school, sometimes to work with migrant workers and bindlestiffs on California ranches. 6
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7 A hobo, especially one who carries a bedroll.
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Of Mice and Men was written in 1937 The story of two ranch workers who travel throughout California in search of the American Dream. Dream: To own a piece of land to grow crops, raise animals, and live peacefully. 8
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Set in the Salinas Valley, CA – near the town of Soledad Takes place over the course of 3 days 9
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1929 – 1930’s Begins with the Stock Market Crashed October 29, 1929 Businesses failed, workers lost their jobs, and families fell into poverty 13
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People migrate to California for work Government is depended on for food 14
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15 Lasted until the start of American involvement in World War II Unemployment rose to 30% 50% of commercial banks failed Crop prices fell by 50% Over-production led to unemployment Hunger, despair, poverty, homelessness – millions of Americans had their lives destroyed
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19 Historical Background to Migrant Workers Before technology created farm machinery, humans had to do a lot of the farm work by hand. Between the 1880s and the 1930s thousands of men would travel the countryside in search of work. These workers would earn $2.50 or $3.00 a day, plus food and shelter. During the 1930s, the unemployment rate was high in the U.S., and with so many men searching for work, agencies were set up to send farmworkers to where they were needed.
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House Job Family Money to live on 20
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Language: Lyrical (descriptive) and Naturalistic (down to earth, ungrammatical, and realistic) Six chapters, covering 3 days, each set on or near a ranch Chapters 1 and 6 take place in the same location, creating a circular effect 26
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George Milton: The protagonist and main character of the book. Physically, he is a small and intelligent man with strong features. He is Lennie's cousin. Lennie Small : The obedient friend of George. He has a child’s mind and a giant’s body. He is mentally challenged and relies upon George. 27
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Old Candy : One of the lonely ranch workers. He is a cripple (missing a hand), working as a ‘Swamper’. Crooks :A black ranch hand. He is sensible and neat, with a mind of his own. He is a lonely character, who is discriminated against, due to his race. Slim :A ranch worker with leadership qualities. Curley :The boss’s son who was a boxer. He is short, stocky, and thinks he is better than all the others. He picks fights with everybody on the ranch. Curley’s wife :The only woman on the ranch. She is very flirtatious. 28
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Carlson : A brutal man. He objects to Candy keeping his old dog. Whit : A ranch worker. He is sent to town to fetch the Sheriff after Curley’s wife is murdered. The Boss : A ‘mice fella’ (in Candy’s words). He is more concerned about his work on the ranch than anyone else. 29
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3 rd person omniscient 30
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Protagonists: Main characters of the story, George and Lennie Antagonists: Characters or obstacles that the main characters must combat 31
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Loneliness Hopes and Dreams Friendship Dignity and Pride The American Dream Racial Prejudice 32
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