1. Look at the book cover.
Predict what you think the story is going to be about and write a synopsis in 50 words?
What does this image suggest about
-Plot
-Setting
-Characters
Write what you think will be the opening line to this book.

2. Look at the book cover.
Predict what you think the story is going to be about and write a synopsis in 50 words?
What does this image suggest about
-Plot
-Setting
-Characters
Write what you think will be the opening line to this book.

3. Look at the book cover.
Predict what you think the story is going to be about and write a synopsis in 50 words?
What does this image suggest about
-Plot
-Setting
-Characters
Write what you think will be the opening line to this book.

4. Look at the book cover.
Predict what you think the story is going to be about and write a synopsis in 50 words?
What does this image suggest about
-Plot
-Setting
-Characters
Write what you think will be the opening line to this book.

5. Look at the book cover.
Predict what you think the story is going to be about and write a synopsis in 50 words?
What does this image suggest about
-Plot
-Setting
-Characters
Write what you think will be the opening line to this book.

6. Look at the book cover.
Predict what you think the story is going to be about and write a synopsis in 50 words?
What does this image suggest about
-Plot
-Setting
-Characters
Write what you think will be the opening line to this book.

7. Look at the book cover.
Predict what you think the story is going to be about and write a synopsis in 50 words?
What does this image suggest about
-Plot
-Setting
-Characters
Write what you think will be the opening line to this book.

8. Look at the book cover.
Predict what you think the story is going to be about and write a synopsis in 50 words?
What does this image suggest about
-Plot
-Setting
-Characters
Write what you think will be the opening line to this book.

9. Of Mice and Men Context
The author of ‘Of Mice and Men’ John Steinbeck was born in Salinas, California, in 1902 and it is this area of America which is the setting for ‘Of Mice and Men’
The book was written in 1937 after a period of immense change for America and its citizens.

10. Hoovervilles NEW DEAL Dustbowl Racism Immigration THE AMERICAN DREAM
What do you know?
What do you already know about America during the 1920’s and 30’s?
Hoovervilles
NEW DEAL
Dustbowl
Racism
Immigration
Wall Street Crash
THE AMERICAN DREAM

11. Of Mice and Men
Watch the video on the context for ‘Of Mice and Men’, complete the activity sheet as you are watching.

12. Do you agree?
The time in which ‘Of Mice and Men’ was written was clearly a hugely difficult period for Americans; with financial troubles, damaged crops and widespread deprivation.

13. Yet this is the first paragraph of the novel
A few miles south of Soledad, the Salinas River drops in close to the hillside bank and runs deep and green. The water is warm too, for it has slipped twinkling over the yellow sands in the sunlight before reaching the narrow pool. On one side of the river the golden foothill slopes curve up to the strong and rocky Gabilan mountains, but on the valley side the water is lined with trees – willows fresh and green with every spring, carrying in their lower leaf junctures the debris of winter’s flooding; and sycamores with mottled, white, recumbent limbs and branches arch that pool. On the sandy bank under the trees the leaves lie deep and so crisp that a lizard makes a great skittering if he runs among them. Rabbits come out of the brush to sit on the sand in the evening…

14. Yet this is the first paragraph of the novel
A few miles south of Soledad, the Salinas River drops in close to the hillside bank and runs deep and green. The water is warm too, for it has slipped twinkling over the yellow sands in the sunlight before reaching the narrow pool. On one side of the river the golden foothill slopes curve up to the strong and rocky Gabilan mountains, but on the valley side the water is lined with trees – willows fresh and green with every spring, carrying in their lower leaf junctures the debris of winter’s flooding; and sycamores with mottled, white, recumbent limbs and branches arch that pool. On the sandy bank under the trees the leaves lie deep and so crisp that a lizard makes a great skittering if he runs among them. Rabbits come out of the brush to sit on the sand in the evening…

15. Introduction
Look through this extract, identify and underline words you associate with positive thoughts or ideas and also words you associate with more negative thoughts and feelings.

16. QUESTION TO CONSIDER
Does this sounds like Steinbeck’s America?

17. Why would Steinbeck choose to start ‘Of Mice and Men’ with such a description?