1. Of Mice and Men Notes Use these notes to help you understand the novella

2. Vocabulary Chapter 1 1. Bindle (noun) – a bundle of bedding carried by a traveler 2. Jack (noun) – slang term for money 3. Morosely (adverb) – with sadness (She morosely took the test because she knew she hadn’t studied very hard.) 4. Pantomime (verb) – to copy (The toddler pantomimed his mother’s actions.) 5. Drone (verb) – to go on and on in a monotone (The math teacher droned on about fractions.) 6. Contemplate (verb) – to think about deeply (He contemplated his next move very carefully.)

3. Allusions and Historical References Chapter 1 – Soledad, CA

4. Allusions and Historical References Chapter 1 – Salinas River

5. Allusions and Historical References Chapter 1 – Weed, CA

6. Allusions and Historical References “watchin the blackboard”/ work cards

7. Literary Terms Chapter 1 Imply – To guess what the meaning is based on information gathered. (I can imply that you had math homework last night because I see many of you trying to finish it right now.) Imply – To guess what the meaning is based on information gathered. (I can imply that you had math homework last night because I see many of you trying to finish it right now.) Allusion – a reference in literature to something that the author assumes is within the readers’ frame of reference. (Weed, CA) Allusion – a reference in literature to something that the author assumes is within the readers’ frame of reference. (Weed, CA) Exposition – The very beginning of the novel (How everything starts out) Exposition – The very beginning of the novel (How everything starts out) Setting – Time, place and historical context of the story (What’s the setting of this novel?) Setting – Time, place and historical context of the story (What’s the setting of this novel?) Point of view – The perspective from which the story is told (What are the different points of view in literature? What is this story told in? Check the first page!) Point of view – The perspective from which the story is told (What are the different points of view in literature? What is this story told in? Check the first page!)

8. Vocabulary Chapter 2 1. Swamper (noun) – handyman; someone who performs odd jobs (What job might this person be responsible for on a farm?) 2. Tick (noun) – A mattress cover; like a thick sheet 3. Stable buck (noun) – A stable is a place for horses, A buck is used in this instance as a derogatory term for a black man. Therefore, a stable buck is a black man that works in a stable with the horses.

9. 4. Skinner (noun) – a person responsible for driving the mules (in this case a job that requires a higher level of skill than your average farm worker) 5. Cesspool (noun) – An stagnate pool of water that usually has algae growing in it among other things 6. Ominously (adverb) – Ominous means foreboding or dangerous so doing something ominously would be doing it in such a way that it causes suspicion or fear 7. Pugnacious (adjective) – Filled with anger; argumentative 8. Mollified (verb) – to feel appeased; to have feelings of anger grow less intense Vocabulary Chapter 2

10. Literary Terms: Chapter 2 Dialect – Language used by a specific group of people (Southern dialect vs Californian dialect) Dialect – Language used by a specific group of people (Southern dialect vs Californian dialect) Novella – A short novel Novella – A short novel Irony – When the opposite of what you expect to happen, happens Irony – When the opposite of what you expect to happen, happens Direct Characterization – When the author gives you a specific description. (What is a piece of direct characterization for George?) Direct Characterization – When the author gives you a specific description. (What is a piece of direct characterization for George?) Indirect Characterization – When an author sets up a situation where you learn about the character based on his or her actions. (What is a piece of indirect characterization for Lennie?) Indirect Characterization – When an author sets up a situation where you learn about the character based on his or her actions. (What is a piece of indirect characterization for Lennie?)

11. Impressions/Predictions