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Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. John Steinbeck’s life….
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John Steinbeck’s life… • 1902 - Born February 27, 1902, Salinas California, County of Monterey mom was a school teacher, father was treasurer of Monterey County: they gave their only son a love of books (his surroundings inspired an appreciation in his books). Was a track and basketball star, very athletic! • 1919-1925 - Attended Stanford University briefly. Not a serious student, never intended to graduate. • 1935 - Commonwealth Club of California Gold Medal for Best Book by a Californian (Tortilla Flat) first book published! Proved he could write successfully about his own observations and experiences. • 1937- Of Mice and Men published • 1938 - New York Drama Critics' Circle Award (Of Mice and Men) • 1943 - Married the singer Gwendolyn Conger Became a War correspondent in Europe for the Herald Tribune of New York. • 1948 - Divorced wife Gwendolyn and returned from New York to Pacific Grove.1949: Met Elaine Scott at the Pine Inn Restaurant in Carmel. • 1950 - Married Elaine Scott • 1968 - Died December 20 in New York1969 - Buried in the Garden of Memories cemetery, Salinas. • http://www.mtycounty.com/pgs-mty-stnbeck/steinbeck-timeline.html
GARDEN OF MEMORIES John Steinbeck is buried in the Garden of Memories Cemetery on the corner of 768 Abbott Street and East Romie Lane Street. John Steinbeck died in New York, December 20, 1968. Many of his relatives that are portrayed in his book East of Eden are buried in the Hamilton plot. The John Steinbeck grave is in the Hamilton plot located on the right side of the cemetery, a small metal sign points to the Hamilton Plot. http://www.mtycounty.com/pgs-steinbeck/memories.html
John Steinbeck’s Written Works • Cup of Gold (1929) • The Pastures of Heaven (1932) • To a God Unknown (1933 • Tortilla Flat (1935; • In Dubious Battle (1936) • Of Mice And Men (1937) • The Red Pony (1937) • The Grapes Of Wrath (1939) • The Moon Is Down (1942) • Cannery Row (1945) • The Pearl (1947) • The Wayward Bus (1947) • Burning Bright (1950) • East of Eden (1952) • The Winter of Our Discontent (1961) • Travels with Charley (1962) http://www.americanwriters.org/writers/steinbeck.asp
The title of the novel comes from a poem by the Scottish poet Robert Burns (1759-96) The best laid schemes o’ mice and men Gang aft agley {often go wrong} And leave us nought but grief and pain for promised joy!
Key Points • Type: Novel • Genre: Fiction, Tragedy • Setting: Mid 1930’s, Salinas, California, South of Soledad, California • Narrator: Third Person Omniscient • Protagonists: George and Lennie • Antagonists: Curley, Society, Life • Literary Techniques Used: Foreshadowing, Tone, Theme, Motifs, Symbols www.sparknotes.com
Characters • Lennie: Large, childlike migrant worker • George: Small, quick-witted, cares for Lennie • Candy: Aging ranch handyman • Curley’s wife: Only female character, tramp • Crooks: Black stable-hand, proud, bitter, sarcastic • Curley: Boss’s son, aggressive, jealous, short • Slim: Mule driver, “prince” of the ranch • Carlson: Ranch-hand, bitter • The Boss: Stocky well-dressed man, Curley’s father • Aunt Clara: Lennie’s aunt who cared for him until her death • Whit: Ranch-hand www.sparknotes.com
Migrant Workers • After World War I economic factors forced many rural and poor agricultural workers to move from place to place • Recession forced farmers to produce more goods to earn the same amount of money • 1929 Stock market crash worsened conditions and farmers were forced to lose property • Unemployment rate peaked at 25% in 1933 • Farming activity caused precious soil to erode (Dust Bowl) • Migrant workers became known as Okies (Oklahoma) • Steinbeck immortalized the plight of the migrant workers and the quest for a better life **DREAMS** www.sparknotes.com