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An Introduction…. QW: Read the following quote and respond to it by writing 5-7 sentences on a ½ sheet of paper.
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QW: Read the following quote and respond to it by writing 5-7 sentences on a ½ sheet of paper • In every bit of honest writing in the world there is a base theme. Try to understand men; if you understand each other you will be kind to each other. Knowing a man well never leads to hate and nearly always leads to love. There are shorter means, many of them. There is writing promoting social change, writing punishing injustice, writing in celebration of heroism, but always that base theme. Try to understand each other. – John Steinbeck in his 1938 journal entry
Background… • Written by John Steinbeck in 1937 • One of the most challenged books of the 21st century • Chronicles the struggles of migrant farm workers during the Great Depression of the 1930’s • Written as a potential play
John Steinbeck 1902-1968 • Born in Salinas, CA • His books are set in California and they deal with the lives and problems of working people • Many of his characters are immigrants or migrant workers who went to California looking for work or a better life
The Setting • The novel takes place in Salinas Valley, CA • The two main characters are traveling from Weed, CA to Salinas in search of work • The majority of the novel takes place at the ranch where they find work
The Great Depression • Took place between 1929-1941, 12 years • Nearly 50% of the children of the great depression did not have adequate food, shelter, or medical care. • During the worst years of the Depression (1933-1934) the overall jobless rate was 25% (1 out of 4 people) • WW2 eventually pulled the US out of the depression by creating new jobs.
Social impact of the Depression • Discrimination during the Depression against women was common because they were seen as taking away jobs from men • African-Americans were the hardest hit during the Great Depression, and they were often the first to get laid off • Some men abandoned their families; a 1940 poll revealed that 1.5 million married women were abandoned by their husbands.
Characters • George Milton: the small, sharp-witted ranch hand who cares for and travels with Lennie. George is a typical, realistic worker who uses his mind to anticipate the future • Lennie Small: a physically large man whose mind is slow; he has a short attention span and acts similar to a child. Because of his mental limitations, Lennie never understands or anticipates the consequences of his actions.
Slim: a wise, well-respected ranch hand whose word is law • Carlson: ranch hand who is the exact opposite of Slim; coarse and insensitive, he does not understand the feelings of those around him • Candy: the ranch hand who wanted to join the dream of George and Lennie.
Crooks: named for his crooked body; proud and independent Negro who is an outcast on the ranch; also wants to join Lennie and George’s dream • Curley: the evil son of the boss, Curley is a small, vicious bully who picks on those smaller than he is and attempts to intimidate those larger than him • Curley’s wife: bitter woman who lives on the ranch; frequently attempts to initiate conversation with the workers, but gets shot down
Thematic topics explored within the novel • Loneliness • Fate • Dreams vs. Reality • The American Dream • Discrimination
Chapter 1 Discussion Questions 1. What can you infer about the characters’ personalities based on the descriptions of their physical descriptions? What are they like? 2. Why did they have to leave Weed, CA? 3. Who is Aunt Clara? 4. How are George and Lennie different than most farm workers? 5. What is their American Dream? 6. What is Lennie supposed to do if he gets into trouble?
Section 4 • 1. How does Crooks respond to Lennie’s presence when he first arrives? Why does he react this way? • 2. Why doesn’t Lennie treat Crooks the way that the other ranch hands treat him? • 3. What makes Crooks allow Lennie to enter his room? • 4. What does Crooks envy about Lennie? • 5. Why does Crooks tease Lennie? • 6. Why doesn’t Crooks think George and Lennie’s dream will come true? • 7. When Candy enters Crooks’ room, how does Crooks react? What is his tone? • 8. How does Crooks’ attitude toward the Dream differ once he realizes that they are close to achieving their dream? • 9. What is Curley’s wife’s reaction to those that are left in the barn? • 10. How does Curley’s wife feel about her marriage? • 11.How does Curley’s wife treat Crooks? What does this reveal about her character? • 12. What does Crooks mean when he says, “You guys comin’ in an’ settin’ made me forget. What she says is true.”? How is this significant? • 13. How does Crooks feel about joining the Dream at the end of the chapter? Why?
Section 5 • 1. Why is Lennie angry at his puppy? • 2. Why is Curley’s wife so desperate to talk to Lennie? • 3. What do we learn about Curley’s wife’s past? • 4. What does she reveal about her marriage? • 5. Why does Curley’s wife allow Lennie to touch her hair? • 6. Why does Lennie run away? Where does he go? • 7. What has changed about Curley’s Wife’s face after Lennie leaves? • 8. What is Candy’s biggest fear? • 9. What does George admit that he always knew? • 10. How have George’s plans for the dream changed? • 11. What are Curley’s plans for Lennie? What does George want for Lennie?
Section 6 • 1. Where has Lennie gone? • 2. Who does he see in the woods? Why is that person upset with Lennie? • 3. When the rabbit tells Lennie that George will beat him or leave him, how does Lennie respond? • 4. What does George want Lennie to know? • 5. What does Lennie want from George? • 6. What does George do? WHY? • 7. How do Carlson and Curley respond differently than Slim and George? How is that significant?
