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Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. Live off the fatta’ land. Background. The Author 1929 The Wall Street Crash 1930’s The Great Depression California The Novel. Guy’s like us.. Are the loneliest guy’s in the world. The Author. He was born in Salinas, California in 1902.
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Of Mice and MenbyJohn Steinbeck Live off the fatta’ land
Background • The Author • 1929 The Wall Street Crash • 1930’s The Great Depression • California • The Novel. Guy’s like us.. Are the loneliest guy’s in the world
The Author • He was born in Salinas, California in 1902. • He lived and worked in California. • He worked on a dredging crew or in a sugar plant to get money for college. • Attended Stamford College. Took literature and writing. although he never completed a degree. • He met hoboes, fruit-pickers and migrant workers through his work. • ‘I think I would like to write the story of this whole valley, of all the little towns and all the farms and the ranches in the wilder hills. I can see how I would like to do it so that it would be the valley of the world.” Steinbeck’s letter to George Albee, Salinas, 1933 • He won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1962 • His best known novels include: The Grapes of Wrath, The Pearl, East of Eden, Tortilla Flat and The Red Pony • He died in 1968
Great Depression • Most severe economic downturn in American history. Felt throughout the world. • Began with the Stock Market crash of 29th October 1929 –The Wall Street Crash • 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% • Hunger, despair, poverty, homelessness – millions of Americans had their lives destroyed
The Dust Bowl • The effects of the Depression were exacerbated by the ecological disaster of the Dust Bowl on the Great Plains: Colorado, New Mexico, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. • Caused many to migrate to California in search of the American Dream – the promise of land and wealth.
Migrant Mother image Destitute. Mother of seven children. Age thirty-two. Nipomo, California.[
The Novel’s Titlethe best laid schemes of mice and menMeaning: The most carefully prepared plans may go wrong.Origin: From Robert Burns' poem To a Mouse, 1786. It tells of how he, while ploughing a field, upturned a mouse's nest. The resulting poem is an apology to the mouse: ... But Mouse, you are not alone,In proving foresight may be vain:The best laid schemes of mice and menGo often askew,And leaves us nothing but grief and pain,For promised joy! • But Mousie, thou art no thy lane, In proving foresight may be vain: The best laid schemes o' mice an' men Gang aft agley, An' lea'e us nought but grief an' pain, For promis'd joy!
The Book • It’s original draft was eaten by Steinbeck’s puppy! • The novel tells of two migrant workers, George and Lennie and a week in their life as they arrive on a ranch to work. • Lennie is intellectually disabled and adores soft things. • Their friendship is at the heart of the novel. • Other major themes are loneliness and racism.
Of Mice and Men • One of the greatest American novels • Confronts our idea of a friend and asks us: What would we do for a friend? • What would we be prepared to sacrifice?
