Most would say the title "Of Mice and Men" simply refers to what the book is about; everyone, whether they be royal or poor. They'd also say how it is a very, very loose connection to Lennie's infatuation with soft things.
However, there is strong evidence pointing towards a Scottish poet from the 1700's by the name of Robert Burns. He wrote a poem called To A Mouse, in which the second-to-last line states, "The best laid plans of mice and men gang aft agley." In modern-day English, this says that no matter how carefully you prepare, things sometimes go wrong. This is the main theme of the book and even bears the title of the book.
With this evidence, it would not surprise me in the slightest if John Steinbeck was familiar with the works of Robert Burns.
Monday, November 24, 2008
The Title
Most would say the title "Of Mice and Men" simply refers to what the book is about; everyone, whether they be royal or poor. They'd also say how it is a very, very loose connection to Lennie's infatuation with soft things.
However, there is strong evidence pointing towards a Scottish poet from the 1700's by the name of Robert Burns. He wrote a poem called To A Mouse, in which the second-to-last line states, "The best laid plans of mice and men gang aft agley." In modern-day English, this says that no matter how carefully you prepare, things sometimes go wrong. This is the main theme of the book and even bears the title of the book.
With this evidence, it would not surprise me in the slightest if John Steinbeck was familiar with the works of Robert Burns.
However, there is strong evidence pointing towards a Scottish poet from the 1700's by the name of Robert Burns. He wrote a poem called To A Mouse, in which the second-to-last line states, "The best laid plans of mice and men gang aft agley." In modern-day English, this says that no matter how carefully you prepare, things sometimes go wrong. This is the main theme of the book and even bears the title of the book.
With this evidence, it would not surprise me in the slightest if John Steinbeck was familiar with the works of Robert Burns.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Chapter 1&2 Questions:
1. A: Lennie: He acts like a small child, with simple wants and actions, but his intentions are good
B: George: He's protective of Lennie and has a short temper and big dreams
C: Curly: Forms grudges easily and has the power and basic deviousness to get rid of his enemies
D: Slim: Insightful character, full of good advice and knows his way around
E: Carlson: Minor character, basically friendly
F: Candy: An old man who's tired of working hard
G: Crooks: He's proud and been discriminated against all his life. He's rough and blunt, but deep down he just wants a friend.
2. Why does Lennie like puppies, mice and rabbits?
Lennie likes them because he enjoys petting them. He likes soft things.
3. A: George met Lennie while visiting Aunt Clara
B: George feels that Lennie is getting in his way of his dream lige so he often gets angry and frustrated with Lennie's forgetfulness. However, deep down he is protective of Lennie and truly is his friend.
C: George takes care of Lennie because he made a promise to Aunt Clara, and also because Lennie has no one else so nobody else will take care of him.
4. George and Lennie's farm started off just with George telling Lennie a bedtime story of sorts to placate him, and symbolized Lennie's eternal innocence in believing fairy tales and George's initial frustration at Lennie for holding him back, and at first was a sort of cruel joke at Lennie's expense. However, as time went on, George found it so tempting that he began to believe it himself and the meanings behind it evolved into something more. It became their goal; their pot of gold at the end of a long, trying rainbow and it really became their essential drive to keep going, though times were tough. It also showed how George spites the average guy who just travels around for nothing, and it helped him set himself apart from them, made him proud of himself. More than any of that, however, the farm exposed how George is vaguely jealous of Lennie in that he retained his child-like innocence and hope while it had diead in George, as it is apt to do in adults. The farm gave George a flicker of that old hope that maybe, just maybe, dreams can come ture. I don't know, maybe I'm searching too far into it, but of one thing I'm sure; the farm symbolized their hope for a better future and their pathway to freedom whilst the world stayed in shackles. It was faith.
Chapter 3&4 Questions
1. Why doesn't Candy want to kill his dog?
Because he loves his dog. He’s had him since he was a puppy and he’s experienced the bond between man and dog. It runs very deep.
Are Candy’s feelings understandable? Have you ever felt very attached to an old or sick animal that had to be put to sleep? Explain your feelings.
I’ve never had a pet put to sleep, but I have two dogs and I would HATE to see them killed. I completely understand Candy’s feelings.
Why does Candy say later on that he should have shot his dog himself and not let a stranger do it
It feels wrong for someone who doesn’t love the dog to be with it in its last moments.
2. Why did Curley pick on Lennie?
Because he is a small person and he doesn’t want people to assume they can push him around because of it.
Describe Curley’s main problem in your opinion.
He believes everyone that is big is also mean and he doesn’t accept that someone can be both big and kind.
Why didn’t Lennie fight back at first when Curley hit him?
George told him not to fight Curley and he is unswervingly obedient to George.
What happened to Curley as a result of picking on Lennie?
He had his hand crushed, and he also had his pride crushed because he had never been beaten before.
3. How does Crooks react to Lennie’s appearance at the door of his room?
He was both amazed someone came in and grateful for the company. Also, he was angry and vented his feelings about white people.
Crooks says people at the ranch don’t like him because...
Because he is black, thus lower in society, and a “cripple,” thus seen as not worthy of their presence.
Crooks invites Lennie to stay and talk with him because he has been lonely his entire life and he takes advantage of his chance to talk when it comes around.
Chapters 5 & 6
1. What things does Lennie do or say that show he is mentally retarded? List at least 3 specific acts or incidents.
He obviously forgets things very often and isn't good at figuring. He acts like a child when he should have passed childhood many years ago.
A. Is George’s treatment of Lennie fair?
Not when they started hanging together; then he treated him terribly. Now, however, he is as fair as he can be, under the circumstances.
B. Is George’s treatment of Lennie understandable? Explain.
I believe George did the best he could in that time period.
C. Could he have helped him more? How?
I think he did all he could for Lennie.
3. How do these characters treat Lennie and why? Give one incident for each that shows his/her treatment of Lennie.
A. Candy: He talks to Lennie because he is old and nobody else will listen to him (with the exception of Slim and George). Everyone else don't think much of an old person, but Lennie listens to him anyway.
B. Curley’s wife: She talks to him because he is the only person who will talk to her, and she doesn’t have to worry about being embarrassed.
C. Crooks: He talks to Lennie because he is lonely and has been alone for a long time, thus he jumps at a chance to socialize.
What do they all have in common? (Why do they all talk to him?)
The reason they all talk to him is for the same reason people write in diaries or talk to thier dog or a very small child... or just to themself. They do it because they have thoughts and feelings they want to get out (bottling things up is not healthy) and they won't have to worry about being judged or tattled on if they're talking to someone like Lennie.
4. Why does Lennie kill the puppy and later the girl?
He kills the puppy because it tried to bite him, and he killed the girl because he got scared.
5. Do you think Lennie had to be shot? What were some other alternatives? What would have happened to Lennie if George hadn’t shot him?
I don’t think it was the best thing to do. However, there weren’t any other alternatives; if George hadn’t killed Lennie, Curley would have made it painful for him.
6. How is the killing of Lennie similar to the killing of Candy’s dog? Why do you think George killed Lennie himself instead of letting the men do it?
I go more in-depth about the dog’s symbolism in the animal symbolism section. George did it because if Curley had got to him, he’d make it painful. Also, Lennie didn’t have time to be scared and didn’t see it coming.
1. A: Lennie: He acts like a small child, with simple wants and actions, but his intentions are good
B: George: He's protective of Lennie and has a short temper and big dreams
C: Curly: Forms grudges easily and has the power and basic deviousness to get rid of his enemies
D: Slim: Insightful character, full of good advice and knows his way around
E: Carlson: Minor character, basically friendly
F: Candy: An old man who's tired of working hard
G: Crooks: He's proud and been discriminated against all his life. He's rough and blunt, but deep down he just wants a friend.
2. Why does Lennie like puppies, mice and rabbits?
Lennie likes them because he enjoys petting them. He likes soft things.
3. A: George met Lennie while visiting Aunt Clara
B: George feels that Lennie is getting in his way of his dream lige so he often gets angry and frustrated with Lennie's forgetfulness. However, deep down he is protective of Lennie and truly is his friend.
C: George takes care of Lennie because he made a promise to Aunt Clara, and also because Lennie has no one else so nobody else will take care of him.
4. George and Lennie's farm started off just with George telling Lennie a bedtime story of sorts to placate him, and symbolized Lennie's eternal innocence in believing fairy tales and George's initial frustration at Lennie for holding him back, and at first was a sort of cruel joke at Lennie's expense. However, as time went on, George found it so tempting that he began to believe it himself and the meanings behind it evolved into something more. It became their goal; their pot of gold at the end of a long, trying rainbow and it really became their essential drive to keep going, though times were tough. It also showed how George spites the average guy who just travels around for nothing, and it helped him set himself apart from them, made him proud of himself. More than any of that, however, the farm exposed how George is vaguely jealous of Lennie in that he retained his child-like innocence and hope while it had diead in George, as it is apt to do in adults. The farm gave George a flicker of that old hope that maybe, just maybe, dreams can come ture. I don't know, maybe I'm searching too far into it, but of one thing I'm sure; the farm symbolized their hope for a better future and their pathway to freedom whilst the world stayed in shackles. It was faith.
Chapter 3&4 Questions
1. Why doesn't Candy want to kill his dog?
Because he loves his dog. He’s had him since he was a puppy and he’s experienced the bond between man and dog. It runs very deep.
Are Candy’s feelings understandable? Have you ever felt very attached to an old or sick animal that had to be put to sleep? Explain your feelings.
I’ve never had a pet put to sleep, but I have two dogs and I would HATE to see them killed. I completely understand Candy’s feelings.
Why does Candy say later on that he should have shot his dog himself and not let a stranger do it
It feels wrong for someone who doesn’t love the dog to be with it in its last moments.
2. Why did Curley pick on Lennie?
Because he is a small person and he doesn’t want people to assume they can push him around because of it.
Describe Curley’s main problem in your opinion.
He believes everyone that is big is also mean and he doesn’t accept that someone can be both big and kind.
Why didn’t Lennie fight back at first when Curley hit him?
George told him not to fight Curley and he is unswervingly obedient to George.
What happened to Curley as a result of picking on Lennie?
He had his hand crushed, and he also had his pride crushed because he had never been beaten before.
3. How does Crooks react to Lennie’s appearance at the door of his room?
He was both amazed someone came in and grateful for the company. Also, he was angry and vented his feelings about white people.
Crooks says people at the ranch don’t like him because...
Because he is black, thus lower in society, and a “cripple,” thus seen as not worthy of their presence.
Crooks invites Lennie to stay and talk with him because he has been lonely his entire life and he takes advantage of his chance to talk when it comes around.
Chapters 5 & 6
1. What things does Lennie do or say that show he is mentally retarded? List at least 3 specific acts or incidents.
He obviously forgets things very often and isn't good at figuring. He acts like a child when he should have passed childhood many years ago.
A. Is George’s treatment of Lennie fair?
Not when they started hanging together; then he treated him terribly. Now, however, he is as fair as he can be, under the circumstances.
B. Is George’s treatment of Lennie understandable? Explain.
I believe George did the best he could in that time period.
C. Could he have helped him more? How?
I think he did all he could for Lennie.
3. How do these characters treat Lennie and why? Give one incident for each that shows his/her treatment of Lennie.
A. Candy: He talks to Lennie because he is old and nobody else will listen to him (with the exception of Slim and George). Everyone else don't think much of an old person, but Lennie listens to him anyway.
B. Curley’s wife: She talks to him because he is the only person who will talk to her, and she doesn’t have to worry about being embarrassed.
C. Crooks: He talks to Lennie because he is lonely and has been alone for a long time, thus he jumps at a chance to socialize.
What do they all have in common? (Why do they all talk to him?)
The reason they all talk to him is for the same reason people write in diaries or talk to thier dog or a very small child... or just to themself. They do it because they have thoughts and feelings they want to get out (bottling things up is not healthy) and they won't have to worry about being judged or tattled on if they're talking to someone like Lennie.
4. Why does Lennie kill the puppy and later the girl?
He kills the puppy because it tried to bite him, and he killed the girl because he got scared.
5. Do you think Lennie had to be shot? What were some other alternatives? What would have happened to Lennie if George hadn’t shot him?
I don’t think it was the best thing to do. However, there weren’t any other alternatives; if George hadn’t killed Lennie, Curley would have made it painful for him.
6. How is the killing of Lennie similar to the killing of Candy’s dog? Why do you think George killed Lennie himself instead of letting the men do it?
I go more in-depth about the dog’s symbolism in the animal symbolism section. George did it because if Curley had got to him, he’d make it painful. Also, Lennie didn’t have time to be scared and didn’t see it coming.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Slim in one of the many versions of Of Mice and Men.Slim in one of the many versions of Of Mice and Men.Slim is the jerkline skinner of the ranch. He is described as the prince on the ranch, able to whip a fly off a mule without touching it, and hands as graceful as a temple dancer. He has a wise, ageless face and piercing blue eyes. He is the innate leader of any situation and everyone pauses when he speaks. His word is, by unspoken consent, law. He is completely trustworthy and can invited confidence without demanding it. He is portrayed as a strong protagonist and the reader immediately likes him.
A picture of 'Lennie' from the 1992 version of the movie Of Mice and Men.
Lennie Small is a big, burly man with large clumsy hands often referred to as paws. He is stronger than anyone and is compared to a bear on several occasions. Despite his large size, he has a disorder that causes him to remain forever frozen -mentally, at least- at childhood. He loves soft things like mice, puppies, and rabbits, but often kills tham because of his strength.
This is 'George' from the 1992 remake of the film Of Mice and Men.George Milton is described as quick, small, and dark of face. He's no genius, but he's smart enough to take care of Lennie. He is good-natured, but being with Lennie for so long has stretched his nerves, making him a little short-tempered. He tries to do the right thing and has been looking after Lennie for some time.
Monday, November 10, 2008
ANIMAL SYMBOLOGY
***WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD***
2. I am quite aware I have already done an animal sybolism thing on Candy's dog, thank you very much, but I find the poor thing also represents something quite different from the previous one. As anyone with a pet can (and most likely will) tell you, pets are great. The bond between man (or woman) and dog is profound and lasts lifetimes. Dogs give us comfort and companionship in a very lonely world and have been by our sides throughout the millenia... However... In Of Mice and Men that loved dog is shot without a second thought for no other reason than that it smells bad. Now... wait a minute... didn't I just say that the bond between man and his dog is incredible? That doesn't make any sense unless... Unless the people have forgotten the bond. And not just the master-pet bond, but all bonds. Slim, that wise ageless skinner, said himself, "Ain't many guys travel 'round together. I don't know why. Maybe ever'body in the whole damn world is scared of each other." [page 35]. This shows that in these tough times in the throws of the Great Depression, people have forgotten the bonds people can make with each other. Even George says, "Guys like us... are the loneliest guys in the world. They got no family. They don't belong no place..."[page 13] To which Lennie replies, "But not us!... because I got you... and you got me..."[page 14] This shows how people are still making bonds, but only a very very few. The bonds of master and pet (Candy and his dog) have been forgotten, along with the bonds between friends (Lennie and George). The death of Candy's dog and, ultimately, Lennie, signify this terrible theme. After George kills Lennie, this is proven by Carlson saying, "Now what the hell ya suppose is eatin' them two guys?"[page 107]
3. As any reader of Of Mice and Men can tell you, Lennie has gorren into a lot of trouble. None of it is his fault, but he finds himself overwhelmed in a world in which he is too strong and too dumb for anyone's own good. Throughout all his mistakes, however, he has a gentle heart and a naive soul, and was granted one last chance in a rather unusual form; a puppy. To understand my meaning, one must briefly explore the last events of Lennie's life. He killed the pup, panicked for a bit in the barn, Curly's wife came in, she was killed, then Lennie was killed. Had Lennie not killed the pup, Curly's wife would have lived, and so would Lennie. It seems that the pup's life, Curly's wife's life (oh how I wish she had a name) and Lennie's life were all inexorably entertwined to the point of cut one, cut them all. In this seemingly innocuous puppy lay the fates of several people. Although most people will tell you the poor thing represented Lennie's innocence and childlike character, the deeper meaning becomes apparent with some meditation. After all, Lennie's state of mind is quite thoroughly obvious without any help from the puppy. I close the subject with this sobering thought; Lennie was granted one last chance. George had saved him countless times so poor Len-Len (that's right I said Len-Len) was living on borrowed time anyway. Lennie was given one last chance... And I think you know how it turned out.
Ahhh finally I'm through with the major animal symbologies throughout the book. Because there are so many of them, I think I'll just flip to a random page and see what I can see. Now, if you wish, feel free to enjoy these random tidbits scattered all around that I think are interesting... Or just plain amusing.
4. Slim, "It's brighter'n a bitch outside."[page 34] Of course, he doesn't mean this literally. Female dogs do not shine light. But, assuming he is using the word 'bitch' in the context of a swear word, one can assume he is simply saying it is very bright outside.
5. George leaves with the 'fellas' to go on the hunt for Lennie at the end. This is discribing the barn after everyone's left. "The barn was darkining gradually and, in their stalls, the horses shifted their feet and rattled the halter chains."[page 98] Now, why one earth would the author find it worthy to mention the horses shifted their feet? (rhetorical question) With a little bit of consideration and the addition of what was going on at the time, this could quite easily be a subliminal message foreshadowing restlessness or, more likely, something not too good. The end is near and we can't wait to reach it.
6. George; "No, he ain't, but he's sure a hell of a good worker. Strong as a bull." [page 22] This phrase is slightly self-explanitory, but it stills get its point across. Lennie has the strength, size, endurance and mental capacity of a bull.
There are loads of metaphors in the chapter Lennie fights Curly, so here's a few you can rattle off;
7. "Curly Stepped over to Lennie like a terrier." [page 62] Rat terriers, despite their size, are incrdibly viscious creatures when they see their prey. They were specifically bred to crawl through tight spaces, sniff, hunt out, and kill rats that hide in either holes in the garden or crannies in the house. Their hunting technique is brutal yet effective, and I won't go into the details of it right now. Although the metaphor for a terrier was used earlier in regards with Lennie, ("Slowly, like a terrier who doesn't want to bring a ball to its master..."[page 9]) this is portraying the playful, obedient side of terriers and not the savagery of the rat terrier on the hunt. When it comes to Curly, it's pretty obvious he represents the latter.
8. "Lennie covered his face with huge paws..."[page 63] The reference to Lennie's hands as paws is used very frequently throughout the story and it just keeps on popping up randomly. It simply shows how his hands are huge, powerful and clumsly like a bear's paws.
9. "Lennie... bleated with terror."[page 63] Anyone who has been to a sheep farm has at least acknowlaged in the back of their mind how sheep run away from any human contact. This of course is completely instinctual, but the point remains the same that they more often than not bleat as they run away. When Steinbeck says Lennie bleats, it shows how he was terrified but unable to do anything about it. Poor Lennie.
10. "The next minute Curly was flopping like a fish on a line..."[page 63] When someone accompishes the goal of fishing, namely catching a fish, said fish, once leaving the safety of the water and exposed in air, immediately begins flailing wildly in an attempt to escape. This could quite possibly be the only time in the book the reader feels sorry for Curly because he has been reduced to nothing more than a fish without a hope to escape but trying vainly anyway.
***WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD***
The book Of Mice and Men is full of animal symbology. It seems that on every page another simile or metaphor is used, and each one helps to create the whole deeper meaning that is the book. Many have studied these meanings, but it is only when one can let go of assumptions and look past what is immediately apparent that they can see the real truth behind the words. John Steinbeck was an artist of words, and his work can be described as poetic, for what is poetry but the language of symbolism?
1. One such symbol was the poor dog of Candy's that met his -somewhat- untimely demise in the third chapter of the book. What is immediately apparent is the thought the dog represents Candy in that he is old and not worth much. However, the deeper meaning there is rather surprising. The dog in fact represents Lennie. Candy's dog was old weak, sick and smelled something terrible. One day, Carlson took the dog and shot him. Once looking back on the book, one realizes this event carries heavy foreshadowing. Almost everything about the dog could be interpereted as a metaphor for Lennie. The fact the dog was in pain, weak and old were a combined metaphor for Lennie's mental state, how he is inadequate when it comes to 'figuring'. The terrible stink loosly stands for Lennie's many mistakes, how they affect others and the memory stays around for a while. More than any of that, however, the main part the dog plays is that of foreshadowing Lennie's fate. They were both innocent, helpless can loved (by at least one person, anyway) then they were killed. It probably doesn't matter, but, and errant thought; they were both shot in the back of the head with Carlson's Luger. Hmm...
2. I am quite aware I have already done an animal sybolism thing on Candy's dog, thank you very much, but I find the poor thing also represents something quite different from the previous one. As anyone with a pet can (and most likely will) tell you, pets are great. The bond between man (or woman) and dog is profound and lasts lifetimes. Dogs give us comfort and companionship in a very lonely world and have been by our sides throughout the millenia... However... In Of Mice and Men that loved dog is shot without a second thought for no other reason than that it smells bad. Now... wait a minute... didn't I just say that the bond between man and his dog is incredible? That doesn't make any sense unless... Unless the people have forgotten the bond. And not just the master-pet bond, but all bonds. Slim, that wise ageless skinner, said himself, "Ain't many guys travel 'round together. I don't know why. Maybe ever'body in the whole damn world is scared of each other." [page 35]. This shows that in these tough times in the throws of the Great Depression, people have forgotten the bonds people can make with each other. Even George says, "Guys like us... are the loneliest guys in the world. They got no family. They don't belong no place..."[page 13] To which Lennie replies, "But not us!... because I got you... and you got me..."[page 14] This shows how people are still making bonds, but only a very very few. The bonds of master and pet (Candy and his dog) have been forgotten, along with the bonds between friends (Lennie and George). The death of Candy's dog and, ultimately, Lennie, signify this terrible theme. After George kills Lennie, this is proven by Carlson saying, "Now what the hell ya suppose is eatin' them two guys?"[page 107]
3. As any reader of Of Mice and Men can tell you, Lennie has gorren into a lot of trouble. None of it is his fault, but he finds himself overwhelmed in a world in which he is too strong and too dumb for anyone's own good. Throughout all his mistakes, however, he has a gentle heart and a naive soul, and was granted one last chance in a rather unusual form; a puppy. To understand my meaning, one must briefly explore the last events of Lennie's life. He killed the pup, panicked for a bit in the barn, Curly's wife came in, she was killed, then Lennie was killed. Had Lennie not killed the pup, Curly's wife would have lived, and so would Lennie. It seems that the pup's life, Curly's wife's life (oh how I wish she had a name) and Lennie's life were all inexorably entertwined to the point of cut one, cut them all. In this seemingly innocuous puppy lay the fates of several people. Although most people will tell you the poor thing represented Lennie's innocence and childlike character, the deeper meaning becomes apparent with some meditation. After all, Lennie's state of mind is quite thoroughly obvious without any help from the puppy. I close the subject with this sobering thought; Lennie was granted one last chance. George had saved him countless times so poor Len-Len (that's right I said Len-Len) was living on borrowed time anyway. Lennie was given one last chance... And I think you know how it turned out.
Ahhh finally I'm through with the major animal symbologies throughout the book. Because there are so many of them, I think I'll just flip to a random page and see what I can see. Now, if you wish, feel free to enjoy these random tidbits scattered all around that I think are interesting... Or just plain amusing.
4. Slim, "It's brighter'n a bitch outside."[page 34] Of course, he doesn't mean this literally. Female dogs do not shine light. But, assuming he is using the word 'bitch' in the context of a swear word, one can assume he is simply saying it is very bright outside.
5. George leaves with the 'fellas' to go on the hunt for Lennie at the end. This is discribing the barn after everyone's left. "The barn was darkining gradually and, in their stalls, the horses shifted their feet and rattled the halter chains."[page 98] Now, why one earth would the author find it worthy to mention the horses shifted their feet? (rhetorical question) With a little bit of consideration and the addition of what was going on at the time, this could quite easily be a subliminal message foreshadowing restlessness or, more likely, something not too good. The end is near and we can't wait to reach it.
6. George; "No, he ain't, but he's sure a hell of a good worker. Strong as a bull." [page 22] This phrase is slightly self-explanitory, but it stills get its point across. Lennie has the strength, size, endurance and mental capacity of a bull.
There are loads of metaphors in the chapter Lennie fights Curly, so here's a few you can rattle off;
7. "Curly Stepped over to Lennie like a terrier." [page 62] Rat terriers, despite their size, are incrdibly viscious creatures when they see their prey. They were specifically bred to crawl through tight spaces, sniff, hunt out, and kill rats that hide in either holes in the garden or crannies in the house. Their hunting technique is brutal yet effective, and I won't go into the details of it right now. Although the metaphor for a terrier was used earlier in regards with Lennie, ("Slowly, like a terrier who doesn't want to bring a ball to its master..."[page 9]) this is portraying the playful, obedient side of terriers and not the savagery of the rat terrier on the hunt. When it comes to Curly, it's pretty obvious he represents the latter.
8. "Lennie covered his face with huge paws..."[page 63] The reference to Lennie's hands as paws is used very frequently throughout the story and it just keeps on popping up randomly. It simply shows how his hands are huge, powerful and clumsly like a bear's paws.
9. "Lennie... bleated with terror."[page 63] Anyone who has been to a sheep farm has at least acknowlaged in the back of their mind how sheep run away from any human contact. This of course is completely instinctual, but the point remains the same that they more often than not bleat as they run away. When Steinbeck says Lennie bleats, it shows how he was terrified but unable to do anything about it. Poor Lennie.
10. "The next minute Curly was flopping like a fish on a line..."[page 63] When someone accompishes the goal of fishing, namely catching a fish, said fish, once leaving the safety of the water and exposed in air, immediately begins flailing wildly in an attempt to escape. This could quite possibly be the only time in the book the reader feels sorry for Curly because he has been reduced to nothing more than a fish without a hope to escape but trying vainly anyway.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Synopsis
The classic novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck is one that has been read, and shall be read, by high school students across several countries for many years.
It follows the unique situation of George and Lennie, two ranch workers with nothing in the world but each other and a can of beans. George is small but quick of mind and motions, and Lennie is his complete opposite. Lennie is 'strong as a bull' but with a mind that retained throughout his life the mental capacity, attention span, and innocence of a small child. The were binded together by the rarely mentioned Aunt Clara, and have been wandering the country looking for work to hopefully save enough money to have a little place they could call their own.
However, Lennie's... condition, put lightly, gets the pair in trouble whenever they begin to settle, so they up and travel to some other town and begin again.
The tale starts with George and Lennie arriving at a new ranch, where they meet their fellow workers; Candy with his old dog and stump wrist, Carlson, Crooks, the crippled negro, the ambitious boss and his small but tough and mean son, Curly, Curly's 'tart' wife, and the wise and ageless Slim. Among this miss-matched group, George and Lennie struggle to stay out of trouble, but fate keeps intervering in the form of the biased Curly and his provacative wife.
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