Of Mice and Of Mice and MenMen

Aim: Can I identify Aim: Can I identify Steinbeck’s Steinbeck’s

historical context?historical context?

Do Now: Do Now: Before/After Before/After

Reading ActivityReading Activity

1. 1. About the Author: About the Author: John John SteinbeckSteinbeck

His books are set in His books are set in CaliforniaCalifornia and deal with and deal with problems of problems of working working peoplepeople..

Characters in his books Characters in his books are are immigrantsimmigrants from from Mexico or from other Mexico or from other parts of the U.S. who parts of the U.S. who went to CA went to CA looking for looking for workwork or a or a better lifebetter life

(The American Dream).(The American Dream). Born in Salinas, California Born in Salinas, California 1902-19681902-1968

2. 2. SettingSetting

Salinas Salinas Valley, CAValley, CA*Farmland*Farmland

Time period of Time period of Story: Story:

1930’s1930’sTHE GREAT

DEPRESSION

Dust Bowl-Dust Bowl- Tons of topsoil were blown off Tons of topsoil were blown off barren fields and carried in storm clouds barren fields and carried in storm clouds for hundreds of miles. for hundreds of miles.

Many lost their farms because they could not produce any crops.

People decided to abandon their farms and go in search of work.

The Wall Street Crash The Wall Street Crash of 1929of 1929 deepest deepest

economic economic depressiondepression the the

nation had nation had ever known.ever known.

It lasted until It lasted until 1939.1939.

Effects: business bankruptcies, bank Effects: business bankruptcies, bank closings, closings, farm foreclosuresfarm foreclosures, and , and massive massive unemploymentunemployment. .

3. Migrant Farm 3. Migrant Farm WorkersWorkers

farm worker/Harvester= someone farm worker/Harvester= someone who gathers a cropwho gathers a crop

People, especially men, People, especially men, traveledtraveled the the countryside harvesting crops. countryside harvesting crops.

The main characters, The main characters, George and George and LennieLennie, are , are migrant farm migrant farm workersworkers..

Why did people Why did people MIGRATE ?MIGRATE ?

Lost their jobsLost their jobsNo MoneyNo MoneyLost their farmsLost their farms

4. The American 4. The American DreamDream

The American Dream= people that The American Dream= people that come to America in come to America in search of a search of a better lifebetter life. .

*How do you reach the American *How do you reach the American Dream? What do you want to Dream? What do you want to accomplish?accomplish?

Freedom

Money/Wealth

Education

Home

However, for many the However, for many the dream became a dream became a nightmare.nightmare.

No Jobs= No Money= No foodNo Jobs= No Money= No food

5. Poem???5. Poem???The best laid schemesThe best laid schemes** o’ mice and men o’ mice and menOften go wrongOften go wrongAnd leave us noughtAnd leave us nought** but grief but grief** and pain and painFor promised joy!For promised joy!

*schemes= set out plan*schemes= set out plan*nought= with nothing but*nought= with nothing but

*grief=sorrow/sadness*grief=sorrow/sadness

1.1. What is this poem about? What is this poem about? Summarize it in 2-3 sentences.Summarize it in 2-3 sentences.

2.2. How might this poem be How might this poem be relatedrelated to to

the book (the book (Of Mice and MenOf Mice and Men)?)?

5. Poem???5. Poem??? The title of the novel comes from a poem by the Scottish poet The title of the novel comes from a poem by the Scottish poet

Robert Burns (1759 -96)Robert Burns (1759 -96)

The best laid schemes o’ mice and menThe best laid schemes o’ mice and menGang aft agley Gang aft agley [often go wrong][often go wrong]And leave us nought but grief and painAnd leave us nought but grief and painFor promised joy!For promised joy!

The best laid schemes of mice and men The best laid schemes of mice and men often go wrong- referring to a little mouse often go wrong- referring to a little mouse who had so carefully built her burrow in a who had so carefully built her burrow in a field to protect herself and her little mice field to protect herself and her little mice babies – and the burrow is turned over and babies – and the burrow is turned over and destroyed by the man plowing.destroyed by the man plowing.