Theme Analysis

In last week's blog response, I asked you to select a theme that "hit home" with you the most.  Now that you have set your sights on a theme you would most like work with some more, it is time to test your skills of analysis.  Scan through the last chapter (6) in Of Mice and Men and see if you can pull out a moment from the text that, upon close reading, says something about your selected theme.

For example, imagine that I am a student who was most interested in the theme of "The American Dream."  When scanning chapter 6 I came across this moment in the text:

 "A water snake glided smoothly up the pool, twisting its periscope head from side to side; and it swam the length of the pool and came to the legs of a motionless heron that stood in the shallows.  A silent head and beak lanced down and plucked it out by the head, and the beak swallowed the little snake while its tail waved frantically." 

Next, try to analyze how this moment is somehow connected to the theme you have chosen.  It mights sound something like: 

One of the final images of setting that Steinbeck offers us in Of Mice and Men involves a snake being eaten unexpectedly by a taller, silent bird.  The snake "gliding smoothly up the pool" is similar to an American citizen in the 1930s attempting to work their way towards a goal of prosperity.  The snake moves its way around obstacles as it sees them, just like a hardworking citizen has to jump some hurdles in the pursuit of their dream.  However, the unfortunate truth of the matter is that "The American Dream" is beyond the grasp of most people because of unforeseen enemies to their progress.  The tall heron might be a symbol for the more powerful upper or dominant class of society silently waiting in the shadows.  The heron ultimately swallows the snake, and in the same light, many Americans dreams are snatched from American people in ways that they do not suspect.  

"'I tol' you, 'Min' George because he's such a nice fella an' good to you.' But you don't never take no care. you do bad things."Mental illness site
   And Lennie answered her, "I tried, Aunt Clara, ma'ma. I tried and tried. I couldn' help it."'

In this image in Of mice and Men Lennie is hallucinating and seeing his Aunt Clara while he is in the bush.  This is discrimination against Lennie which is a form of racism.  She is telling him that he should have done things for George.  She didn't care that he mentally do what she wanted him to do.  Lennie was left out with many things. He wanted to be apart and help George, but he couldn't.  He felt bad that he couldn't do anything for George.  Aunt Clara picked on Lennie like that because of his illness.  


Mental illness site

Chapter 6 Notes

Summary: I the final chapter in Of Mice and Men Lennie goes to the bush where he is supposed to go if he ever got in trouble.  When he was there he had visions of his Aunt Clara and a giant bunny.  They told him that he was a bad boy and that George does so much for him and he does nothing in return.  Then he saw George come to him.  He told George to tell him about how they are poor and have no family but each other and how will get the farm.  Lennie keeps telling him to go on about the farm.  As this is happening George gets the gun out of Lennie's pocket because he told him to look across the lake and Lennie listens to him.  The last words Lennie heard were,"Sure, right now.  I gotta. We gotta." (pg 106).  

Questions:  In the last few pages George goes over to Lennie in the bush and shoots him.  Why did George do that? He loved him didn't he? Did he shoot him because the guys told him to? Why did he not cry or have emotion when he was prepping for this? Why?  George and Lennie were best friends.  I can't believed he did that! 

Reflection:  "And George raised the gun and steadied it, and he brought the muzzle of it close to the back of Lennie's head.  The hand shook violently, but his face set and his hand steadied.  He pulled the trigger." (pg 106.)  When they said these words I was in shock.  I couldn't get over the fact that George was going to kill Lennie.  I believe Steinbeck wrote this book to show different aspects from the 1930's.  For example, racism, how poor the people were, and how hard it was to have a family and provided for them.  Racism is a big theme that is shown through the story.  Crooks was left out because he was black and Lennie was left out because he was mentally ill.  Overall I thought the story was excellent.  It was a nice story about two men who were trying to find a job and keep it, but with a twisted ending.  It was a great book.   There isn't much to change about the story to make it better.  I would just add something in the end to say what happened with George and everybody else.  

Novel Reaction: Thinking Forward

We have investigated many captivating themes that exist in John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men over the last few weeks.  You have explored the desperation and poverty of the American 1930s through pictures and video.  You have witnessed how John Steinbeck used naturalism to portray certain characters as "human beasts" acting on impulsiveness and instinct for self-preservation.  You have examined how the author used literary devices such as sentimentalism, diction, tone, parallelism, and foreshadowing in order to propel these themes.  You have close-read and analyzed the text digging deeper and deeper for evidence of themes such as Power vs. Powerlessness, Individual vs. Community, The American Dream, Euthanasia, Racism, Loneliness, and maybe even a little Sexism.  Pat yourself on the back!  You have been critically thinking about this novella on so many different levels. 

For this week's blog response, you need to make some pretty serious decisions!  We are quickly approaching the time where you will be expected to write your Research Paper based on a topic of interest from Of Mice and Men.  If you have been keeping up with your reading, completing your notes, participating in conversations and activities during class on the various themes, and completing your blog responses this choice will be fairly easy!  If not, you may be in for a struggle....
What topic or theme that we have touched on during this unit has "hit home" with you the most?  Which theme or topic has a personal connection for you?  Which did you find most captivating or interesting to discuss and investigate during this unit?  Select a topic/theme from the list above that peaks your interest, and, in this week's blog response, discuss why you find it fascinating, which moment in the story you think about when reflecting on this theme, and how this theme is relevant in today's world.


Racism really hit my heart as we were reading Of Mice and Men.  This is because there are so many different ways that Steinbeck put it in the story.
I had a connection with loneliness.  I felt connected to this because I know what it is like when you have no one to turn too.
I really liked talking about the american dream in class.  This is because it was interesting to see how people back then couldn't always reach their goal but know we can.Racism really peaks my interest.  I find it fascinating because so many other themes tie into it.  Racism excludes so many people. From skin color to people with disabilities.  
I really think about racism in chapter 4.  In this chapter we really are introduced to Crooks "THE NEGRO"(pg 67).  He has to sleep in a barn like he is an animal.  It he gets to close to someone he gets in trouble for it.  He has to keep his distance from people and people have to keep theirs (pg 68).  He doesn't have as many options in life as the white people do.  


This theme is relevant in today's society because not everyone has the same opportunities.  Just because they are different they can't do everything that "normal" people can.

Here is a link about racism--RacismNoWay

Chapter 5 Notes

Summary: In chapter 5 Lennie is outside in the barn petting his dead puppy. Then Curley's wife came into the barn and saw him.  She started to talk to him.  Lennie kept telling her that he can't talk to her, but she keeps talking and tell him that she can't talk to anyone and she just wants to talk to someone.  So they start talking about the rabbits that he is going to tend, but he won't be able to anymore because he killed the puppy. Then he gets mad at her and shakes her to hard and snaps her neck.  He knows he did wrong and ran away to the bush.  When the guys find out they go looking for him.

Questions: When Lennie killed Curley's wife he ran away.  Did he go to the bush where George told him to go if he got in trouble?  Also the guys found out and started to look for him.  Will they find him? Are they really going to kill him? What is going to happen to George? Are their dreams never going to come true?

Prediction: I predict that everyone will find Lennie.  Then they will try to kill him, but then Lennie will kill them first because he is scared and he doesn't know his strength.  He will kill George to by accident.  This will make him really mad.  Then he will have to learn how to do things by himself.  He won't be able to do anything like this.

A Portrait of Racism

Chapter 4 in Of Mice and Man, paints a very realistic portrait of racism in the 1930s.  Discuss at least two ways in which racism is explored in this chapter.  Include quotes and your own analysis of key moments in this chapter that clearly demonstrate the racism that existed in the American 1930s.  What do readers understand about racism as a result of reading this chapter?

Check out this article titled, "Racial Segregation in the American South: Jim Crow Laws"  to gain a better understanding of the timeline of racial segregation in America.

     In chapter 4 on Of Mice and Men there is a lot of ways racism is put in.  On page 68 Lennie appears in the doorway of Crooks house.  Crooks is the negro at the bunkhouse.  He gets mad that Lennie is there. He says that he isn't wanted at the bunkhouse so he isn't welcome in his. Lennie  asks, "Why aren't you wanted?" Crooks response is,"'Cause I'm black.  They play cards in there, but I can't play because I'm black.  They say I stink.  Well, I tell you, all of you stink to me."  This shows racism because everyone else there is white except for him.  They tell him that he can't hang with them or sleep with them.  Everyone is excluding him.  
     Another way that racism is incorporated into the story is how people treat Lennie.  They try to make fun of him and tell him that hes crazy as well as pick.  He knew he would get scared.  He picked him out because he knew he wasn't smart.  Because of that he was  messing with him in a not so nice way.  It was a joke to him, but to Lennie it wasn't.
     After reading this chapter the readers understand that racism was cruel and everyone picked on everyone.  Blacks picked on whites and mentally ill people and whites picked on blacks and anyone else possible.  It shows that no matter who you were you were being picked out.
     Check out this link about what is was like for the blacks during the great depression- Blacks and the Great Depression.

Chapter 4 Notes

Summary: In chapter 4 Lennie goes to visit Crooks.  He was looking at his pup, but not petting him.  When he saw the light in Crooks house he went to the door way and stood there.   "'You got no right to in my room.  This here's my room.  Nobody got any right in here but me.'"(pg).  He starts talking to Lennie about what he would if George didn't come back.  Lennie didn't like it so he started talking about the bunnies he was gonna have soon. Candy also joins that conversation.  Later into their conversation Curley's wife comes in looking for Curley.  They tell her that they don't know where he is.  When she doesn't leave Candy starts to giver her an attitude.  She then back fires because she has something big against Candy that he doesn't want to get.

Questions: In the chapter Crooks doesn't like the fact that Lennie and Candy came into his room.  He is upset because of racism.  Is he scared that people are only pretending to be nice to him so that way they can turn their backs on him later? Does he have trust issues? Did something happen in his past that cause such trauma to not trusting anyone? Did he do something to someone and is scared that someone will find out?

Prediction: I predict that George will get hurt when coming back to the bunkhouse.  Lennie wouldn't know what happened and get scared. Then he would blame what happened to George on Crook.  I believe this because Crook was asking Lennie what he would if he got hurt or never came back.  I think Steinbeck was trying to foreshadow the future of the story.

Investigating Themes in Of Mice and Men

Choose one of the following questions that interests you most to respond to in this week’s blog post:

1.)  What different forms of power exist in Of Mice and Men?  What kind of power does Lennie have?  What kind of power does George have?  What kinds of power or powerlessness do other characters possess?

2.)  What kind of relationship do George and Lennie have?  Is their relationship a friendship?  How does this relationship express Steinbeck’s position on the individual versus the community?

3.)  Is the American Dream a real possibility in the story?  If yes, what characters, symbols, events, or other details from the story confirm that the American Dream is within reach?  If not, what characters, symbols, events, or  other details from the story represent the American Dream as out of reach?


Check out the info History.com has to offer about the American 1930s!  Who had power in the 1930s?  Who did not?  What kinds of power existed then?  What important relationships were formed in the 1930s?  Was the American Dream still alive in the 1930s? 

2) Lennie and George have a realtionship where they rely on the other.  George relies on Lennie for protection.  Lennie on the other hand relies on George to tell him what to do.  Without eachother they woudn't be able to survive. 
      This is a true friendship becuase if George didn't want to be Lennie's keeper he could have left him years ago, but instead he has stayed with him for all these years.  They both need to be with eachother otherwise they wouldn't succeed in their goals.

     Steinbeck's expresses this relationship by having Lennie to keep asking George what their doing and where they are going.  He has George tell everyone not to mess with Lennie or him becuase Lennie will beat them to the pulp.  if they were by themselves they would ahve no goals and they would be lonely.  By doing this it shows how they both rely on eachother.
     To know what loneliness me means click here--Many definitions to loneliness

Chapter 3 Blog

Reflection: "Carlson was not to be put off. 'Look, Candy. This ol' dog jus' suffers hisself all the time.  If you was to take him out and shoot him right in the back of the head-' he leaned over and pointed, '-right there, why he'd never know what him."'  Page 45.
In this quote a character named Carlson was telling Candy that he should shoot his dog. This is because he is old.  He can't see very well, he can't really hear, and he can barley walk.  He smells very bad and they feel bad.  Candy is in love with his dog and he doesn't want him to.  The theme in this part so far is euthinasia.  This is because other people want to kill the dog for it's own good.  If the dog goes down then it will be in a better place and not have a miserable death.

Prediction: In the book so far, Lennie and George have made it to the Bunkhouse where they will work and get paid.  George started to talk to Candy about their dream they have when they have the money.  Candy then tells them about the money he has saved and how much he gets paid.  He asks if he can go work with them.  I predict that they will get them farm and Candy will come with them.  Once they get there they won't be able to sell enough and make enough money to uphold the farm.  Lennie will get mad at George and George will get mad a t Lennie.  They will then all go back to the bunkhouse  to see if they can get their jobs back. 

Questions:  At the end of the chapter Curley goes after Slim when he is in the barn because he thinks that he is with his wife, but he isn't.  Why is Slim and his wife always looking for each other? They should know where the other is.  Also, why does Slim always think that one of the guys is with his wife? Does he think that they are better looking and will get more from her than he will himself? What is  his problem?

Chapter 2 Notes

Summary:  In Chapter 2, Lennie and George make it to the Bunkhouse.  When they get their they meet the boss. They don't like the boss, or as a matter of fact, the environment there.  They want to leave as soon as they can.  They meet Curley the bosses son and his wife, as well as Slim.  Curley is a nasty man who can get away with anything just because he is the bosses son.  He just got married two weeks ago to his wife who is a lady that no one likes and will get you in trouble.  Slim is one of the workers.  Lennie and George are just meeting everyone and learning what they are like.

Questions:  So far in the story Lennie and George just got the the Bunkhouse where they will get work.  They have been meeting people like the boss, Curley, his wife, the swamper, and Slim.  What made Curley so nasty? Was it his past like he was abused or just how he was raised? Also on page 35, it says, "She slang her her pups last night," said Slim. "Nine of  'em. I drowned four of 'em right off."  What does this mean? Who did this? This people in this book don't seem very nice at all except for Slim.   

Reflect:  '"Well, I never seen one guy take so much trouble for another guy.  I just like to know what your interest is."'
"George said, 'He's my... cousin.'
In this part of the chapter I felt bad for George.  He has to stick up for Lennie all the time and take all the problems that people cause because Lennie doesn't answer and George is answering for him.  I wouldn't be able to do that all the time.  I would get fed up at some points and want nothing to do with Lennie.  I'm am really proud of him though because he is doing what is right and staying by Lennie's side through all the rough and smooth patch in life.  I think the theme so far is that you can never give up on something you started.  They can't give up on this job and George can't give up on taking care of Lennie because then he will lose is family and best friend.


-- In this song besides for the fact that he is talking about love, the song says a lot about not giving up on anyone.  He will try his best to make it easy.

Naturalism as a Mirror of the 1930s

Literature is often a reflection of the time period in which it was written or, in the case of historical fiction, of the time period it is focused on.  Authors will often find sneaky little ways to demonstrate the dominant characteristics of the time period by blending in details, that, at a closer glance, reveal these hidden themes.

     In class, we viewed several videos (in the LitByFleming blog video bar) that gave us a look at some major events and common themes or characteristics of the 1930s.  John Steinbeck certainly considered these elements when writing Of Mice and Men.  In fact, it might be said, his writing style intentionally made use of naturalism in order to capture and expose some of the attitudes and characteristics of the American 1930s.

www.dailymail.co.uk

     Let's see if you can make the connection!  Think about some of  the naturalistic elements we identified in class (Chapter 1).  What aspects or characteristics of the 1930s are being demonstrated to us at those moments in the text?  What do you believe John Steinbeck was trying to show us or expose about the way people, life, or society was during this time in American history? 

     There are many ways that Steinbeck has put the characteristic of the 1930's in Of Mice and Men.  For example, George and Lennie are out looking for a job.  In the 1930's it was hard for people to find work because its during the great depression and in between world war 1 and world war 2.  Also George and Lennie don't have families.  Lennie's aunt Clara died and that;s why George is taking care of him.  George is also extremely stressed which cause tension in their relationship.  With all of these put together show us just a part of what it was like to live in the 1930's.  

     I believe that John Steinbeck is trying to show us to not take things for granted.  This is because we have clothing, shelter,  food, jobs, and families to take care of us.  Back then most people didn't have a quarter of what we have now nor did they have any family.  Anyone back then would be in heaven if they could have a family, a house, and a regular income like we do.  We have to appreciate everything we have and enjoy it instead of complaining about the things we want and don't have.





--People in the 1930's looking for a job.

--Modern day people looking for jobs.

Chapter 1 Notes

     In chapter one on "Of Mice and Men" I have a question.  On page  6, they keep talking about Lennie always stroking a mouse in his pocket.  Why is that? Why does he have to do that? When George takes it away from him he gets very upset.  This shows that he has to always have something in his hand to keep it busy.  It seems that he can not not have something to do with his hand.  With this in mind, does Lennie have a major mental disorder?
     Next I can connect to the text.  This is so because throughout the whole chapter George will get mad at Lennie, but then be a nice friend to him.  I can relate to this because my friend and I will get mad at each other for some stupid reason and then we will make up and pretend like nothing ever happened.  The relationship I have with my friends and the relationship between George and Lennie are somewhat the same.
     Lastly, I think that George and Lennie and will find the place up the road they were looking for for a job. Once they get there everything will be fine, but then Lennie will get in trouble and get fired.  I predict this will happen because on page 11 it talks about when they had their last job and Lennie wanted to feel the girls dress and pet it like a mouse.  If he does something stupid like this again then he will get fired.  George would then get fired with him or sneak out and care for Lennie at night.  I hope this doesn't happen, but given Lennie's history I have a feeling it will.

Picturing the History Behind Of Mice and Men

 For a moment the place was lifeless, and then two men emerged from the path and came into the opening by the green pool.
     They had walked in single file down the path, and even in the open one stayed behind the other. Both were dressed in denim trousers and in denim coats with brass buttons. Both wore black, shapeless hats and both carried tight blanket rolls slung over their shoulders. The first man was small and quick, dark of face, with restless eyes and sharp, strong features. Every part of him was defined: small, strong hands, slender arms, a thin and bony nose. Behind him walked his opposite, a huge man, shapeless of face, with large, pale eyes, with wide, sloping shoulders; and he walked heavily, dragging his feet a little, the way a bear drags his paws. His arms did not swing at his sides, but hung loosely.

     The first man stopped short in the clearing, and the follower nearly ran over him. He took off his hat and wiped the sweat-band with his forefinger and snapped the moisture off. His huge companion dropped his blankets and flung himself. (1.2-4)

Sound familiar? Kind of like the pictures, right? In writing, compare and contrast this opening section from Of Mice and Men to the pictures you analyzed in class. What does the text and the photographs show us about the 1930s?  Be specific!


 The first three paragraphs in "Of Mice and Men" sounds familiar to the picture -Migrant worker on California Highway.  This is because the man in the picture is walking along this long highway just like the two men in the story.  They all have a bag of some sort over their shoulder as they walk along the path.
 The two pictures are different because in "Of Mice and Men" the two men are walking in a single file line and their arms do not swing at their sides.  The man in the picture is walking by himself with his arms up, not by his side.
The picture and the description from the story tell a lot about the 1930's.  This is because in this time period people traveled miles upon miles to find work.  It was a hard time for many people.  They went where ever they could just to support their family.  In the story and the picture the people are traveling to find somewhere to go and earn a living.