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.