Steinbeck's Life & Style in Of Mice and Men

Steinbeck's Novel: Of Mice and Men

Author's Life and Novel Connections

Write a concise phrase relating each aspect of the author to a particular novel aspect, or conversely, each novel detail to a detail of the author’s life. (3 points each)

Be certain to stay on topic and not wander from the question.

1. Geographic setting: The setting is a ranch in Soledad, California. Steinbeck was born in California.
2. Particular names and observations of flora and fauna: Steinbeck lived in a small rural town. He spent his summers working on nearby ranches and later on sugar beet farms. His descriptions of flora and fauna are influenced by what he saw and experienced.

Regional Work Details (True/False)

(2 points each)

1. Most farm workers live in a room attached to the barn. F
2. Only tractors are used for farm work. F
3. Farms tend to be family-owned and run. T
4. Most workers are illiterate. T
5. Farm owners need to control itinerant seasonal workers. T
6. “Modern” employment agencies are used. F

Steinbeck's Style and Narrative Methods

(2 points each)

Options:

• Character tag
• Colloquial language only
• Era hint only
• Social/Moral questioning
• Social divisions
• Typical time-telling method
• Regional lexicon
• Placing reader in the story

1. Time-telling method: "Through the open door came the thuds and occasional clangs of a horseshoe game, and then the sound of voices raised in approval or derision."
2. Colloquial language: "Jus' tell Lennie what to do an' he'll do it if it don't take no figuring."
3. Character tag: "He unrolled his bindle... He was a jerkline skinner… capable of driving even twenty mules with a single line to the leaders… capable of killing a fly on the wheeler’s butt with a bullwhip without touching the mule."
4. Placing reader in story: "...poured a few drops of the liniment into his pink-palmed hand and reached up under his shirt to rub again. He flexed his muscles against his back and shivered."
5. Social division: "There wasn’t another colored family for miles around. And now there ain’t a colored man on this ranch an’ there’s jus’ one family in Soledad."
6. Social/moral questioning: "But Curley’s gonna want to shoot ’im. An’ suppose they lock him up an’ strap him down and put him in a cage. That ain’t no good, George." "… an’ you killed him?" "Yeah. That’s how." George’s voice was almost a whisper.
7. Era hint: "Sure will," said Candy. "They got a good stove there?" "Sure, got a nice stove, burns coal or wood."