Intro: Of Mice and Men

1. Intro: Of Mice and Men

2. Agenda • Share Freewrites • Lecture: Intro to Of Mice and Men • Annotating a text • Read: Of Mice and Men as a class • Annotate • HW: Answer question packet

3. John Steinbeck • John Steinbeck was born February 27, 1902 • He grew up in Salinas, Ca by farms, the forest, and the sea • He spent many summers working on ranches

4. Connection to the land • Salinas came to be known as “The Salad Bowl of the Nation” • Steinbeck was compelled to write about his beautiful surroundings

5. Naturalist Writer • Steinbeck is one of America’s greatest Naturalist writers • Naturalist writers focus on: • In depth explanations & details of surroundings • Social conflict: Haves vs. Have-nots • Specific occupation/trade • Fate: Your destiny is inescapable. Often determined by birth (rich, poor,female, male, etc.)

6. Naturalism: Explantions and Details • Naturalism avoids figurative language • Instead it focuses on explaining things as they are • Tries to be an objective (non-judegmental) observer of events The sky is blue with white clouds.

7. Social Conflict • Explored the conflict between social classes (rich & poor, the powerful vs. the powerless) • The ranch in the story can be seen as a “microcosm” (miniature world) of American society

8. Specific Occupation • Naturalist writers create stories on one specific occupation • They investigate the actual lives before writing • Almost like a news story or textbook • Steinbeck focused on migrant farm workers Lettuce Farm, Salinas, 1935

9. Fate • The reader is an observer • Watches how the characters, thrust into certain situations, deal with what fate presents • They cannot avoid their fate, no free will

10. Context • Of Mice and Men was published in 1937, in the midst of the Great Depression. • Hunger, poverty, homelessness and joblessness were all widespread.

11. BREAK TIME

12. Theme

13. Theme is… • the central or dominant idea behind the story; the most important aspect that emerges from how the book treats its subject. Sometimes theme is easy to see, but, at other times, it may be more difficult. • Theme is usually expressed indirectly, as an element the reader must figure out. • The author implies a theme while the readers infer its meaning

14. Theme continued • It is a universal statement about humanity, rather than a simple statement dealing with plot or characters in the story. • Themes are generally hinted at through different methods: a phrase or quotation that introduces the novel, a recurring element in the book, or an observation made that is reinforced through plot, dialogue, or characters.

15. Theme in Of Mice and Men • The following are topics of themes in Of Mice and Men: • The American Dream • Loneliness and Isolation • Nature of Friendship

16. The American Dream • If you work hard, you’ll have a good job, family, and a large house • The Great Depression crushed the dreams of many • Steinbeck set out to document this

17. Loneliness/Isolation • Many of the characters are lonely/isolated • Each in their own way • Race • Gender • Intelligence • Social Class • Look for examples of this

18. Nature of Friendship • As you read the book ask: • What does being a true friend mean? • What would you do for a friend in need? • Ultimately, Of Mice and Men is about the power of friendship

19. Agenda • Review Essay Prompts • Ch.1 Questions • Annotating • Theme • o Dreams • o Friendship • Naturalist descriptions • Characterization Posters (& Ch.1 Question check)

20. Annotating • Please review your annotations for evidence of • Theme • Dreams • Friendship • Naturalist writing (detailed descriptions with minimal use of figurative language) • Be prepared to share out

21. Annotating • What title did you give this chapter? • How did you summarize Ch.1?

22. Characterization • Add to your notes • Characterization: Is the art of letting the reader know who the character is and how they came to be that way. • In short, you’re describing the character’s personality

23. Characterization Posters • You are going to make a poster that shows how Steinbeck characterizes George and Lennie. • Visually represent each character and include: • How they feel about each other • A representative quote for each character, with an explanation • A physical description-USE YOUR OWN WORDS • What motivates each man • Surround each character with adjectives that describe them • For Lennie- pick out a separate quote that uses animal imagery-Describe its function

24. Agenda • Turn in Naturalist Writing paragraphs • OMAM formative assessment • Test • Review • Ch.3 Annotations • Dreams, isolation, and power in OMAM • Poster prep • Posters

25. Of Mice and Men Poster • With your partner you will make a poster that analyzes the text for evidence of • Isolation • Power • Dreams

26. Ch. 4 • By Chapter 4 we’ve gotten to know many of the supporting characters, as well as George and Lennie a bit more. • By this time the American Dream, isolation, and the power dynamics of the ranch have been observed.

27. Isolation • It is possible to be surrounded by people but to feel completely alone. • Look to see the different ways characters are isolated.

28. Power • Power is the ability to influence someone’s behavior • The ranch is a microcosm of society and reflects how different kinds of people interacted. • People can have power over others due to class, gender, intelligence, race, and/or age

29. Dreams • The “classic” American Dream is where if you work hard you will be rewarded with a good job and a house. • In short, if you work hard you’ll succeed. • In Of Mice and Men main and supporting characters each have some kind of dream that they hold on to.

30. Poster Requirements • Your poster must include the character’s name • Representative quote for each section (with page #’s): • Dream • Isolation • Power • Detailed explanation for each section