NOTES Of Mice and Men by John SteinbeckName______
General Objectives
* Steinbeck background, style
* Nobel Prize for Literature winner
* book (novella) -->play ---> movie
* proper citation form for Works Cited page
* the outsider
* realism
* plight of the poor migrant worker
* physical, mental, emotional effects of caregiving
* sources of fear and despair
* lifestyle of a “bindle stiff”
* intimidation and cruelty
* justification of survivalism
* causes of bullying
* prejudice
* moments of foreboding
* Account for unintentional harm.
* definition of euthansia
Specific Objectives
* Characterize Lennie and George as migrant laborers
* Compare (& contrast) George, Candy, Lennie, and Slim as workers
* Characterize relationship between Curley and his wife
* Comprehend cause of mob violence in Weed
* Account for Lennie’s emotional instability
* Explain how and why George replaced Aunt Clara
* Parallel the two shootings
* Contrast George’s roles as rescuer and executioner
* Analyze George’s objectivity
* Characterize the laborers’ entertainment
Literary Terms and Applications
* existentialism* foreshadowing* novella
SettingPicture It:Photos
* rural
* farming, orchards, livestock
* Weed
* San Quentin
* physical landscape, mental landscape
* dreams
* land as freedom, land as trap
Themes MotifsMood
compassioncaregiving to the handicappedhopelessness
loyaltymigrating from job to job
dependencefollowing orders
vulnerabilitypowerlessness of the dispossessed
needdreaming of an idyllic place
longingaccepting the weakness of others
violenceavoiding trouble
intimidation
euthanasia
the need to belong
ACROSS THE CURRICULUM
History and Law
* suffering of California’s workers, 1920s and 1930s
* American games and sports from simple beginnings
* politics during the McCarthy era
Economics
* financial (and social, religious, and political) ramifications of bullying
* working on a farm, living in bunkhouse vs. working in the military, at sea, factory sales, or office work
Cinema
* several versions
* theme of oppressed in this and other movies
Science and Health
* medical care
* survival techniques
* mental retardation
Geography- Contrasts
* bunkhouse, barm
* Soledad, Weed
* Salinas River, Babilan Mountains
* camp site, road
* cultivator, horseshoe pit
* bus, Murray, Ready’s
Social Studies
* humanism- Steinbeck’s concept
* homeless people, living on the margin
* political, economic upheaval’s effect on homeless, workers
* discrimination, survival
Mathematics
* Chart the influx of ex-slaves, failed sharecroppers, illegal immigrants into workforce.
* Graph current census figures: Which parts of the nation draw the most migrant labor?
Music
* Compose laborer’s work song with recognition of Cesar Chavez .
Language and Speech
* slang terms
* anachronisms
* Compose speech describing the effects of poverty (demoralizes, marginalizes, and encourages violence).
Literature and Literary Devices
* Read “The New Colossus,” a poem by Emma Lazarus and think about implications for migrant workers and the homeless.
* Draw character web.
* Locate the similes in novella; explain why each one is effective.
* Read Flowers for Algernon; think about taunting and cruelty; compare Charlie with Lennie.
STUDENT INVOLVEMENT ACTIVITIES
* Research and sketch machines that farm workers used in the first half of the 20th century:
threshing machine, tractor, combine, baler, scythe, cultivator, disc harrow, corn picker, manure spreader
* Research why pet ownership might be important for mentally handicapped individuals and the species that might benefit different ages and degrees of handicap
* Discuss the type of farm Lennie and George would have enjoyed if they could have achieved their ambitions. Draw a picture.
* Report on the methods by which your community gives dignity and meaning to the lives of the homeless and mentally handicapped adults.
* Conduct mock hearing to determine whether George should be charged with a crime such as manslaughter or murder.
Websites
* From where does the title of the book come?
Robert Burns
* Study each character
Characters