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REVISION NOTES ON "OF MICE AND MEN"
revision notes on "OF MICE AND MEN" including exam questions
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"Of Mice and Men" comments on the elusiveness of the American Dream and thefalse hope of material prosperity that is often held out to the lower and middle classes.
Steinbeck took the title of his novel from a line in Robert Burns' poem "To a Mouse":
The best laid schemes o' mice and men
Gang aft a-gley,
An' leave us naught but grief an' pain,
For promised joy." (Burns)
Key social, historical and cultural information as a starting point:
Of Mice and Men is set against the background of the Great
Depression. The contrast between the driving force of American
capitalism in the 1920s and the economic hardships of the 1930s is
highlighted through the way the characters articulate their own
version of the American dream, and the fact that they will never be
able to realise their version of this dream.
Other aspects of American society – such as the role of women, civil
rights and the growing influence of Hollywood – are present in the
narrative. The book makes a plea for sympathy and understanding for
the lonely, the excluded and the vulnerable; it is permeated by an
understanding that human beings are fundamentally flawed.
Central characters Lennie and George embody an ideal of friendship
and love that leads ultimately to tragedy but also, arguably, to the
ultimate expression of that friendship in the poignant and sacrificial
act of the killing of Lennie.
The text could be considered a microcosm of American society
whereby characters are archetypes (model representation of the
1930s).
It is a tale of companionship that triumphs against all odds. The novella reveals a
lot about the society in which it is set. The novella examines many of the
prejudices at the time: racism, sexism, and prejudice towards those with
,disabilities. The power of John Steinbeck's writing is that he treats these issues in
purely human terms. He sees society's prejudices in terms of individual tragedies,
and his characters attempt to escape from those prejudices.
On the face of it, "Of Mice and Men" is a pessimistic novel, devoid of hope. The
novel shows the dreams of a small group of people and then contrasts these
dreams with a reality that is unattainable. Even though the dream never becomes
reality, John Steinbeck does leave us with a glimmer of hope. George and Lennie
do not achieve their dream, but their friendship stands out as a shining example
of how people can live and love even in a word of alienation and cruelty.
Steinbeck explores man’s propensity for cruelty and the converse side of this is
how friendship and kindness can endure this.
Show that Candy is a pitiable character. In your answer you should consider the presentation of:
• what Candy says and does in the extract;
• Candy’s relationship with the others who live and work on the ranch;
• Candy’s attitude to George and Lennie’s dream.
Show that the lives of the ranch workers are lonely. In you answer you should consider the
presentation of:
• George;
• Candy;
• Crooks.
George and Lennie are introduced as they walk to the pool in the opening scene.
The path they follow is heavily travelled. Lennie drops to his knees to drink from
the pool and is quickly chastised by George, who warns him that the stagnant
water may be bad. This immediately establishes George’s paternal relationship
with Lennie, who is mentally challenged. The remainder of Chapter 1 reinforces
, the roles of each character. George decides they will finish their walk to the ranch
the next morning after sleeping under the stars; he tells Lennie to get rid of the
dead mouse he’s been carrying around in his pocket because it is old; he prepares
their meal, warns Lennie about what to do if they face trouble at their new job,
and prepares Lennie for sleep by sharing with him, once again, their dream of the
little house they will someday own, complete with cows, pigs, rabbits, and a
garden.
Extract from Examiners Report:
“In Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, when tackling the question regarding the poignancy of human
aspiration, many quoted Robert Burns’ poem To a Mouse both to support their argument as well
as to show the origin of Steinbeck’s idea. As regards the question on how male friendship is
portrayed in this short novel, though some concentrated exclusively on the main protagonists,
George and Lennie, the majority of candidates also referred to secondary characters and their
loneliness to create contrast.”
George needs Lennie as much as Lennie needs George. Discuss.
Lennie is dangerous, and George is partly responsible for the death of Curley’s
wife. Discuss.
How does John Steinbeck use the character of George to highlight some aspects
of American society in the 1930s?
‘American society in the 1930s robbed people of their ability to form important
relationships.’ To what extent do you agree with this statement?
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