Of Mice and Men
Chapter 5 – Analyzing Allusion
Here is the complete text of Robert Burn’s poem, which was used to title the novella, Now you are
almost through the text, read through and review this poem to see why John Steinbeck took the
name of his novella from a line in this poem. NOTE: AUTHORS NEVER CHOOSE TITLES FOR “NO
REASON” NOR “ACCIDENTALLY.”
As you read each stanza of the poem, brainstorm connections to Lennie, George, or other elements
in the story that you think relate in the same way. See stanza 1 for a model.
“To a Mouse”
By Robert Burns
(a translation of the 1785 Scottish poem in which, while plowing on a November day, Burns ruined the nest
of a field mouse. He ponders why the creature runs away in such terror)
Oh, tiny timorous forlorn beast,
Oh why the panic in your breast?
You need not dart away in haste
To some corn-rick
I’d never run and chase thee,
With murdering stick.
This reminds me of Lennie because he was
always getting scared if someone like Curley
was nasty to him. He also ran to the place
in the brush that George told him to hide in
if he got in any trouble. A “murdering stick”
sounds like a weapon or gun.
I’m truly sorry man’s dominion
Has broken nature’s social union,
And justifies that ill opinion
Which makes thee startle
At me, thy poor earth-born companion,
And fellow mortal.
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I do not doubt you have to thieve;
What then? Poor beastie you must live;
One ear of corn that’s scarcely missed
Is small enough:
I’ll share with you all this year’s grist,
Without rebuff.
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Thy wee bit housie too in ruin,
Its fragile walls the winds have strewn,
And you’ve nothing new to build a new one,
Of grasses green;
And bleak December winds ensuing.
Both cold and keen.
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You saw the fields laid bare and waste,
And weary winter coming fast,
And cosy there beneath the blast,
Thou thought to dwell,
Till crash; the cruel plowman crushed
Thy little cell.
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Your wee bit heap of leaves and stubble,
Had cost thee many a weary nibble.
Now you’ve turned out for all they trouble
Of house and home
To bear the winter’s sleety drizzle,
And hoar frost cold.
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But, mousie, thou art not alone,
In proving foresight may be in vain,
The best laid plans of mice and men,
Go oft astray,
And leave us nought but grief and pain,
To rend our day.
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Still thou art blessed, compared with me!
The present only touches thee,
But, oh, I backward cast my eye
On prospects drear,
And forward, though, I cannot see,
I guess and fear.
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Literary Terms to Know and Apply:
Allusion is when an author refers to another place, time, or piece of literature with the assumption
that the reader will be able to make the connection from prior knowledge.
a. Easy Question:
What allusion is John Steinbeck making in the title of this novella?
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b. Hard Question:
How does this allusion help Steinbeck make his main point (what we call
theme)?
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