By John Steinbeck
• Published 1937
• Novella
• Set in California during
the Great Depression.
• Based on some of
Steinbeck’s childhood,
formative years and
journalist experiences.
• Short story but packs a
punch
When, where, type of society
When
Where
 1930s
 California, America
 In the midst of The Great Depression
 Set on farmland in the Salinas vale.
The ranch is near the town of Soledad
which is south east of Salinas, on the
Salinas river.
George Milton
•
•
•
•
•
•
Alert, quick & intelligent
Lennie’s protector & ‘guardian’
The planner and organiser
Uneducated
Hard worker
Ambitious – dreams of owning his
own small farm
Lennie Small
• Simple minded, not very bright
• Incredibly strong and powerful (doesn’t
know the power of his own strength)
• Always listens and takes heed of
George
• Innocent, naïve & childlike
• Dreams of owning the farm with
George & tending small animals.
 The bunkhouse is an important setting in the
novella; a number of important and dramatic
events take place there.
 Steinbeck gives a detailed description of the
bunkhouse which informs the reader about
ranch life and the wider issues facing migrant
workers.
 What does the bunkhouse tell us about their
lifestyle?
Slim
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Honest
Dignified
Gifted & talented
Admired & respected
Aristocratic
Conscience of the novel
A ‘jerkline skinner, the prince of the ranch’
Candy
•
•
•
•
•
•
‘the old swamper’.
Disabled, one handed
Weak, feeble, old & infirm.
Alienated
Subservient
Devoted to his dog
Curley
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Curley’s wife
The Boss’ son
Napoleonic complex
Former boxer
Rude & confrontational
Crude
Aggressive
‘his hands closed into fists’
Lonely
Alienated
Flirtatious
Controlled and stifled
Attention seeking
‘a tart’ & ‘jail bait’
Lack of a name illustrates how woman are
marginalised in this society.
• Innocent or looking for trouble?
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Crooks
The Boss
Carlson
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
‘Stable buck’
Black
Sleeps separate from the other ranch workers
A scapegoat
Lonely
Alienated
Disabled & crippled
Proud
Whit
CHAPTER ONE
ACTIVITIES
 Use the six boxes in the handout to create a cartoon
summary.
 Add one more sentence to each box.
 Draw images in the boxes. Use the correct type of
speech bubble or cartoon style. (See handout)