Of Mice and Men Introductory Notes John Steinbeck ● John Steinbeck was born in ________. He grew up in a small rural town in ___________________ and spent his youth working at nearby ______ and ranches. ● As a teenager Steinbeck worked alongside many __________ workers. ● Migrant workers are _________________ employees who are hired only ___________________. ● During the Great Depression, many workers could only find short-term migrant work which didn’t ______ well or offer any _________________. ● While most of Steinbeck’s works are set in rural California and the American ____________, Of Mice and Men focuses the most on the __________ of migrant workers during the Depression. ● Of Mice and Men was Steinbeck’s ____________ literary work, written in 1937. Steinbeck was later awarded the Nobel Prize for literature in _________. The 1930’s ■ The 1930’s was a difficult _____________ because of the Great Depression. ■ The Depression hit hardest for ______________ in the South who were hit with some of the worst seasons of ________ storms in history. ■ Dust storms, also called “_________ blizzards,” could cause a complete blackout for an entire day, and eroded poorly planned ______________, ruining the industry for nearly a decade. ■ Because of the Depression, many farmers traveled great distances to find even the most _________________ work. ■ By 1933, ____% of American workers had lost their jobs. ■ Over 2 million people were __________________. ■ ________________ had a difficult time staying together and ______________ was at an alltime high. Themes The American Dream ■ George and Lennie share a dream of owning a small ____________ and raising animals together. ■ For George, this represents _________________—he wants land of his own and a steady income. ■ For Lennie, this represents __________________ and ________________. ■ Other characters will show their own desires and personal American Dreams, since almost everyone is _________________ due to the Great Depression. Brotherhood & Fraternity ■ George and Lennie have an ____________________ bond, even though they are not related. ■ Others in the story will express a need for __________________—and not love. Just someone to talk to and hang out with platonically. Ableism ■ Ableism refers to preferential treatment of the _________, or discrimination of those who are not able-bodied. ■ Seen in the treatment of Lennie, who is __________________ handicapped. ■ Also in _____________, the “swamper,” who is missing his hand. Racism ■ Crooks, the African American ____________ hand, keeps to himself and out of the other men’s business. ■ He feels ____________ and slighted at how others treat him, even though he is ___________ and hard-working, based on the color of his skin. Sexism ■ This story is mostly about men (it does take place in a very ___________________ world) but there is one female character. ■ Curley’s wife, who goes ______________, is lonely and bored in this man’s world. ■ She is not __________________ like Crooks, but is ostracized and misunderstood for being a woman.
