Of Mice and Men Web Quest
An Internet Web Quest on Of Mice and Men
Introduction
You are about to embark on a journey of understanding of what it was like to be a migrant worker in the Salinas
Valley of California during the 1930's, during the Great Depression. John Steinbeck wrote OF MICE AND
MEN as a vehicle to express his social conscience about the period. OF MICE AND MEN is a novel about
poverty and dreams, friendship and loneliness, and despair and hope. Through the memorable characters of
George and Lennie, Steinbeck paints a portrait of enduring friendship that you won't soon forget. In order to
help you to understand the context of the novel and how it still resonates today, you are about to embark on a
Web Quest that will lay the ground work for a deeper understanding of this simple, yet profound story.
The Quest
What are the background issues that led to Steinbeck's writing of this novella about profound friendship and
social issues?
The Process and Resources
In this Web Quest you will be working and exploring web pages to answer questions in your designated section.
Because these are real WebPages we're tapping into, not things made just for schools, the reading level might
challenge you. Just focus on your section, answering the questions in it to the best of your ability.
Phase 1 - Background: Something for Everyone
Steinbeck was influenced by a variety of geographical, human, and social issues to write Of Mice and Men.
Your job will be to explore some of these issues.
Phase 2 - Looking Deeper from Different Perspectives
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Individuals will explore one of the roles below.
2. Read through the files linked to your group.
4. Answer the questions on a separate sheet of paper. MAKE SURE YOU PUT YOUR ANSWERS IN YOUR
OWN WORDS. Points will be taken off for “cutting and pasting.”
Geographers
Use the Internet information linked below to answer these questions specifically related to Geographers:
1. What are the geographical features of the Salinas Valley in California?
2. What kinds of jobs are available here?
4. When you think about the geographical features of the area, what kind of mood comes to mind and why?
5. What was John Steinbeck's relationship to the Salinas Valley?
6. Why do you think he chose this place as the setting of his novel? Explain.
7. For the visual component, create a map of the area with significant locations identified: Salinas, Monterey,
Freemont Peak, Gabilan Mountains etc.



The Geography of Of Mice and Men - Background on the Salinas Valley-the setting
Setting and Significance - Outline of farmland
Steinbeck and Salinas - Relationship between Steinbeck and Salinas
Sociologists
Use the Internet information linked below to answer these questions specifically related to Sociologists:
1. What was the Great Depression?
2. What were some of the causes?
3. Who were the migrant workers and how were they affected by the Great Depression?
4. Summarize what happened to cause The Dust Bowl.
5. Do migrant workers exist today? Where? What kinds of jobs do they have?
6. For the visual portion of your presentation, develop a collage of photos of migrant workers of the 1930's.





The Great Depression-Overview
The Migrant Experience – Overview
The Dust Bowl
Photos of the Great Depression
Migrant Workers today
Psychiatrists
Use the Internet information linked below to answer these questions specifically related to Psychiatrists:
1. What is a mental disability and how does it affect a person's everyday life?
2. What are some of the difficulties in caring for a mentally disabled person?
3. What kinds of support are available for caregivers?
4. What is the role of friendship in caring for the mentally disabled?
5. For the visual portion of your presentation, create a collage of literature and films about the mentally
disabled.









Mental Disability
Caregiver of mentally disabled resources
Friendship and the mentally disabled
Novels About Disabilities
Films with Mentally Disabled characters
Charlie
Being There
Book List
Films with Mentally Disabled characters
Biographers
Use the Internet information linked below to answer these questions specifically related to Biographers:
1. Present the major facts about Steinbeck's life.
2. What philosophy of life is revealed in Steinbeck's Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech?
3. What influenced Steinbeck to write Of Mice and Men?
4. For the visual portion of your presentation, create a collage of Steinbeck’s life and work.



Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech
Steinbeck Biography
Steinbeck's Works
Conclusion
Your journey into the background and issues that influenced the writing of Of Mice and Men has come to an
end, but the trip is far from over! You are now ready to embark on a literary journey into the world of George
and Lennie, the Salinas Valley, migrant farm workers, loneliness and friendship, poverty and dreams, and
despair and hope.