Choose one of the following questions that interests you most to respond to in this week’s blog post:
1.) What different forms of power exist in Of Mice and Men? What kind of power does Lennie have? What kind of power does George have? What kinds of power or powerlessness do other characters possess?
2.) What kind of relationship do George and Lennie have? Is their relationship a friendship? How does this relationship express Steinbeck’s position on the individual versus the community?
3.) Is the American Dream a real possibility in the story? If yes, what characters, symbols, events, or other details from the story confirm that the American Dream is within reach? If not, what characters, symbols, events, or other details from the story represent the American Dream as out of reach?
Check out the info History.com has to offer about the American 1930s! Who had power in the 1930s? Who did not? What kinds of power existed then? What important relationships were formed in the 1930s? Was the American Dream still alive in the 1930s?
There are two different powers that exist in, Of Mice And Men. Lennie has physical power, he is very strong. "Curley was white and shrunken by now, and his struggling had become weak. He stood crying, his fist lost in Lennie's paw."(page 64) Lennie was able to fight back and stand up for himself although George told him what to do.
George has power over Lennie. He bosses Lennie around and is verbal rather than physical. On page 9, "Slowly, like a terrier who doesn't want to bring a ball to its master, Lennie approached, drew back, approached again. George snapped his fingers sharply, and at the sound Lennie laid the mouse in his hand." George is like the master and Lennie is like the terrier. he controlls everything Lennie does. It says that George snapped his fingers and at the snap, Lennie put the mouse in his hand. Lennie is powerless compared to George. George, Lennie, and all the other men working in fields were powerless during the Great Depression. Compared to the wealthy, they had to struggle a lot in order to get the little money they could.
Curley has power over Lennie until the end of chapter 3. Before, he tried to pick on Lennie and try to start a fight. He is also powerful because he is the boss's son. At the end when he started hitting Lennie he was powerful. When George told Lennie to fight back, Lennie crushed the man. There was a change in power from when we met Curley till now. Candy is old and powerless. People now say that the old are the wisest. The men didn't give Candy a choice. They forced him into saying yes for killing his dog. No one supported Candy and never would. He could not stand up for his dog, to keep him alive. The boss had a lot of power. He controlled everything and for once someone told George what to do. These are some characters who show power and who are powerless!
This link is a video of Lennie crushing Curley's hand having power over Curley!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njDrdhTfmZE
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Chapter 3 Notes
Questions
1) What does George really think about Lennie because sometimes he compliments him and sometimes he pretends he's not even there complaining about him?
2) Why is Curley so frustrated with big people? Did something happen in his childhood to make him like this?
3) Why doesn't Candy prevent his dog from being shot? Why didn't he keep on arguing?
4) I wonder why George trusts Slim enough to tell him why him and Lennie came to work on the ranch when he just met him?i
5) Why did the author add the part when they talked about the letter that Bill Tenner wrote to the editor of some magazine?Why did he write that in the story?
Prediction
I predict that Curley will not bother Lennie anymore or talk to him at all. After this, he wont mess with any big guys. Lennie hurt Curley pretty bad. "Looks to me like ever' bone in his han' is bust"(page 64) Also, I think that even after George, Lennie, and Candy buy a house, they wont let Candy do anything that he asked for just like the men did to him when they killed his dog. Also, I don't think that George will get any rabbits or whatever Lennie asked for because he is always just agreeing and being nice to Lennie whenever he gets excited about the future. George is never nice and listens to Lennie so the fact that he is agreeing to all the demands Lennie gives him is suspicious. I believe that there will be rivalries between characters in the book because they each believe differently. All the men wanted to go see what would happen at the barn and on the other hand George didn't move. He did not want to get involved in anything.
Connection
Just like George, I do not like to get into anything that will get me in trouble. I try my best to avoid all the gossip so that I do not get involved. "I'm stayin right here. I don't want to get mixed up in nothing. Lennie and me got to make a stake."(page 54) George has a future ahead of him and doesn't want to ruin it and is staying out of whatever he could which i admire and do myself. I have my goals for the future which is why I avoid school drama's. During lunch for example, my friends usually talk about what other girls wear, what fights happened, etc. When all this is being said, I turn around to another friend and talk about something else. I can connect to George when he tried to avoid watching a fight like the other men acting like girls trying to get input on the latest news.
1) What does George really think about Lennie because sometimes he compliments him and sometimes he pretends he's not even there complaining about him?
2) Why is Curley so frustrated with big people? Did something happen in his childhood to make him like this?
3) Why doesn't Candy prevent his dog from being shot? Why didn't he keep on arguing?
4) I wonder why George trusts Slim enough to tell him why him and Lennie came to work on the ranch when he just met him?i
5) Why did the author add the part when they talked about the letter that Bill Tenner wrote to the editor of some magazine?Why did he write that in the story?
Prediction
I predict that Curley will not bother Lennie anymore or talk to him at all. After this, he wont mess with any big guys. Lennie hurt Curley pretty bad. "Looks to me like ever' bone in his han' is bust"(page 64) Also, I think that even after George, Lennie, and Candy buy a house, they wont let Candy do anything that he asked for just like the men did to him when they killed his dog. Also, I don't think that George will get any rabbits or whatever Lennie asked for because he is always just agreeing and being nice to Lennie whenever he gets excited about the future. George is never nice and listens to Lennie so the fact that he is agreeing to all the demands Lennie gives him is suspicious. I believe that there will be rivalries between characters in the book because they each believe differently. All the men wanted to go see what would happen at the barn and on the other hand George didn't move. He did not want to get involved in anything.
Connection
Just like George, I do not like to get into anything that will get me in trouble. I try my best to avoid all the gossip so that I do not get involved. "I'm stayin right here. I don't want to get mixed up in nothing. Lennie and me got to make a stake."(page 54) George has a future ahead of him and doesn't want to ruin it and is staying out of whatever he could which i admire and do myself. I have my goals for the future which is why I avoid school drama's. During lunch for example, my friends usually talk about what other girls wear, what fights happened, etc. When all this is being said, I turn around to another friend and talk about something else. I can connect to George when he tried to avoid watching a fight like the other men acting like girls trying to get input on the latest news.
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Chapter 2 Notes
Questions
1) Why does George not want Lennie to not say anything to anyone? Why is he so worried about Lennie that he needs to give him the permission to talk?
2) Why is it that in front of Slim, George complimented Lennie but he when they are alone, he never stops complaining and making fun of Lennie?
3) Why would they drown four puppies when they could distribute them to people who wanted them? How can they be so cruel?
4) Do you think that Curley's wife was really looking for her husband or trying to go around and show off?
5) Do you think that Lennie is going to fall in love with Curley's wife the way he kept on talking about her and saying she was pretty?
6) Why did Curley at the end o the chapter take George's height, measure his reach, and look at his rim middle?
Prediction
I predict that Lennie is going to do start liking Curley's wife and Curley will find out and give Lennie a really hard time. Curley does not like Lennie anyway because he is big and if something is going on between Linnie and Curley's wife, there would be big trouble. Also, I think George and Curley might be in a deadlock because on page 37, George said to Lennie that he's scared that he might even have a conflict with Curley because of he way he was acting. Furthermore, Curley was looking to see George's height, his reach, and his trim middle. I think he was thinking about jumping him and making George tell him where his wife went.
Summary
Chapter 2 starts out with Lennie and George at the bunkhouse where they meet an old man, the boss, Candy, Curley, and Curley's wife. When the boss starts asking them questions, George keeps on answering for Lennie when Lennie makes a comment which makes the boss start questioning Lennie. Then his son, Curley comes in and does not like Lennie immediately only because he is big. Curley wanted an excuse to beat up Lennie. Curley's wife comes and asks where her husband was and is known as a "tramp". Lennie tells George that she is pretty and was apparently looking at her legs. George tells Lennie to stay clear of Curley and is wife and goes to the bunkhouse to eat with the other men.
1) Why does George not want Lennie to not say anything to anyone? Why is he so worried about Lennie that he needs to give him the permission to talk?
2) Why is it that in front of Slim, George complimented Lennie but he when they are alone, he never stops complaining and making fun of Lennie?
3) Why would they drown four puppies when they could distribute them to people who wanted them? How can they be so cruel?
4) Do you think that Curley's wife was really looking for her husband or trying to go around and show off?
5) Do you think that Lennie is going to fall in love with Curley's wife the way he kept on talking about her and saying she was pretty?
6) Why did Curley at the end o the chapter take George's height, measure his reach, and look at his rim middle?
Prediction
I predict that Lennie is going to do start liking Curley's wife and Curley will find out and give Lennie a really hard time. Curley does not like Lennie anyway because he is big and if something is going on between Linnie and Curley's wife, there would be big trouble. Also, I think George and Curley might be in a deadlock because on page 37, George said to Lennie that he's scared that he might even have a conflict with Curley because of he way he was acting. Furthermore, Curley was looking to see George's height, his reach, and his trim middle. I think he was thinking about jumping him and making George tell him where his wife went.
Summary
Chapter 2 starts out with Lennie and George at the bunkhouse where they meet an old man, the boss, Candy, Curley, and Curley's wife. When the boss starts asking them questions, George keeps on answering for Lennie when Lennie makes a comment which makes the boss start questioning Lennie. Then his son, Curley comes in and does not like Lennie immediately only because he is big. Curley wanted an excuse to beat up Lennie. Curley's wife comes and asks where her husband was and is known as a "tramp". Lennie tells George that she is pretty and was apparently looking at her legs. George tells Lennie to stay clear of Curley and is wife and goes to the bunkhouse to eat with the other men.
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Naturalism as a Mirror of the 1930's
Literature is often a reflection of the time period in which it was written or,
in the case of historical fiction, of the time period it is focused on. Authors
will often find sneaky little ways to demonstrate the dominant characteristics
of the time period by blending in details, that, at a closer glance, reveal
these hidden themes.
In class, we viewed several videos (in the LitByFleming blog video bar) that gave us a look at some major events and common themes or characteristics of the 1930s. John Steinbeck certainly considered these elements when writing Of Mice and Men. In fact, it might be said, his writing style intentionally made use of naturalism in order to capture and expose some of the attitudes and characteristics of the American 1930s.
Let's see if you can make the connection! Think about some of the naturalistic elements we identified in class (Chapter 1). What aspects or characteristics of the 1930s are being demonstrated to us at those moments in the text? What do you believe John Steinbeck was trying to show us or expose about the way people, life, or society was during this time in American history?
Loneliness, hardships, burdensome are characteristics and aspects of the 1930s which are identified in the texts. Lennie and George are lucky to be together as they both know that without the company of one another, they will both be lost. These two men are lonely in the woods while they could be with other men at the ranch. There were some obstacles or hardships that both George and Lennie were facing. First of all, they had their journey which was burdensome and along the way, George was yelling at Lennie telling him what to do. George had to take care of Lennie which must have slowed him down. Also, walking miles and miles is tiring and difficult. Just like these two men in our book, many others had to do the same in order to survive. People living in the 1930s had a lot of loneliness had went through many hardships to get where they wanted. Also, many people were ill-educated. They do not know the proper way to talk and the only work they could do was on the fields. Lennie and George spoke as if they were not educated and did not know how to do actual work. They were going to work on the ranch.
I believe that Steinbeck was trying to show us how much people struggled during this time in American History. He showed us the two guys traveling to find job fatigued. Even if a small thing happened, like Lennie pulling a girl's dress, they had to leave because of the life and society back then. It was a hard world. People were not educated, they were homeless without jobs and food. Steinbeck was trying to show us the lifestyle that men had. They had to travel, find jobs, and work hard to get the little money they could. This is how life was in the 1930s and Steinbeck did a great job putting aspects of this time period into the story.
This is video on the Great Depression, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpKmfjf5tUk
In class, we viewed several videos (in the LitByFleming blog video bar) that gave us a look at some major events and common themes or characteristics of the 1930s. John Steinbeck certainly considered these elements when writing Of Mice and Men. In fact, it might be said, his writing style intentionally made use of naturalism in order to capture and expose some of the attitudes and characteristics of the American 1930s.
Let's see if you can make the connection! Think about some of the naturalistic elements we identified in class (Chapter 1). What aspects or characteristics of the 1930s are being demonstrated to us at those moments in the text? What do you believe John Steinbeck was trying to show us or expose about the way people, life, or society was during this time in American history?
Loneliness, hardships, burdensome are characteristics and aspects of the 1930s which are identified in the texts. Lennie and George are lucky to be together as they both know that without the company of one another, they will both be lost. These two men are lonely in the woods while they could be with other men at the ranch. There were some obstacles or hardships that both George and Lennie were facing. First of all, they had their journey which was burdensome and along the way, George was yelling at Lennie telling him what to do. George had to take care of Lennie which must have slowed him down. Also, walking miles and miles is tiring and difficult. Just like these two men in our book, many others had to do the same in order to survive. People living in the 1930s had a lot of loneliness had went through many hardships to get where they wanted. Also, many people were ill-educated. They do not know the proper way to talk and the only work they could do was on the fields. Lennie and George spoke as if they were not educated and did not know how to do actual work. They were going to work on the ranch.
I believe that Steinbeck was trying to show us how much people struggled during this time in American History. He showed us the two guys traveling to find job fatigued. Even if a small thing happened, like Lennie pulling a girl's dress, they had to leave because of the life and society back then. It was a hard world. People were not educated, they were homeless without jobs and food. Steinbeck was trying to show us the lifestyle that men had. They had to travel, find jobs, and work hard to get the little money they could. This is how life was in the 1930s and Steinbeck did a great job putting aspects of this time period into the story.
This is video on the Great Depression, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpKmfjf5tUk
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Chapter 1 notes
Questions
1) Why is George not wanting to go up to the ranch and eat properly?
2) I wander if something will happen to Lennie because the author foreshadowed that if something ever happened, to come and hide behind the bush?
3) If Lenny was able to remember not to say anything to the boss, then why wasn't he able to remember why they had come?
The story is taking place in the jungle south of Soledad.
Prediction
I predict that Lenny will come across some obstacle in the near future. I believe this because the author foreshadows that something will happen to Lennie. "Lennie- if you jus' happen to get in trouble like you always done before, I want you to come right here an' hide in the brush."(page 15) This is giving us a hint that something might happen to Lennie which will make him have to run and hide in the brush. Lennie is not normal, he drinks water that is dirty, kills rabbits, etc. George is always yelling at Lennie and I think that one day he will say too much and Lennie will go to the cave like he said he would. George will get really annoyed with Lennie and will tell him to leave. The relationship between these two men is like an older brother and a younger sister fighting.
Reflect
"His huge companion dropped his blankets and flung himself down and drank from the surface of the green pool; drank with long gulps, snorting into water like a horse."(page 3) This is important because we can interpret that these people were so tired and thirty that they would drink just about anything even if it was stagnant. I think that the author wants to tell us how hard it was to travel and survive and how people will do anything to live. So far, a theme might be that working hard and not giving up will help you reach your destination. The author wrote the book to show the struggles of traveling for work and the hardships between people who are together surviving. We see how much Lennie and George go through to get to the woods which means that they overcame their obstacles along the way there while new ones about to begin at work.
1) Why is George not wanting to go up to the ranch and eat properly?
2) I wander if something will happen to Lennie because the author foreshadowed that if something ever happened, to come and hide behind the bush?
3) If Lenny was able to remember not to say anything to the boss, then why wasn't he able to remember why they had come?
The story is taking place in the jungle south of Soledad.
Prediction
I predict that Lenny will come across some obstacle in the near future. I believe this because the author foreshadows that something will happen to Lennie. "Lennie- if you jus' happen to get in trouble like you always done before, I want you to come right here an' hide in the brush."(page 15) This is giving us a hint that something might happen to Lennie which will make him have to run and hide in the brush. Lennie is not normal, he drinks water that is dirty, kills rabbits, etc. George is always yelling at Lennie and I think that one day he will say too much and Lennie will go to the cave like he said he would. George will get really annoyed with Lennie and will tell him to leave. The relationship between these two men is like an older brother and a younger sister fighting.
Reflect
"His huge companion dropped his blankets and flung himself down and drank from the surface of the green pool; drank with long gulps, snorting into water like a horse."(page 3) This is important because we can interpret that these people were so tired and thirty that they would drink just about anything even if it was stagnant. I think that the author wants to tell us how hard it was to travel and survive and how people will do anything to live. So far, a theme might be that working hard and not giving up will help you reach your destination. The author wrote the book to show the struggles of traveling for work and the hardships between people who are together surviving. We see how much Lennie and George go through to get to the woods which means that they overcame their obstacles along the way there while new ones about to begin at work.
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Picturing the History Behind Of Mice and Men
For a moment the place was lifeless, and then two men emerged from the path and
came into the opening by the green pool.
They had walked in single file down the path, and even in the open one stayed behind the other. Both were dressed in denim trousers and in denim coats with brass buttons. Both wore black, shapeless hats and both carried tight blanket rolls slung over their shoulders. The first man was small and quick, dark of face, with restless eyes and sharp, strong features. Every part of him was defined: small, strong hands, slender arms, a thin and bony nose. Behind him walked his opposite, a huge man, shapeless of face, with large, pale eyes, with wide, sloping shoulders; and he walked heavily, dragging his feet a little, the way a bear drags his paws. His arms did not swing at his sides, but hung loosely.
The first man stopped short in the clearing, and the follower nearly ran over him. He took off his hat and wiped the sweat-band with his forefinger and snapped the moisture off. His huge companion dropped his blankets and flung himself. (1.2-4)
Sound familiar? Kind of like the pictures, right? In writing, compare and contrast this opening section from Of Mice and Men to the pictures you analyzed in class. What does the text and the photographs show us about the 1930s? Be specific!
This opening section from "Of Mice and Men" reminded me of the second picture we saw in class, Bag man on Road. There are many similarities between the section and this picture. In the third sentence, Steinbeck descibes, "were dressed in denim trousers and in denim coats with brass buttons." This outfit is just like the one this man on the road is wearing. Also, the author says that, "Both wore black, strapless, hats and both carried tight blanket rolls slung over their shoulders. This man who is traveling has a bag over his shoulder as well. On the other side, the opening scene depicts two men traveling together with each other's company while this man is traveling alone with many obstacles to face by himself. This section also describes the two men's faces and how ardous it was to travel. These men fatigued and afflicted kept on going waiting for job opportunity, just waiting and waiting all torn apart.
The text and the photographs tell us a great amount about the 1930's. We learn how difficult it is to travel for an average man. It is lonely and expenssive to survive during the Great Depression. I think Steinbeck is trying to show us that life back then was difficult, burdensome, tiring, challenging, and most of all lonely and depressing. We can see how much men would work to support him and his family in order to survive. Most people had to travel to find jobs which were hard to find. This means that everyday workers have to travel miles and miles to get the little amount of money they need to live. Life was tough and and there were many hardships.
I found a video that shows the hardships of a people during the great depression ~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3O0ZxKtV7c
They had walked in single file down the path, and even in the open one stayed behind the other. Both were dressed in denim trousers and in denim coats with brass buttons. Both wore black, shapeless hats and both carried tight blanket rolls slung over their shoulders. The first man was small and quick, dark of face, with restless eyes and sharp, strong features. Every part of him was defined: small, strong hands, slender arms, a thin and bony nose. Behind him walked his opposite, a huge man, shapeless of face, with large, pale eyes, with wide, sloping shoulders; and he walked heavily, dragging his feet a little, the way a bear drags his paws. His arms did not swing at his sides, but hung loosely.
The first man stopped short in the clearing, and the follower nearly ran over him. He took off his hat and wiped the sweat-band with his forefinger and snapped the moisture off. His huge companion dropped his blankets and flung himself. (1.2-4)
Sound familiar? Kind of like the pictures, right? In writing, compare and contrast this opening section from Of Mice and Men to the pictures you analyzed in class. What does the text and the photographs show us about the 1930s? Be specific!
The text and the photographs tell us a great amount about the 1930's. We learn how difficult it is to travel for an average man. It is lonely and expenssive to survive during the Great Depression. I think Steinbeck is trying to show us that life back then was difficult, burdensome, tiring, challenging, and most of all lonely and depressing. We can see how much men would work to support him and his family in order to survive. Most people had to travel to find jobs which were hard to find. This means that everyday workers have to travel miles and miles to get the little amount of money they need to live. Life was tough and and there were many hardships.
I found a video that shows the hardships of a people during the great depression ~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3O0ZxKtV7c
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