John Ernst Steinbeck Biography Born in Salinas, California, on February 27, 1902 Parents encouraged his love of writing Learned about ranch life as a teen during summers These experiences would help him create rich characters and beautiful descriptions of the land Graduated from Salinas High School in 1919 Attended Stanford University His attendance was poor, and he only took classes that interested him (for example, writing, literature, and marine biology) John Ernst Steinbeck was born in Salinas, California, on February 27, 1902 , of German and Irish ancestry. His parents encouraged his love of writing! His father, John Steinbeck, Sr., was the County Treasurer and his mother, Olive (Hamilton) Steinbeck, was a former school teacher. Young Steinbeck learned about ranch life as a teen during summers. He did odd jobs on the ranches and paid close attention to his environment and the people around him. Later, these experiences would help him create rich characters and beautiful descriptions of the land. After graduating from Salinas High School in 1919, Steinbeck attended Stanford University. He was not too interested in completing a full educational program. His attendance was poor, and he only took classes that interested him (for example, writing, literature, and marine biology

Biography War Correspondent during World War II Some of his war articles were published in Once There Was a War. Awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1962 A private person who did not seek publicity. Died December 20, 1968, in New York City Survived by his third wife, Elaine (Scott) Steinbeck and one son, Thomas. His ashes were placed in the Garden of Memories Cemetery in Salinas.   Steinbeck continued writing, using a lot of research, personal experiences, and observations about people and their hopes, sorrows, and dreams. The Grapes of Wrath (1939) won the Pulitzer Prize. During World War II, Steinbeck was a war correspondent for the New York Herald Tribune. Some of his writing work there ended up in a collection called Once There Was a War. John Steinbeck was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1962 “...for his realistic as well as imaginative writings, distinguished by a sympathetic humor and a keen social perception.” .Pretty much, Steinbeck was a private person who did not seek publicity. . He died December 20, 1968, in New York City and is survived by his third wife, Elaine (Scott) Steinbeck and one son, Thomas. His ashes were placed in the Garden of Memories Cemetery in Salinas (and I have been there!).  

was published and became an instant best-seller; in 1940 it was In 1939, The Grapes of Wrath was published and became an instant best-seller; in 1940 it was awarded the Pulitzer Prize, one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world. This novel, just like Of Mice and Men, stemmed from his experience working among migrant workers. Steinbeck’s experiences in the fields researching migrant workers led him to have more compassion for these workers, and stirred up his concern for social justice. His final book, America and the Americans, was about his belief that in time, America would once again feel united. (Nonfiction) John Steinbeck died on December 20, 1968, at his apartment in New York City. His wife took him home to Salinas to be buried near the land that he spent his life writing about.

“Of Mice and Men” Why this title? It comes from a poem by Robert Burns. In the poem, Burns sees a mouse making its nest in straw. The mouse is making a lot of effort, but it can’t see the harvester approaching. Burns says: The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry. The novel follows a simple chronological structure. There are no flashbacks, for example. The novel begins on a Thursday night and ends on the following Sunday. One of the key things about the novel is its simplicity. In other words, the best of plans tend to go/steer away from the destined course. The best laid schemes of mice and men often go wrong- referring to a little mouse who had so carefully built her burrow in a field to protect herself and her little mice babies – and the burrow is turned over and destroyed by the man plowing a period of 3 days similar to the lifestyles they lived

Of Mice and Men setting Of Mice and Men is set on a Salinas Valley ranch in California during The Great Depression of the 1930s.

Controversial Issues There is an African-American character in the novel who is casually and frequently called the “N” word. The history of censorship of the novel has been great over the years. The sexual implications (though mild by today’s standards) of Curley’s wife and the men and their “cathouse” visits. The language (mild by today’s standards) students will encounter.  Such as “bastard,” “son of a bitch,” “bitch” (not the dog reference), and the like. Violence: is violence ever justified? The treatment of mentally-challenged people has changed dramatically since the 1930s. The distinction between “mentally ill” and “mentally challenged.”  Lynchings that still occurred in the 1930s and racist attitudes were prevalent The liberal use of the word “nigger.”  Steinbeck was not a racist but was merely being realistic and reflecting the attitudes of the times, when that particular word, even though offensive at the time, was in common use. These were all controversial issues seen throughout the novel this novel was on the banned books list due to the controversy

Major concepts Friendship and loneliness Power Cycles Dreams and plans Many of the characters in the novel have dreams and plans for the future. George, Lennie, Candy, Crooks and Curley’s wife all aspire to something. For these characters, it is these dreams which keep them going. Remember that the title of the novel is taken from a Robert Burns poem which says; ‘The best laid schemes o’ mice and men often go awry.’ George and Lennie are unusual because they ‘string along together’, even though their friendship is threatened by Lennie’s behavior. The other characters tend to be alone, isolated, because of their lifestyle. The novel explores the issue of power through the character of Curley and the influence he has over the ranch hands and his wife. George also wields power over Lennie. Curley’s wife seems powerless, but she could have Crooks killed if she wanted. Crooks seems powerless, but he is able to make Lennie believe he’s been abandoned. Candy seems powerless, but he has the money to make George and Lennie’s dream a reality. Much of the plot in the novel is a cycle of events, as are the lives of the characters. The story opens and closes in the same place, the men’s lives are a routine of work - earn money - spend money in the flop-house - work, and many of the chapters begin and end in similar ways. The book begins and ends in the same clearing with foreshadowing giving clues along the way.

The American Dream… … is the idea that America is a meritocracy, that if you work hard enough you will succeed, whatever your background. People coming to the United States were coming from countries (like England) where success depended much more upon your background. In the “old countries” people were born with wealth and status, they didn’t earn it. government of power by people selected on the basis of their ability So its that you have to work hard enough in order to succeed