2. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

3. Born on February 27, 1902 in Salinas, California. Attended Stanford, but did not graduate from there. 1936 Of Mice and Men published. Setting is Soledad, California

4. 1939 published The Grapes of Wrath, which won a Pulitzer Prize. Died on December 20, 1968, as one of the most honored writers of his time.

5. All of his novels deal with a personal experience. He advocated the need for humans and nature to be in partnership. His characters are the outcasts of society: poor, demented, uneducated and rebellious.

6. Of Mice and Men The Novel and Characters “The economic upheavals of the 1930’s produced a rootlessness in Americans who found themselves without possessions or hope. Of Mice and Men, is, in part, an examination of this peculiarly American kind of Alienation.”

8. George Milton Small Sharp-witted Ranch hand Takes care of Lennie

9. Large man with a slow mind. Short attention span Does not understand the outcomes of his actions.

10. Wise Well-respected ranch hand whose word is law

11. Ranch hand Exact opposite of Slim Coarse and insensitive Unable to understand the feelings of others

12. Ranch hand Old Lost a hand in an accident Only companion is an old dog

13. Got his name because of his crooked, hunchback body Proud and independent Negro An outcast at the ranch bitter against racial discrimination Accepted by Lennie and Candy

14. Small, evil son of the boss Wears a glove on one hand Vicious bully who picks on people smaller than him Tries to intimidate men bigger than him

15. Bitter wife of Curley Attempts to seduce the ranch hands Is called a tart by the ranch hands

16. Symbolism = most important literary element in the story

17. The American Dream: George and Lennie, Candy, andCrooks Loneliness: Candy, Crooks, and Curley’s Wife Innocence: Lennie Discrimination: Lennie, Curley’s Wife, Crooks, Candy Friendship: George, Lennie, and Candy