Why 'Of Mice and Men'

I believe that Steinbeck called the book Of Mice and Men because because he is trying to express the idea that things can happen that you are not expecting, and you have nothing left. He is also saying that no matter how hard you work everything can be taken from you. In the poem To a Mouse a mouse has worked very hard to be able to last through the winter, and a farmer accidentally ploughs over the mouse's nest and all his work is ruined, also, because winter has come there is nothing the mouse can do to rebuild his nest because there are no twigs around and everything is frozen. In Of Mice and Men Lennie and George have been working hard their entire life to get enough money to fulfill their dream. Then Lennie accidentally kills curly's wife and they will no longer be able to work and get enough money. On top of that, George feels that it is necessary that he kills Lennie so that he/they won't get into any ore trouble. In both the book and thee poem very similar difficulties come up, and the effects are life altering.
I think by using "Of Mice and Men" as the title of the book Steinbeck is trying to say that there are traumas in every persons life and no life is an easy one; however, the people/creatures who are 'at the bottom' or are less fortunate are often effected in a more horrific way.
An example: Last year in Haiti there was a devastating earthquake (8.9), and this year there was an earthquake in Japan (8.9 and a tsunami was triggered). The earthquakes were the same size; however the one in Japan also caused a tsunami which made it 'worse'. The effects of the two earthquakes were very different though because Japan is a 1st world country and Haiti is a 3rd world country. Because the economy is not as strong in Haiti the infrastructure wasn't too strong either and building crumbled on top of people. However, in Japan buildings were built properly, and less collapsed. That is one example of how people of a lower class are effected in a harsher way by similar conflicts.

Alternate Ending to Of Mice and Men

          Lennie sat in the dirt beside the pool, "I remembered George, I remembered" he muttered to himself. His arms encircled his legs and he was squished into his smallest possible size. The chirping birds had flown away and all around was complete silence. George silently appeared from around the brush. "Lennie we otta go, th're cumin for ya."
"I didn't do notin wrong Goerge, I promise".
"I know you aint Lennie, but we aint got no choice. Come quietly Lennie".
          George went about making his own path. There was no option other than going across the pool of water. "Lennie?" came George's soothing voice.
"Ya George, Ill do anything for ya, what you need me to do George?"
"I know I made this mistake 'fore, but you gotta trust me."
"I'll do anythin for you George, I aint gunna disappoint you".
"Were gunna have to swim. I know I was mean 'fore, but its for ya own good Lennie. You need to trust me. "All you gotta do is kick. I can pull you mosta da way. You just gotta kick. You just gotta kick. can you repeat that for me Lennie?"
"I just gotta kick. All i gotta do is kick, you'll pull me mosta da way."
          George slipped in, the voices of the other men were nearing. "Cummon in Lennie. Just be quite and hold on, dont forget to kick" he added. Time past and the voices of the other men continued to grow louder. Lennie continued to show of his dog-paddle stroke. "Just keep kickin" was all that was said between the two men. The voices were growing. Lennie's kicks grew weaker. "I aint gunna be able to finish" whined Lennie.
"Do this for me Lennie, do it for me"
          Lennie's kicks sped up rapidly, the edge of the pool was near. The two men began running through the water. Once on land their trudge was slowed by their tired bodies and wet clothing.  The two men fell to the ground behind a tree. Their panting began to slow, as they realized they were free.
          George got up to see where they were. Behind some brush he found a path, and sitting in the middle of the path - a Rabbit.

Section Four - Crooks

On the outside, Crooks is a bitter, mean, and upset man. He often comes across as a strong/tough guy; however, he seems to be protective and cautious around certain people.

On the inside, Crooks is a very different person. He is lonely and wishes there were other people in his room, even if he comes across as someone who likes to be alone. Crooks is also very vulnerable, and isn't very strong about who he is and what he thinks. Finally, Crooks is a curious man, and because all he know is racism he himself is racist.

It is easy to see the differences between Crooks on the outside and inside. He is almost opposite on the outside. This is probably because he is insecure with who he is and feels very vulnerable. Crooks probably thinks that if he looks strong on the outside people will forget his different coloured skin and will try to get to know him.

Dreams and Ambitions

Once I am finished high school I would like to take a year off and do volunteering in another part of the world. Then I would like to go to university. I am not sure what I will take in university, but I would like to go away. Not living at home during university will give me the 'dorm experience' as well, I will learn to be more independent.

I am not sure what I would like to do when I am older. I am hoping that is what university will do for me. I am interested in English (writing) and chemistry. I also think something like an interior designer would be really fun. Other than work, I would like to have a family (husband + kids). Hopefully we will live in a nice house near either his or my parents so that we are always close to family. I would like to have enough money to be able to send my kids to a good school and go on vacations with my family.

Character Foil - George

"The first man was small and quick, dark of face, restless eyes and sharp, strong features. Every part of him was defined: small, strong hands, slender arms, a thin and bony nose."

First off, George is walking first - this says he has authority and is possibly smarter, of the leader of Lennie and himself. They say he is short, yet a fast thinker - quick on his feet. This quote says he has a dark face, meaning he is a working man and outside a lot. By saying that George has restless eyes the author might be trying to tell us that he is always cautious and looking out for anything that might cause harm to Lennie and himself. 

"The small man leaned over and shook him by the shoulder. 'Lennie. You gonna be sick like you was last night.'"

This quote tells us that George is obviously smart and thinks about possible affects of doing something. It is also telling us that he is looking out for Lennie, and he cares about him. 

"George undid his bindle and brought out three cans of beans. He stood them about the fire, close in against the blaze, but not quite touching the flame."

This quote explains to the reader that George is always looking ahead. He thought to carry some beans with him in case Lennie and himself weren't able to get work. He also brought three cans, not just one, proving that he wasn't just thinking of himself when he got the beans. Finally, this quote explains George is careful. He doesn't let the cans of beans touch the flame - possibly he is thinking about his own safety, but he is also probably thinking about the chance of a larger fire which he would want to avoid. 

Secondary Characters - The Boss

"He wore blue jean trousers, a flannel shirt, a black, unbuttoned vest and a black coat. His thumbs were stuck in his belt, on each side of a square steel buckle. On his head was a soiled brown Stetson hat, and he wore high-heeled boots and spurs to prove he was not a laboring man."

Would you be happy to have
 this person as your boss?

This quote gives a clear physical description of the boss. He is still of the working class (he is wearing denim); however, he has more money, or power (shown through his hat, boots, and spurs). 

"The boss turned on George. 'Then why don't you let him answer? What you trying to put over?'"

The boss doesn't trust many people. He thinks that it is odd that George and Lennie are friends and is going off of experiences in the past. His first impression is probably his only impression of people. 

"'...I got my eye on you...'"

When the boss says this to George he says it in a way that kind of says 'I don't trust you'. The boss probably doesn't trust anybody other than himself. 

My Bedroom

My bedroom is rectangular in shape. It is painted a bright green and it has a soft yellow ceiling. On one side of my room I have my bed, right up against the wall. I have a green and white duvet cover with bubbles on it. The bed has a wooden frame that matches my bed-side table. My bedside table is right beside my bed and underneath a window. It has one drawer and two shelves where I keep books and a box of tissues. On the other side of my window is a dresser. My dresser is also wooden, and it matches my bed and bed-side-table. On top of my dresser I have all my jewelry and make-up and above my dresser I have a mirror. On the other side of my dresser there is another window. My windows have plain white blinds that roll down, and decorative blue curtains (they don't do anything, they just look really pretty). Then there is a corner and on the next wall is my closet. Inside my closet I have dresses, and my uniform hanging up, as well as all of my sweaters. On the next wall is the door to my room and my desk. My desk is white and birch coloured. It is from IKEA. The desk has drawers down one side, and good sized working surface, and shelves above for storing binders and photographs of myself with family and friends. On the left side of my desk I have my fish. He is a Siamese Fighting fish, and his name is Fabio. He lives in a clear bowls with red rocks, and there is a little green plant in the back. Finally, beside my desk I have a bookshelf. Every room in my house has book shelfs, and the books on the one in my rooom aren't all mine. Somehow my parents have collected a large number of book and they end up being put in every room because there isn't enough space for all of them in just one room.

George and Lennie's room is very barren. All the walls are white and there is nothing on the floor. They have to share with 8 or so other people and they won't be sleeping on real mattresses, they are just straw stuffed into a burlap sack. Each person has a shelf, but it is only an apple box nailed to the wall. There is a small stove which might make it cozy; however, the idea that there is barley the necessities for living would make this a hard place to call home. They have a table with playing cards, but they don't even have chairs, they sit on boxes.

When comparing my room to George and Linnie's I fell very lucky. I feel bad for George and Lennie, because I would never want to have to call a place like the home. I like to have a room to myself, Every sumer I share a room with my sister at a cabin we rent, and i like it. It feels cozy and there is always someone there. But having to share with eight people would be hard. Especially because you might not know everyone you are sharing a room with. My sister and I are linked through blood, but these people have never met, and they might not get along very well. Our rooms are very different and I wish I could help people who have to live in these conditions have something more like me. Reading this makes me glad to be in Canada, and with a family who can afford very comfortable living conditions.

Of Mice and Men - Section 1

1. How is section 1 same/different form your expectations?

I thought the book was going to be written more simply and with less details. However, the first section created a great image in my mind. I can imagine both Lennie and George, and where they are at this moment in the story. I also thought that both George and Lennie would be looking out for each other. But it is mainly George who is looking out for Lennie. I do think there is something about their relationship that we don't know yet because Lennie has to be helping George in some way, otherwise they wouldn't be friends.

2. What dreams/ambitions do George and Lennie have?

George and Lennie hope to one day own a farm. George often told Lennie in detail what their farm would be like. They want to own a house and a few acres of land. They will own a cow and some pigs and "live off the fatta the lan'". They are going to have rabbits that Lennie will get to take care of. Also they are going to have a big vegetable garden, and during the winter when it rains they will decide to not farm and they will build a big fire and just listen to the rain on the roof of their house.

3. Do you think their dreams will be fulfilled, why or why not?

I don't think that their dreams will come true. At the beginning of the story George starts with how must farmers just go day by day and they always work for someone else. Then he proceeds by saying that him and Lennie are different because they have each other. But I think deep down George knows that they are just like any other farmer. I think that he still tells that story to Lennie because he doesn't want Lennie to give-up on George or himself. I believe that George also has to have a dream otherwise he wouldn't be going anywhere in life, and he knows that too.

4. Personal reflection on section 1: likes, dislikes, characters, setting, plot, dialogue, imagery.

I really like the writing style in section one. I get to paint a picture in my head without too much detail in the writing so I get to make up the details. However, I do find the dialogue hard to understand, and therefore I think it is taking away from the story for me. I thought that it was very smart that they started with what seemed like an ideal world and then George and Lennie came in and all the wild life ran away. This I think is a foreshadow kind of telling us how people react to George and Lennie.

5. Write 3 questions you have about what has happened so far.

-What does George get out of his relationship with Lennie?
-Why does Lennie want a pet so badly?
-Why does Lennie want George to tell him about their dreams when he already knows what he is going to say?

Of Mice and Men - Predictions

From seeing the trailer and hearing a short summary of Of Mice and Men, my predictions are the following.

I believe the story is going to be about two men - farmers. They won't be liked by other people for some reason, they may have disabilities, they may have odd characteristics, or just the fact that they are of the working class may set them aside from most other people. They will be best friends, and the people that help them get through any difficulties in their life.

I am guessing that the conflict will be when some other character may get upset at one of them, or even threaten them. The other person will feel an obligation to protect them and one, or both of their lives will be in danger.

Probably they both hope that if they work hard enough at one point in their life they will become accepted by others, and will no longer have to be laborers. However, until that point they know that they have each other, and will work as hard as they can.

Ernest Hemmingway

Ernest Miller Hemingway lived from July 21 1899 to July 2 1961. He was an author and journalist known for many of his great works written between the 1920's and 1950's. Some of is most famous books are:

• The Old Man and the Sea
• For Whom the Bell Tolls
• The Sun Also Rises
• A Farewell to Arms

In 1953 Hemingway won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, and in 1954 he won the Nobel Prize for Literature.

Hemingway was born in Oak Park, Illinois where he went to elementary and high school. Hemingway took part in many sports and played in the school band. At a young age Hemingway got good grades in English, and knew he wanted to be a writer, so took charge of writing and editing for his school's newspaper. After high school, and at the age of seventeen Hemingway went to work for "The Kansas City Star". However, he only stayed for half a year. 

During the First World War Hemingway joined a volunteer Ambulance unit at the age of 18. He was injured and taken to a hospital where he met Agnes Von Kurowsky. They planned to marry; however, their relation fell apart near the end of 1991 when she met another man. 

Hemingway then returned home. Soon after he moved to Toronto to work for the "Toronto Star Weekly". He enjoyed the job, but not the location, so he moved back home, only to leave once again to go to Chicago two months later (still writing for the "Toronto Star Weekly"). In Chicago Hemingway met Elizabeth Hadley, and they promptly moved to Paris together.

In Paris Hemingway and Hadley moved into a small apartment with no running water. In his first few years in France he met some other writers that helped him along his path to writing his best and most famous books. Ernest Hemingway soon began to make a name for himself. The Hemingways felt the need to leave Paris in 1923 when they learnt that they were expecting their first child, and wanted it born in North America. The Hemingways moved to Toronto where Ernest got to continue his writing for the newspaper that was located there and on October 10th 1923 John Hadley Nicanor Hemingway was born. By January of 1924 the Hemingsway were on a ship back to Paris. 

Between 1925 and 1929 Ernest Hemingway became truly famous. He wrote his first true novel The Sun Also Rises and according to critics was said to be the best author of his generation. During this period Hadley and Hemingway grew apart and got a divorce. Soon after Hemingway married Pauline Pfeiffer. Pauline became pregnant and the coupe moved back to America, this time to Key West (Florida), where Hemingway said he would never go back to living in a big city. On June 28th 1928 Patrick Hemingway was born. 

Hemingway on his Boat

Over the next few year Hemingway moved all over the Americas and Europe; however, he always said his home was in Key West. On November 12th 1931 Hemingway's third son Gregory was born in Kansas city. In 1934 Hemingway bought a boat and sailed through and around the Caribbean and arrived in Bimini where he spent a lot of time.

In 1937 Hemingway moved to Spain to report on the civil war. For two years he went back and forth between Key West and Spain. Then in 1939 he took his ship to Cuba and split with Pauline. Soon after he married Martha Gellhorn (whom he had me in Spain). He changed his 'home' once again, now that he was with a new wife. Martha and Ernest moved to Ketchum, Idaho. 

Hemingway's marriage with Martha only lasted for five years, when he fell in love with and married Mary who he lived with until he died. For the next two decades Hemingway continued to travel all over the world and wrote many more books. In those decades he also won many prizes for his writing.

Sadly, Hemingway's life ended in 1961 when he commited suicide; however, it was not until five years after his death that Hemingway's wife admitted that he had committed suicide. Until that time it was assumed he had died of natural causes. 

Sources:

http://www.lostgeneration.com/paris.htm

http://www.ernest.hemingway.com/

http://www.biography.com/articles/Ernest-Hemingway-9334498

http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/search/?keywords=ernest%20hemingway%20books&s_campaign=goo-Books%20By%20Author-E&s_kwcid=TC|5777|ernest%20hemingway%20books||S|e|4893606872&gclid=CLf9nI-s76YCFQUSbAodN3wNBg&cookieCheck=1

http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/literature/laureates/1954/hemingway-bio.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernest_Hemingway