Chapter 6 Notes

Question: In this chapter, George ends up killing Lennie. Why didn't he just run away with Lennie again? Why did he kill him? Lennie had a mental disability, and George knew something bad would happened. Why didn't he just agree he'd kill him, then run away with him? Was it all for this new job? If so, he's wrong. He can't just kill like that.

Summarize: Lennie starts to hallucinate, he sees his Aunt Clara, and starts to see a bunny talking to him. George fun sky comes out from hiding and consoles Lennie about how he won't leave. Lennie then asks George to tell him about how they'll get away. As George is telling him, he shoots him, right where the skull meets the spine.

Reflect: "And George raised the gun and steadied it, and he brought the muzzle of it close to the back of Lennie's head. The hand shook violently, but his face set and his hand steadied. He pulled the trigger." George basically stabbed Lennie in the back. I don't know if he thought he was helping Lennie, or just wanted to get rid of him, but it was harsh. He turned his back on Lennie, he got rid of him. If I was Aunt Clara, I would be ashamed. He just needed attention, and all he wanted was to tend the rabbits. But he won't even get to do that anymore.

http://www.wambie.com/tuttifrutti_us/news/ADVICE_TIME__WHEN_A_FRIEND_TURNS_HER_BACK_ON__YOU-new_en-8382.html
Advice on when a friend turns their back on you.

Novel Reaction: Thinking Forward

We have investigated many captivating themes that exist in John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men over the last few weeks.  You have explored the desperation and poverty of the American 1930s through pictures and video.  You have witnessed how John Steinbeck used naturalism to portray certain characters as "human beasts" acting on impulsiveness and instinct for self-preservation.  You have examined how the author used literary devices such as sentimentalism, diction, tone, parallelism, and foreshadowing in order to propel these themes.  You have close-read and analyzed the text digging deeper and deeper for evidence of themes such as Power vs. Powerlessness, Individual vs. Community, The American Dream, Euthanasia, Racism, Loneliness, and maybe even a little Sexism.  Pat yourself on the back!  You have been critically thinking about this novella on so many different levels. 

For this week's blog response, you need to make some pretty serious decisions!  We are quickly approaching the time where you will be expected to write your Research Paper based on a topic of interest from Of Mice and Men.  If you have been keeping up with your reading, completing your notes, participating in conversations and activities during class on the various themes, and completing your blog responses this choice will be fairly easy!  If not, you may be in for a struggle....

What topic or theme that we have touched on during this unit has "hit home" with you the most?  Which theme or topic has a personal connection for you?  Which did you find most captivating or interesting to discuss and investigate during this unit?  Select a topic/theme from the list above that peaks your interest, and, in this week's blog response, discuss why you find it fascinating, which moment in the story you think about when reflecting on this theme, and how this theme is relevant in today's world.

The theme that I found most interesting was loneliness. I find loneliness fascinating because so many people in the world are lonely, and no one is aware. Loneliness can lead to bigger issues, such as depression, and suicide. It's a scary thing, and all you need is someone to be there for you. But it still isn't enough, because they don't understand, they won't understand. For all we know, our best friend could be lonely, but they won't tell us, they don't want to burden us with their problems.

When I think about the novella Of Mice and Men, many of the characters are lonely. Lennie, could as well be hiding his problems, he's trying to fit in, which most people with such problems do. Without Lennie, who would George have? No one. He's been with Lennie so long, he probably wouldn't want anyone. Curley is always looking for his wife, has anyone thought he could be so controlling because he doesn't want to loose her? Curley's wife just wants control, she married Curley to defy her mom. She could miss her mom, it's expected. Crooks probably misses his family and all the property he used to have. He's excluded, he has to sleep somewhere else because he's 'colored'.

  The psychological and Health Consequences of Loneliness: http://panicdisorder.about.com/od/livingwithpd/a/Loneliness.htm

Chapter 5 Notes

Summarize: In this chapter, all of the boys go out to play horseshoes. Except Lennie, he stays with his puppy. In a way, Lennie is just like a puppy, he can't remember much, and can't do much. He ends up killing his puppy, and tries to hide in. In the process of him trying to hide it, Curley's wife finds him. She convinces him to touch her hair, but soon she gets scared, and starts to yell. So, to prevent any trouble, Lennie snaps her neck.

Prediction: I think George will try and protect Lennie from Curley. George has stuck by Lennie's side, because of his Aunt Clara, I don't think he'd stop now. They might run away to another town, get new jobs, and make new friends. Soon, it'll probably become a routine for them.

Question: George is trying to make sure that they go easy on him. Isn't he tired of the things he has to go through on a daily basis because of Lennie? Is it just because of Lennie's Aunt Clara, that he stayed with him? Most people couldn't do what he does, so there must be a true friendship. Curley's wife gets scared of Lennie, when he doesn't let go. She could've easily avoided all of it, if she stayed away. Why does she have to seek attention from everyone?

http://psychology.about.com/od/psychotherapy/a/loneliness.htm

Chapter 4 Notes

Prediction: I think George will leave Lennie. Crooks leads the reader to believe he will. I find it pretty ironic, because if he does leave Lennie, in the beginning of the book it says that he promised Aunt Clara he wouldn't. I think he'll take off with Candy. Lennie will stay at the ranch and become friends with Crooks.
 
Summarize: In chapter four, a new character, Crooks was introduced. Because he's colored, he has to live in the barn. He likes to keep his distance from people, but he lets Lennie in. They get into a conversation about how George may not come back. Then Curleys wife comes in, stirring up trouble, as usual. But soon after George does come back with the boys.
 
Question: Crooks like to keep his distance. I wonder if its because he's always by himself or because someone hurt him. I wonder what's going through Lennie's head when Crooks is saying how George may have left him. I wonder whats going through his mind.

Investigating Themes In Of Mice and Men

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?

2)  What kind of relationship do George and Lennie have? Is their relationship a friendship? How does relationship express Steinbeck’s position on the individual versus the community?

George and Lennie have a conflicting relationship, they both rely on each other. George looks to Lennie for protect hi, he says that no one should mess with Lennie which was proved in chapter 3, when Lennie breaks Curley’s hand. Lennie looks up to George for guidance. George is the one who told Lennie to get Curley.

I think their relationship is a true friendship. I don’t think George would have stayed with Lennie if he didn’t care for him. I think Lennie probably thinks of George as his only family member after Aunt Clara passed.

Steinback shows how Lennie relies on George to be his parental figure. He asks George to tell him stories, for permission to do things, etc. George relies on Lennie to rough anyone up if they bother them. Lennie doesn’t know any better than to listen to George, so he does.

 How to be socially involved: http://www.mind.org.uk/mental_health_a-z/7977_socialising-how_to_stay_socially_involved

Naturalism

 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? 

       Steinback uses diction to describe Lennie's and George's surroundings. "The water is warm too, for it has slipped twinkling over the yellow sands in the sunlight before reaching the narrow pool." (1) He uses adjectives to describe how beautiful their surroundings are. But that isn't how it really is, it's how Lennie and George see it. After their trip, they're going to be yearning for water. He makes it sound like the 1930s were magnificent, and joyful by the way he describes it. Then he describes, "The first man was small and quick, dark of face, with restless eyes and sharp, strong features. Every part of him was defined: smalll, 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." (2) He describes Lennie as tired, and he compares how he's walking to a bear.


I believe Steinback was trying to show us that society sucked, but still sucks. They had to run, because Lennie, not knowing any better, petted a girls dress. If there was such a problem, they should have educated so. The 1930s were a time of misery, and loneliness. " They had walked in single file down the path, and even in the open one stayed behind the other." (2) They were together, but they weren't. They were basically making that trip by themselves.





Here's a link talking about jobs in the 1930's. http://www.livinghistoryfarm.org/farminginthe30s/money_06.html

Chapter 1 Notes

Questions:
       In chapter one two characters are introduced, Lennie, and George . George takes on the more parental role, he watches over Lennie . Lennie is described as the more muscular one, who doesn't know right from wrong, as George is described as the smaller of the two, and very caring over Lennie . In chapter one, the duo is walking down a long road, and finally stops for shelter . Why does George care so much about Lennie? It states because of his aunt, but is there something else behind all of his front? Why does Lennie like soft things so much? What did he think he was doing when he was touching the girls dress?

Prediction:
       I think that either Lennie will mess up his and George's chances of getting a job by telling the interviewer why they were running . Or he'll listen to George, and they'll both get a job . Maybe George could start looking for a girlfriend like he says he'd like to . Their lives would go on good, until Lennie messes up again . But I think George will stay with him through it all, he has so far .

Reflect:
       I feel bad for Lennie when he offers to run off, and not to be a bother . It sort of reminds me of myself, I always feel as if  I'm bothering people, and I offer to leave . I feel like Lennie thinks he's disappointing his friend, and doesn't want to anymore . I also feel like Lennie, when George tells him not to mess up with the interview, how he tells him to do a certain thing, not to mess anything up . I think the author wrote the book to show how some friends stick with you through thick and thin . The theme that is popping up for me is selflessness, George protects Lennie as if he was his own blood . I do enjoy the book so far, I was thrilled when my teacher told me we were going to read it . My favorite cousin, is an eighth grade teacher, and recommends me all these books, and this happened to be one of them . I've loved all the books shes recommended, I'm not going to doubt her now .

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!

The text I've just read reminds me of the second picture we viewed in class. Steinback describes how both the men are dressed, "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." Even though there is one man, it describes him perfectly, wearing all black, and with a large sack carrying his belongings. The picture reminds me of the first man described, thin but defined. 

I think Steinback is trying to show how tough it was in the 1930s. How the men would have to go travel  a long lonely way, to find work. The man in the picture is by himself, he's probably left his family behind, so he could settle himself.  "They had walked in single file down the path, and even in the open one stayed behind the other." It says how they were walking down the paths by themselves, not even conversing with each other.