I think the book is called Of Mice and Mean because in the poem- much like in the book- the mouse takes what it can get and adapts to it. Lennie and George had to deal with what little money and possessions that they had and adapt. The mouse had to build it's own home and after some work it was complete. Similarly to the book, the mouse's home would represent ambitions and the sudden destruction of it represents life. Life changes frequently and drastically in the blink of an eye. In merely seconds, your whole life could be turned around. The overall message of the book is probably about adapting and reacting to failure and not everything goes according to plan; things change frequently. Steinbeck is saying that life isn't perfect, but we can learn from the mouse, who makes the most of what it has in the present.
Wednesday, 30 May 2012
Final Blog Post
The ending is powerful, I didn't think that George would be able to do it, to kill Lennie. It leaves me dumbfounded because it killed all the hopes and dreams of anything good happening to them. In this way, the book is realistic; you can't always get what you want. I think it was appropriate, any other ending wouldn't have the same impact. I like that Lennie was thinking of his dreams and being happy before he got shot and George killing Lennie out of love. Lennie was either going to be killed by Curley (out of pure hatred) or put in jail (he would live miserably for years and years). The irony shows just how much George cares for Lennie. I dislike the last sentence of the book. It could mean several different things, but to me I think Carlson's asking what is wrong with them (George and Lennie). It's not a cliffhanger, but it leaves you thinking.
Sunday, 27 May 2012
Literary Devices
Imagery- descriptive language used to appeal to various senses
This was used frequently throughout this book to describe (mostly) scenery or characters.
"On one side of the river the golden foothill slopes curve up to the strong and rocky Gabilan Mountains, but on the valley side the water is lined with trees— willows fresh and green with every spring, carrying in their lower leaf junctures the debris of the winter’s flooding; and sycamores with mottled, white, recumbent limbs and branches that arch over the pool."
This was used frequently throughout this book to describe (mostly) scenery or characters.
"On one side of the river the golden foothill slopes curve up to the strong and rocky Gabilan Mountains, but on the valley side the water is lined with trees— willows fresh and green with every spring, carrying in their lower leaf junctures the debris of the winter’s flooding; and sycamores with mottled, white, recumbent limbs and branches that arch over the pool."
Characterization- a description of a person that describes distinct features and characteristics
An example of this was when Lennie was introduced to the reader and his features and behavior were described.
An example of this was when Lennie was introduced to the reader and his features and behavior were described.
"Behind him walked his opposite, a huge man, shapeless of face, with large, pale eyes, and
wide, sloping shoulders; and he walked heavily, dragging his feet a little, the way a bear drags his paws."
Motif- a main idea or feature in literary and artistic work
A main motif of this book was the idea of value of people, animals, and things. For instance when Candy talks about how the men on the ranch would get rid of him once he is of no use.
“'I got hurt four year ago,' he said. 'They’ll can me purty soon. Jus’ as soon as I can’t swamp out no bunk houses they’ll put me on the county.'"
A main motif of this book was the idea of value of people, animals, and things. For instance when Candy talks about how the men on the ranch would get rid of him once he is of no use.
“'I got hurt four year ago,' he said. 'They’ll can me purty soon. Jus’ as soon as I can’t swamp out no bunk houses they’ll put me on the county.'"
Foreshadowing- to indicate an event before it happens
A major foreshadow was in the beginning of the book, when a serene and peaceful landscape was being painted; before Lennie and George trampled through it. Some animals that were so still became alert and scurried off in an instant.
"And then from the direction of the state highway came the sound of footsteps on crisp sycamore leaves. The rabbits hurried noiselessly for cover. A stilted heron labored up into the air and pounded down river."
A major foreshadow was in the beginning of the book, when a serene and peaceful landscape was being painted; before Lennie and George trampled through it. Some animals that were so still became alert and scurried off in an instant.
"And then from the direction of the state highway came the sound of footsteps on crisp sycamore leaves. The rabbits hurried noiselessly for cover. A stilted heron labored up into the air and pounded down river."
Zoomorphism- to apply animal characteristics and behaviors to people
An example of this is when George was slightly irritated at Lennie for bringing the pup into the bunkhouse and Lennie carefully exited the room to go to the barn; trying to draw as little attention as possible by acting similar to an insect.
"Lennie fairly scuttled out of the room."
An example of this is when George was slightly irritated at Lennie for bringing the pup into the bunkhouse and Lennie carefully exited the room to go to the barn; trying to draw as little attention as possible by acting similar to an insect.
"Lennie fairly scuttled out of the room."
Suspense- makes the audience tense because of the past events or anticipate the next event
After Lennie killed Candy's wife, the audience is very tense because a number of things could happen to Lennie.
"And then she was still, for Lennie had broken her neck."
After Lennie killed Candy's wife, the audience is very tense because a number of things could happen to Lennie.
"And then she was still, for Lennie had broken her neck."
Mood- the atmosphere of literary work that intends to evoke specific emotions from an audience
For instance when the men in the bunkhouse were silent and waiting to hear the gunshot of Carlson's gun to Candy's dog's head. The mood was very solemn and uncomfortable and the audience felt some part of Candy's pain.
"The silence fell on the room again. A minute passed, and another minute. Candy lay still, staring at the ceiling. Slim gazed at him for a moment and then looked down at his hands; he subdued one hand with the other, and held it down."
For instance when the men in the bunkhouse were silent and waiting to hear the gunshot of Carlson's gun to Candy's dog's head. The mood was very solemn and uncomfortable and the audience felt some part of Candy's pain.
"The silence fell on the room again. A minute passed, and another minute. Candy lay still, staring at the ceiling. Slim gazed at him for a moment and then looked down at his hands; he subdued one hand with the other, and held it down."
Round characters- a character that is more developed than flat characters. They have more than one side to them.
George is an example of a round character, as are many main characters. He is very sensible and somewhat strict but the audience also knows about when he almost drowned Lennie as a joke.
"One day a bunch of guys was standin’ around up on the Sacramento River. I was feelin’ pretty smart. I turns to Lennie and says, ‘Jump in.’ An’ he jumps. Couldn’t swim a stroke. He damn near drowned before we could get him.'"
George is an example of a round character, as are many main characters. He is very sensible and somewhat strict but the audience also knows about when he almost drowned Lennie as a joke.
"One day a bunch of guys was standin’ around up on the Sacramento River. I was feelin’ pretty smart. I turns to Lennie and says, ‘Jump in.’ An’ he jumps. Couldn’t swim a stroke. He damn near drowned before we could get him.'"
Flat characters- a character that is very one sided and perceived with a specific opinion by the audience
Curley is an excellent example of a flat character in this book. All the book tells the audience is that he is cocky, arrogant, aggressive, and irritated. A generally not well-liked character.
"He glanced coldly at George and then at Lennie. His arms gradually bent at the elbows and his hands closed into fists. He stiffened and went into a slight crouch. His glance was at once calculating and pugnacious."
Curley is an excellent example of a flat character in this book. All the book tells the audience is that he is cocky, arrogant, aggressive, and irritated. A generally not well-liked character.
"He glanced coldly at George and then at Lennie. His arms gradually bent at the elbows and his hands closed into fists. He stiffened and went into a slight crouch. His glance was at once calculating and pugnacious."
Character foils- a contrasting character to a more primary character. They are usually complete opposites and are useful to characterize the more primary character.
Slim and Curley are character foils to one another. Though they are equally as primary, they are still complete opposites. Slim is tall, reasonable, respected, and intelligent whereas Curley is short, irrational, simple-minded, and predictable.
Describing Slim: "There was a gravity in his manner and a quiet so profound that all talk stopped when he spoke. His authority was so great that his word was taken on any subject, be it politics or love. This was Slim, the jerkline skinner. His hatchet face was ageless. He might have been thirty-five or fifty. His ear heard more than was said to him, and his slow speech had overtones not of thought, but of understanding beyond thought. His hands, large and lean, were as delicate in their action as those of a temple dancer."
Describing Curley: "Then Curley’s rage exploded. 'Come on, ya big bastard. Get up on your feet. No big son-of-a-bitch is gonna laugh at me. I’ll show ya who’s yella.'”
Slim and Curley are character foils to one another. Though they are equally as primary, they are still complete opposites. Slim is tall, reasonable, respected, and intelligent whereas Curley is short, irrational, simple-minded, and predictable.
Describing Slim: "There was a gravity in his manner and a quiet so profound that all talk stopped when he spoke. His authority was so great that his word was taken on any subject, be it politics or love. This was Slim, the jerkline skinner. His hatchet face was ageless. He might have been thirty-five or fifty. His ear heard more than was said to him, and his slow speech had overtones not of thought, but of understanding beyond thought. His hands, large and lean, were as delicate in their action as those of a temple dancer."
Describing Curley: "Then Curley’s rage exploded. 'Come on, ya big bastard. Get up on your feet. No big son-of-a-bitch is gonna laugh at me. I’ll show ya who’s yella.'”
Symbolism- any noun that represents a concept or idea
An example of this is the playing cards during the scene when Candy's dog was being shot. They symbolize being at ease, having fun, and are a way of getting distracted. All the things the men in the room wanted to be doing while the dog was being shot.
"George brought the cards together tightly and studied the backs of them. The silence was in the room again."
An example of this is the playing cards during the scene when Candy's dog was being shot. They symbolize being at ease, having fun, and are a way of getting distracted. All the things the men in the room wanted to be doing while the dog was being shot.
"George brought the cards together tightly and studied the backs of them. The silence was in the room again."
Dialogue- conversation between characters
The book was filled with dialogue when there wasn't imagery.
"'Huh? Oh! Hello, Crooks. What’s’ a matter?'
'You told me to warm up tar for that mule’s foot. I got it warm.'
'Oh! Sure, Crooks. I’ll come right out an’ put it on.'
'I can do it if you want, Mr. Slim.'
'No. I’ll come do it myself.'"
The book was filled with dialogue when there wasn't imagery.
"'Huh? Oh! Hello, Crooks. What’s’ a matter?'
'You told me to warm up tar for that mule’s foot. I got it warm.'
'Oh! Sure, Crooks. I’ll come right out an’ put it on.'
'I can do it if you want, Mr. Slim.'
'No. I’ll come do it myself.'"
Setting- the location of scenes
The bunkhouse is a setting to some important scenes in this book such as Curley and Lennie's fight and the shooting of Candy's dog.
"Although there was evening brightness showing through the windows of the
bunk house, inside it was dusk. Through the open door came the thuds and
occasional clangs of a horseshoe game, and now and then the sound of voices
raised in approval or derision."
The bunkhouse is a setting to some important scenes in this book such as Curley and Lennie's fight and the shooting of Candy's dog.
"Although there was evening brightness showing through the windows of the
bunk house, inside it was dusk. Through the open door came the thuds and
occasional clangs of a horseshoe game, and now and then the sound of voices
raised in approval or derision."
Theme- a central concept or idea
Treachery is a main theme of the book such as when Lennie touched the girl's dress in weed it was decided as a rape and how many men start work on lazy days to get free meals then leave after they're over.
“'You do if you been around these big ranches much.
Guy that wants to look over a ranch comes in Sat’day afternoon. He gets
Sat’day night supper an’ three meals on Sunday, and he can quit Monday
mornin’ after breakfast without turning his hand. But you come to work Friday
noon. You got to put in a day an’ a half no matter how you figure.'”
Treachery is a main theme of the book such as when Lennie touched the girl's dress in weed it was decided as a rape and how many men start work on lazy days to get free meals then leave after they're over.
“'You do if you been around these big ranches much.
Guy that wants to look over a ranch comes in Sat’day afternoon. He gets
Sat’day night supper an’ three meals on Sunday, and he can quit Monday
mornin’ after breakfast without turning his hand. But you come to work Friday
noon. You got to put in a day an’ a half no matter how you figure.'”
Tuesday, 22 May 2012
Fourth Section
Lennie
On the outside, Lennie is innocent, strong, slow (mentally), and clueless. It seems as though he can't fully think for himself, unlike the other characters in the book. He doesn't use his strength for harm unless he has to, which shows how innocent he is. He also forgets what he's told over, and over again. He's also clueless about the dangers of talking to Curley's wife which also proves how sharp his mental functions are.
On the inside, Lennie is caring, simple, enthusiastic, and he doesn't think to much. He probably thinks about rabbits, puppies, their dreams of private property, and George. Or he doesn't think much at all.
The inner and outer Lennie are very alike. There are not many differences because a main quality of Lennie is that he's innocent and he is an open book. He is predictable and his actions and thoughts on the inside come through on the outside just as clearly. For instance, when he's mad, it is visibly clear that he is mad because he looks threatening.
On the outside, Lennie is innocent, strong, slow (mentally), and clueless. It seems as though he can't fully think for himself, unlike the other characters in the book. He doesn't use his strength for harm unless he has to, which shows how innocent he is. He also forgets what he's told over, and over again. He's also clueless about the dangers of talking to Curley's wife which also proves how sharp his mental functions are.
On the inside, Lennie is caring, simple, enthusiastic, and he doesn't think to much. He probably thinks about rabbits, puppies, their dreams of private property, and George. Or he doesn't think much at all.
The inner and outer Lennie are very alike. There are not many differences because a main quality of Lennie is that he's innocent and he is an open book. He is predictable and his actions and thoughts on the inside come through on the outside just as clearly. For instance, when he's mad, it is visibly clear that he is mad because he looks threatening.
Third Section
"'S'pose I went in with you guys. Tha's three hundred an' fifty bucks I'd put in.'"
This is a turning point because since the beginning of this book, Lennie and George have dreamed about their own house with only two of them. Now Candy overheard their conversation and wants to pitch in and move in with them. He is putting more than half of his share of the house for three. Lennie and George don't particularly want Candy to join them, but it would take a lot longer to buy a house like that with only the two of them. Because of Candy, this dream could turn to a reality.
Juxtaposition- when two or more things are placed side by side
He does this because it shows how desperate times are and how much George and Lennie want to escape from situations such as the fight between Curley and Lennie. Lennie beating up Curley could symbolize how much they want to achieve their dreams. Lennie could symbolize the both of them and Curley could symbolize all of the obstacles in their way.
This is a turning point because since the beginning of this book, Lennie and George have dreamed about their own house with only two of them. Now Candy overheard their conversation and wants to pitch in and move in with them. He is putting more than half of his share of the house for three. Lennie and George don't particularly want Candy to join them, but it would take a lot longer to buy a house like that with only the two of them. Because of Candy, this dream could turn to a reality.
Juxtaposition- when two or more things are placed side by side
He does this because it shows how desperate times are and how much George and Lennie want to escape from situations such as the fight between Curley and Lennie. Lennie beating up Curley could symbolize how much they want to achieve their dreams. Lennie could symbolize the both of them and Curley could symbolize all of the obstacles in their way.
Thursday, 17 May 2012
My Ambitions for the Future
I hope to live in luxury, but nothing grand. I hope to be successful in whatever job I end up choosing and enjoy it. I also want to have influenced someone/multiply people with ideas or anything really. I want to be active and constantly be busy doing something like kayaking, rock-climbing, camping, going to concerts, and traveling. I especially want to travel around the world, backpacking and such. Going to places like Australia, New Zealand, England, Russia, Thailand, Malaysia, Uganda, Brazil, Germany, and many, many more. I want to have many achievements as well. I want to have made a whole bunch of friends around the world and keep in touch with them. I want to live with another person (room-mate, spouse, etc.) and have a golden retriever.
Monday, 14 May 2012
Slim's Characterization
"There was a gravity in his manner and a quiet
so profound that all talk stopped when he spoke. His authority was so
great that his word was taken on any subject, be it politics or
love."
This quote explains the unexplainable respect for this man and
that he was not similar to Curley, who is loud, rambunctious, and aggresive.
Slim seems to be elegant, quiet, and thoughtful. His earned respect not
because of status but because of the other farmer's mutual respect for him. And
if that many people do respect him, that means that he is
a likeable guy.
"Slim
looked approvingly at George for having given the compliment."
So far, the other characters have been character foils to Slim
and it is obvious in this situation, when George tells the other that they
travel together. While most would be suspicious of why George would want to
help Lennie, Slim accepted it and approved of George defending Lennie. Just
that fact sets Slim apart, but many other things make them character foils.
"His
tone was friendly. It invited confidence without demanding it."
So far, the other characters haven't taken the time to be
conversational and friendly. During the Great Depression I'm sure it was
difficult to be friendly and approachable to strangers. //other conversations
have required George to step up with his confident and proper role and put on a
show whereas when he was talking to Slim, he had no obligation to defend
himself.
Curley's Wife Characterization
“Nobody can’t blame a person for lookin’,”
This quote is proof that Curley's wife really doesn't mind people looking at her and she was also flirting with Lennie and George. She also seems to be confident in how she looks because of her clothes and makeup because she doesn't shy away from onlookers but instead welcomes them to gaze at her.
"She put her hands behind her back and leaned against the door frame
so that her body was thrown forward."
This sentence is one of the more descriptive sentences that displays her overall character. She is very flirtatious and by looking at the sentence above, likes to show off her body to strangers. Curley's wife takes pride in how she looks.
"Bet she’d clear out for twenty bucks.”
This sentence could mean that she doesn't have any preference of who exactly she's with, she will take whatever's given to her, gladly. This sentence could also mean that she shares qualities of a prostitute and would be willing to be paid to do things.
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