Of Mice and Men Of Mice and Men byby

John SteinbeckJohn Steinbeck

Background on SteinbeckBackground on Steinbeck

Born in Salinas, California in Born in Salinas, California in 19021902

Most of his famous books were Most of his famous books were written:written:– in the 1930s and 1940sin the 1930s and 1940s– took place during that same time took place during that same time

period (Great Depression Era)period (Great Depression Era)– Set in CaliforniaSet in California

Background on Steinbeck, Background on Steinbeck, Cont.Cont.

His books deal with the His books deal with the – lives and problems of working lives and problems of working peoplepeople

His characters are usually His characters are usually – immigrants from Mexico or immigrants from Mexico or other parts of the U.S. looking other parts of the U.S. looking for a better life in Californiafor a better life in California

Steinbeck TimelineSteinbeck Timeline

1902 1902 BornBorn Feb. 27 Feb. 27thth in family home in family home 1919 1919 GraduatedGraduated from Salinas High School from Salinas High School 1919-1925 Attended 1919-1925 Attended Stanford UniversityStanford University 1925 Went to NYC, working odd jobs, 1925 Went to NYC, working odd jobs,

including manual labor for construction of including manual labor for construction of Madison Square Garden. Could not find Madison Square Garden. Could not find publisherpublisher

1926 Returned to California1926 Returned to California

Steinbeck Timeline Cont.Steinbeck Timeline Cont.

1929 1929 Cup of GoldCup of Gold became first became first published novelpublished novel

1930 Married Carol Henning1930 Married Carol Henning 1934 Mother died in the Salinas home1934 Mother died in the Salinas home 1935 Father died1935 Father died 1936 1936 Of Mice and MenOf Mice and Men, set around , set around

Soledad, was produced as a novel and Soledad, was produced as a novel and then a playthen a play

Steinbeck Timeline Cont.Steinbeck Timeline Cont.

1938 1938 The Grapes of Wrath-The Grapes of Wrath- Inspired Inspired nationwide attention on the living nationwide attention on the living conditions and exploitation of farm conditions and exploitation of farm workers during the Great Depressionworkers during the Great Depression

1940 Film version of The Grapes of 1940 Film version of The Grapes of WrathWrath

1940 Received the 1940 Received the Pulitzer PrizePulitzer Prize for for the novel Grapes of Wraththe novel Grapes of Wrath

1942 Divorced his wife1942 Divorced his wife

Steinbeck continuedSteinbeck continued

1943 Married Gwyndolyn Conger- a 1943 Married Gwyndolyn Conger- a war correspondent in Europe for the war correspondent in Europe for the Herald Tribune of NY during WWIIHerald Tribune of NY during WWII

1948 Divorced wife again1948 Divorced wife again 1949 Met Elaine Scott1949 Met Elaine Scott 1950 Married Elaine Scott1950 Married Elaine Scott 1952 1952 East of EdenEast of Eden, his major work , his major work

about the history of Salinas Valley about the history of Salinas Valley publishedpublished

Steinbeck ContinuedSteinbeck Continued 1960 Traveled through America with 1960 Traveled through America with

his poodle to write his poodle to write Travels with Travels with CharleyCharley. Took his last view of the . Took his last view of the Salinas Valley from Fremont Peak.Salinas Valley from Fremont Peak.

1962 Accepts the 1962 Accepts the Nobel PrizeNobel Prize in in Stockholm.Stockholm.

1968 1968 Died December 20Died December 20thth in New in New YorkYork

1969 March 41969 March 4thth , his ashes were , his ashes were buried in the Garden of Memories buried in the Garden of Memories Cemetery in SalinasCemetery in Salinas

Setting of OMAMSetting of OMAM

Farmland of Salinas ValleyFarmland of Salinas Valley Steinbeck’s father owned land in the Steinbeck’s father owned land in the

area and Steinbeck worked as a farm area and Steinbeck worked as a farm handhand

The ranch in the storyThe ranch in the story– Near Soledad, south-east of Salinas on Near Soledad, south-east of Salinas on

Salinas RiverSalinas River– The town Weed is nearbyThe town Weed is nearby

Migrant Farm WorkersMigrant Farm Workers When When OMAMOMAM was published, almost was published, almost

half America’s grain was harvested half America’s grain was harvested by huge combine harvestersby huge combine harvesters

George and Lennie (main George and Lennie (main characters of characters of OMAMOMAM) are some of ) are some of the last migrant farm workersthe last migrant farm workers

Migrant workers earned $2.50 or Migrant workers earned $2.50 or $3.00 a day, plus food and very $3.00 a day, plus food and very basic accommodationbasic accommodation

1930s1930s

Unemployment in United States very Unemployment in United States very badbad

New Deal New Deal – Agencies sent farm workers to where Agencies sent farm workers to where

they were neededthey were needed George and Lennie got their work George and Lennie got their work

cards from Murray and Ready’s, one cards from Murray and Ready’s, one of these agenciesof these agencies

THE AMERICAN DREAMTHE AMERICAN DREAM

Immigrants dreamed of a better life in Immigrants dreamed of a better life in AmericaAmerica– Wanted to escape persecution or povertyWanted to escape persecution or poverty

For many the dream became a nightmareFor many the dream became a nightmare Slavery, American civil war, slums, Slavery, American civil war, slums,

corruptioncorruption As a whole the dream ended with the As a whole the dream ended with the

Wall Street crash of 1929Wall Street crash of 1929

The Dream, not a Dream The Dream, not a Dream AnymoreAnymore

With the crash of Wall Street came the With the crash of Wall Street came the Great DepressionGreat Depression

The dream only survived for individuals The dream only survived for individuals who made their way west to Californiawho made their way west to California

The growing popularity of cinema was The growing popularity of cinema was the last American dream for many, the last American dream for many, Curley’s wife was one: “Coulda been in Curley’s wife was one: “Coulda been in the movies, had nice clothes.”the movies, had nice clothes.”

Why Of Mice and Men?Why Of Mice and Men?

Title comes from a poem by Scottish Title comes from a poem by Scottish poet Robert Burns, “To A Mouse”poet Robert Burns, “To A Mouse”““The best laid schemes o’ mice and menThe best laid schemes o’ mice and men

Gang aft agley Gang aft agley (often go wrong)(often go wrong)

And leave us nought but grief and painAnd leave us nought but grief and pain

For promised joy!”For promised joy!”