By John Steinbeck. CONCEPT: HISTORICAL FICTION What is Historical Fiction?

By John Steinbeck

CONCEPT: HISTORICAL FICTIONWhat is Historical Fiction?

CONCEPT: SETTINGWhat is the setting of Of Mice and Men?

I. REVIEW HISTORICAL FICTIONA. A type of fiction (or false, untrue, story) that shows versions of people or events from history. Historical Fiction will either: i. present famous events from points of view not recorded in history, OR ii. use real historic events to add to a fiction story, OR iii. be true for the most part, but the names of people and places have been changed.

II. Setting of Of Mice and MenA. The setting of the novel is California in the 1930s on farmland of the Salinas Valley.B. The ranch in the novel is near Soledad, which is south-east of Salinas on the Salinas river.

The Fields of Salinas, California

The Beauty of Salinas

III. Migrant WorkersA. Men who traveled from ranch to ranch looking for temporary work. Between the 1880s and the 1930s, thousands of men would travel the countryside in search of work.

B. Some jobs on a Ranch:i. Skinner- or a mule driverii. Swamper- cleans the bunkhouse

C. A Bindlestiff is a hobo, especially one who carries a bedroll.

IV. The American Dream

Is supposed to mean:You can be successful if you work hard and live morally.America is the land of opportunity.Freedom to work hard and be happy is a part of the Constitution.The Dream gives equal opportunity and freedom to follow goals, without discrimination.

B. The idea of an American Dream for many was broken when in 1929, the Wall Street Stock Market crashed, marking the beginning of the Great Depression, which caused country-wide hunger and poverty.

LESSON ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS

CONCEPT: CHARACTERIZATIONWho are the main characters of Of Mice and Men?

CONCEPT: PLOTWhat is the exposition of Of Mice and Men?

CONCEPT: POINT OF VIEWWhat is the point of view of Of Mice and Men?

CONCEPT: SETTINGWhat details create the setting of Of Mice and Men?

CONCEPT: PLOTWhat are the complications of Of Mice and Men?

CONCEPT: CHARACTERIZATIONHow are the characters created through direct and indirect characterization?

CONCEPT: PLOTWhat is the climax of Of Mice and Men?

CONCEPT: PLOTWhat is the denouement, or resolution, of the novel?

CONCEPT: HISTORICAL FICTIONWhy is Of Mice and Men considered Historical Fiction?

CONCEPT: THEMEWhat are the major themes of the novel?

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By John Steinbeck. CONCEPT: HISTORICAL FICTION What is Historical Fiction?