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Of Mice and Of Mice and Men Men by John Steinbeck by John Steinbeck Background Information Background Information

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

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Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. Background Information. John Steinbeck. Born on February 27 th , 1902 in Salinas, CA . - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Page 1: Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

Of Mice and Of Mice and MenMen

by John Steinbeckby John SteinbeckBackground InformationBackground Information

Page 2: Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

John SteinbeckJohn Steinbeck Born on February 27Born on February 27thth, 1902 in , 1902 in

Salinas, CASalinas, CA.. The works he is best known for The works he is best known for

are are Of Mice and Men Of Mice and Men (1937), and (1937), and The Grapes of Wrath The Grapes of Wrath (1939), both (1939), both of which focus on the lives of the of which focus on the lives of the working-class poor during the working-class poor during the Great Depression.Great Depression.

He wrote using a very natural, He wrote using a very natural, realistic style.realistic style.

In 1962, he was awarded the In 1962, he was awarded the Nobel Prize for LiteratureNobel Prize for Literature..

He died on December 20He died on December 20thth, 1968., 1968. He had 30 novels published, three He had 30 novels published, three

of which came out after his death.of which came out after his death.

Page 3: Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

Of Mice and MenOf Mice and Men Of Mice and MenOf Mice and Men was written in 1937.was written in 1937. It tells the story of George and Lennie, two It tells the story of George and Lennie, two

migrant farm workers during the Great migrant farm workers during the Great Depression.Depression.

The title refers to a line in the poem "To a The title refers to a line in the poem "To a Mouse" by Robert BurnsMouse" by Robert Burns..

The story was originally intended to be a play, The story was originally intended to be a play, and is in many ways structured like one, with and is in many ways structured like one, with several long scenes, stage-direction like several long scenes, stage-direction like descriptions, and large amounts of dialogue.descriptions, and large amounts of dialogue.

The novel has been banned periodically in the The novel has been banned periodically in the United States for a variety of reasons, including United States for a variety of reasons, including "profane" language, morality, violence, and the "profane" language, morality, violence, and the depiction of the mentally challenged.depiction of the mentally challenged.

Page 4: Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

Setting of Setting of Of Mice and Of Mice and MenMen

The novel is set in the farmland of the The novel is set in the farmland of the Salinas valley, where John Steinbeck was Salinas valley, where John Steinbeck was bornborn

The ranch in the novel is near Soledad, The ranch in the novel is near Soledad, which is south-east of Salinas on the which is south-east of Salinas on the Salinas river.Salinas river.

The countryside described at the The countryside described at the beginning of the novel, and the ranch itself beginning of the novel, and the ranch itself is based on Steinbeck’s own experiences.is based on Steinbeck’s own experiences.

Page 5: Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

Historical Background to Historical Background to Migrant WorkersMigrant Workers

Before technology created farm machinery, Before technology created farm machinery, humans had to do a lot of the farm work by hand.humans had to do a lot of the farm work by hand.

Between the 1880s and the 1930s thousands of Between the 1880s and the 1930s thousands of men would travel the countryside in search of men would travel the countryside in search of work, including the harvesting of wheat.work, including the harvesting of wheat.

These workers would earn $2.50 or $3.00 a day, These workers would earn $2.50 or $3.00 a day, plus food and shelter.plus food and shelter.

During the 1930s, the unemployment rate was During the 1930s, the unemployment rate was high in the U.S., and with so many men high in the U.S., and with so many men searching for work, agencies were set up to send searching for work, agencies were set up to send farmworkers to where they were needed.farmworkers to where they were needed.

In the novel, George and Lennie (the two main In the novel, George and Lennie (the two main characters) were given work cards from Murray characters) were given work cards from Murray and Ready’s, which was one of the farmwork and Ready’s, which was one of the farmwork agencies.agencies.

Page 6: Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

The American DreamThe American Dream From the 17From the 17thth Century onwards, Century onwards,

immigrants have dreamed of a better immigrants have dreamed of a better life in America.life in America.

Many people immigrated to America Many people immigrated to America in search of a new life for themselves in search of a new life for themselves or their families.or their families.

Many others immigrated to escape Many others immigrated to escape persecution or poverty in their persecution or poverty in their homeland.homeland.

Page 7: Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

American Dream cont’dAmerican Dream cont’d These immigrants dreamed of making their These immigrants dreamed of making their

fortunes in America. fortunes in America. For many this dream of riches became a For many this dream of riches became a

nightmare. nightmare. There were horrors of slavery.There were horrors of slavery. There were horrors of the American Civil War.There were horrors of the American Civil War. There was a growing number of slums that were There was a growing number of slums that were

just as bad as those in Europe.just as bad as those in Europe. There was also great corruption in the American There was also great corruption in the American

political system which led to many shattered political system which led to many shattered hopes.hopes.

Page 8: Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

The Great Depression and The Great Depression and Dust BowlDust Bowl

The idea of an American Dream for The idea of an American Dream for many was broken when in 1929, the many was broken when in 1929, the Wall Street crashed, marking the Wall Street crashed, marking the beginning of the Great Depression beginning of the Great Depression

In addition, terrible drought and In addition, terrible drought and environmental conditions created environmental conditions created the turmoil for farmers known as the the turmoil for farmers known as the Dust Bowl.Dust Bowl.

Page 9: Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

The Great DepressionThe Great Depression Before the 1930s, America was Before the 1930s, America was

enjoying economic triumph.enjoying economic triumph. The idea of credit – buy now, pay The idea of credit – buy now, pay

later – was introduced and people later – was introduced and people bought everything they could.bought everything they could.

Unfortunately, this time of Unfortunately, this time of enjoyment and prosper would soon enjoyment and prosper would soon be over. be over.

Page 10: Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

The Great DepressionThe Great Depression One of the major causes of the Great One of the major causes of the Great

Depression was the collapse of the Depression was the collapse of the Stock Market on “Black Tuesday”, Stock Market on “Black Tuesday”, October 29October 29thth , 1929. , 1929.

In a single day, sixteen million shares In a single day, sixteen million shares were traded--a record--and thirty were traded--a record--and thirty billion dollars vanished into thin air.billion dollars vanished into thin air.

Two months after the original crash in Two months after the original crash in October, stockholders had lost more October, stockholders had lost more than $40 billion dollars. than $40 billion dollars.

Page 11: Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

The Great DepressionThe Great Depression Another cause of the Great Another cause of the Great

Depression was bank Depression was bank failures.failures.

Throughout the 1930s over Throughout the 1930s over 9,000 banks failed. 9,000 banks failed.

Bank deposits were Bank deposits were uninsured and thus as uninsured and thus as banks failed people simply banks failed people simply lost their savings. lost their savings.

Surviving banks, unsure of Surviving banks, unsure of the economic situation and the economic situation and concerned for their own concerned for their own survival, stopped being as survival, stopped being as willing to create new loans.willing to create new loans.

Page 12: Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

The Great DepressionThe Great Depression With the stock market crash and the With the stock market crash and the

fears of further economic woes, fears of further economic woes, individuals from all classes stopped individuals from all classes stopped purchasing items. purchasing items.

This then led to a reduction in the This then led to a reduction in the number of items produced and thus number of items produced and thus a reduction in the workforce. a reduction in the workforce.

As people lost their jobs, they were As people lost their jobs, they were unable to keep up with paying for unable to keep up with paying for items they had bought through items they had bought through credit and their items were credit and their items were repossessed.repossessed.

The unemployment rate rose above The unemployment rate rose above 25% which meant, of course, even 25% which meant, of course, even less spending to help alleviate the less spending to help alleviate the economic situation. economic situation.

Page 13: Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

The Dust BowlThe Dust Bowl In addition to the Great Depression, the Dust In addition to the Great Depression, the Dust

Bowl was also causing the morale of the country Bowl was also causing the morale of the country to become increasingly despair.to become increasingly despair.

Throughout the late 1920s and early 1930s, the Throughout the late 1920s and early 1930s, the Great Plains suffered a severe drought.Great Plains suffered a severe drought.

In 1934, windstorms covered the Great Plains.  In 1934, windstorms covered the Great Plains.  They easily uplifted the soil, blowing massive They easily uplifted the soil, blowing massive clouds of dust all over the plains.clouds of dust all over the plains.

Thousands of people were forced to leave their Thousands of people were forced to leave their homes because of the Dust Bowl.  89 million homes because of the Dust Bowl.  89 million acres of land were severely damaged or acres of land were severely damaged or destroyed.  destroyed. 

Most people traveled to California to restart their Most people traveled to California to restart their lives.lives.

Page 14: Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

The The DustDust Bowl Bowl