Chapter 6 Notes

Summary- in this chapter the story "Of Mice & Men" has come to a conclusion. Lennie waited near the river reminiscing all the bad things he has caused for George. He is just hoping George can forgive him. Then he starts day-dreaming about Aunt Clara and a rabbit. Then that is when George comes with a gun. George knows that if he doesn't kill Lennie, he will suffer by Curley. So George put the gun to Lennie's head and shot him.

Question? In the novel we know that Curley is looking for Lennie to make him suffer. But, what I wonder is why did George just decide to run with Lennie then to take his life away? I wonder because how can you gain enough courage to kill someone you adore so much and has helped you with a lot. I believe that George made a coward move so he can stay fine with Curley.

Prediction- If Steinbeck created another book I have many predictions he would do with it. I think if he had another book he would put George as his main focal point. He would put him as being more prosperous him being a lone then with Lennie. But, i believe whats his achieves enough wealth to be satisfied he is going to regret more and more what he did to Lennie. That is because Lennie will never be able to have success because of ehat George did.

Novel Reaction: Thinking Forward

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?

A theme that we talked about that have hit me the most is how hard it was to fulfill the American Dream during that time period. Everyone wanted freedom, wealth, Etc. During the 1930's people struggled to gain even one of these assets. But, in todays society people take advantage of all the things we have. Many countries do not have the right to have freedom and over 60 years ago we didn't have complete freedom either. So this its home to me because I find it the easiest to connect to, because of how often I see it. The part in the novella that conveys this the most is when you see George and Lennie doing physical labor just to make some money. It shows the difficulty it actually took to follow the American Dream during the 1930's

A portrait of racism

Chapter 4 in Of Mice and Man, paints a very realistic portrait of racism in the 1930s. Discuss at least two ways in which racism is explored in this chapter. Include quotes and your own analysis of key moments in this chapter that clearly demonstrate the racism that existed in the American 1930s. What do readers understand about racism as a result of reading this chapter?

During the time period Of Mice & Men, segregation still exist. Even though there is no more slavery, racism is still evident. An example of this is Crooks who is an african american. Everyone shares a room with each other except this man, because of his skin color. Since he is black he has to be isolated from the rest of everyone. Another example of the racism that exist is when Lennie is talking to him about him & George owning some land. "You're nuts" (Steinbeck 74). At that time period african Americans did not have the right to own any land so to hear this sounded like a joke to Crooks. By reading this chapter you will now know more on how blacks were treated if they had a job. They were like an animal in a cage. Come out when you are told to and if your not just stay lonely and depressed in your room. By reading this you now know the mental-aspect of being colored during the 1930s.

Chapter 4 notes

Summary- so far in the story we are introduced to a new character Crooks in detail. Him & Lennie was talking for awhile and Crooks told him his story. Crooks told him how he feels alone and lonely. One of the main factors of this is because he is black. But, he might have found a friend in Lennie because he doesn't discriminate. Its sad to see someone alone because of the color of his skin.

Prediction- I think the next chapter we will see Lennie tend the rabbits. Last chapter Candy told him that he is going to be able to. But, the only factor that I believe might stop him is Curley. He already doesn't like Lennie so I believe he is going to do everything he can to make Lennie look bad.

Connection- "But i get to tend 'em," Lennie broke in. "George says I get to tend "em (Steinbeck 75). I can relate Lennie to me in this quote. Here Lennie acts like a kid by getting emotionally attached to words George said. when I was little everyone time my parents would tell me something that would benefit me, I would get happy before I even receive it. This quote shows the little kid Lennie still has inside of him.

Investigating Themes of Mice & 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?  


Of Mice and Men the kind of power that exist is mental and physical power. That is because Lennie is the strongest one physically and Lennie is the stronger one mentally. Lennie is the one that can do all the physical things, but George is the one that can make all the crucial decisions. So in reality they need each other to be sucessful. The only cons Lennie has is he does not have the mentality strength to make decisions. But, George doesn't have the physical strength to be alone. 

Chapter 3 Notes

1) Question:  So far the story is taking place in Candy's bunkhouse. Lennie and George are finding themselves working and talking to Slim more. Problems with Lennie and Curley continues with Lennie size intimating Curly. During the end of the chapter George found Lennie and Curley found them fighting each other, in till George tells Lennie to protect him self. Then Lennie smashes Curley's hand which injured his hand greatly. A question I have is why Lennie doesn't try to do more to avoid him self from Curly. I believe George should watch him a little more.

3) Connection:  I can connect the end of Chapter 3 to the beginning of the story. During the beginning of the story Lennie had an enjoyment for rabbits "I remember about the rabbits, George."
"The hell with the rabbits. That’s all you can ever remember is them rabbits." (Steinbeck, 18) I find it ironic that Lennie wants to take care of the rabbits, I feel like the author was trying to give us clues throughout the whole story about the rabbits. 

4) Summarize:  During the story in chapter 3 a lot of an events has happen. Lennie and Curley were in a fight that left Curly badly injured. I believe that the tension with Lennie and Curly is continuing to rise, so I believe something bad is going to happen. Candy's dog is continue to reek and make everyone angry. There is a good chance that he is going to be found dead and Candy is going to be angry, Also, George and Lennie are beginning to develop a relationship with Slim. Now they are talking more and he is real understanding about how Lennie. He tells George that Lennie is just a kid in the inside and that is really what Lennie is.

Chapter 2 Notes

1) Question: In the story "Of Mice and Men" the characters that are involved are Candy, Curly, Curly's wife, Lennie, and George. The text is being taken place at Candy's barn, because Lennie and George came to talk to him about the potential job. Questions that I have about this chapter is why does Curly wants to fight everybody? For Candy being his dad he is not even telling his son anything. 

2) Prediction: A prediction I have for the next chapter is that Lennie is going to kill or injure an animal. The reason why I think this is because of Lennie's past with animals. So I am thinking maybe Candy's dog has potential danger. So far in the chapter the author explains to us about the meeting George and Lennie had with Candy.


4) Summarize: During Chapter 2 we have learned more about the main characters. During Chapter 2 Lennie and George visits Candy's barn to talk to him about a job. They explain to Candy about their past job but, they didn't tell the truth. Then they met the owner's son Curly. He is real over protective with his wife so George and Lennie seems like a threat to Curly. I wonder what is going to happen with Lennie and Curly. If George doesn't watch Lennie anything can happen between them two.
https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Barn+during+great+depression&biw=994&bih=638&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.r_qf.&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=zWgrUfrdMoeM0QGptoCoCQ#imgrc=v_2PdaNlF9OFPM%3A%3BAW3icqj3OFZyvM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Ffaculty.polytechnic.org%252Fgfeldmeth%252Fbarn.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Ffaculty.polytechnic.org%252Fgfeldmeth%252F010013q.html%3B515%3B374

Naturalism as a Mirror of the 1930's

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? 

The aspects that are demonstrated at those moments in the text is how hard people had to struggle to look for a job. Lennie and George was so hungry that they had to eat like animals. On page 15, second paragraph the text shows the eagerness they had to eat a can of cold beans to look for a job. "They sat by the fire and filled their mouths with beans and chewed mightily." Here shows how they would eat anything to conquer the hunger they had because a can of cold beans was their only options.

     In my opinion I believe John Steinbeck was trying to show us that people would strive for the opportunity to have a job. By using the 2 main characters he develops a story by showing the acts they had to do to even have a chance to have a job. For example, he shows them sleeping anywhere to get closer to what they believe can be a job. Also, he shows them eating cold beans, these are acts you would probably expect from an animal, eating anything and sleeping anywhere. But, this was the reality of life in the 1930's so he is trying to say don't take your way of life for assurance. 

Chapter 1 Note Taking

1) Question:  The names of the characters involved in Mice & Men is Lennie and George. The story is taking place on a path  a few miles south of Soledad during the 1930's. Some questions that I have about Chapter 1 is who are the parents of George and Lennie? And, who is more dependent of each other Lennie or George? I wonder because George is the strong one that can do a lot of labor. But, Lennie is the brains of everything so they both have an important role.

2) Prediction:  During the story so far we know that there is 2 guys name Lennie and George going around searching for a job. We ended the chapter with the two characters going to sleep. For Chapter 2 I believe they will find the job they are searching for. They are so determined to find a job that it will rise upon them soon. Because determination is a trait someone should have because it almost always pays off. 

4) Summarize: In the story so far we learned that their is two characters looking for a job during the 1930s. We already know that the 2 character names are Lennie & George. They are wandering around looking for a job because of things such as the Great Depression happening during that time period it's a difficult task. The two characters both depend on each other, because one is the one with the intelligence and the other one is the one with the strength. With no guaranteed job available they have to walk for days and sleep anywhere just to look.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3apWhtC-uvU

-All you could do to find a job during the Great Depression was either go out and look for one or MARCH!

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 opening of Mice & Men relates to the pictures that we did in class. In the Bag Man on the Road, you can see the man with denim trousers and something slung over his shoulders. And also, he is walking down a single path maybe for job.  But, the only difference is that there is only 1 person instead of two.  The picture of Highway 84 there is a huge sign that explains that cotton pickers are wanted.
     Even though the sign does not to Mice & Men directly it still relates because in the story 2 men are walking lifeless, maybe for a job. In the picture Pea Picker the women with the dark face and restless eyes kind of also describes the women. So the two men that were walking down the path alone could have had a wife waiting for them back home.  By looking at  the pictures I now know a lot about the 1930s. I can now see the clothing people were during that time period. And also, how cars were not something you see everywhere, you had to walk to where you wanted to go. Who knew that 4 pictures can have a huge  meaning in a story or a time period.