Name:_________________________________________________________________________________________

Period:_________________

Of Mice and Men Notes

Directions: Follow along with presentation and fill in any missing information.
Book: Of Mice and Men
Written by: _______________________________________________

John Steinbeck

Born in Salinas, California

Published book in 1937 during era known as _________________________________________
Worked as a ranch hand when he was young
From personal experience, Steinbeck is able to provide vivid details about the setting
of California and the experiences of the workers.

The Great Depression

An economic depression that affected the entire world starting in 1928.

Began in the United States with the ______________________________ in October 1929...
This day was known as ______________________________________.
The stock market crash was sudden... Some investors in New York were so devastated
that it resulted in severe depression and many could no longer handle the devastation.

The Banks
The crash results in many bank closings and job losses.
Why did the banks fail?

Back in the 1920s, ______________ and ________________ were worth a lot of money.
__________________________________________________________________.

BUT...
Many farmers in the 1920s took out loans from the bank to _____________________
____________________________________________________________________________________.
If the farmers couldnt pay the money back on the loan, they agreed that the bank
could take the land away in return.
After the stock market crash, very few people had money to buy any land.
Since no one could buy it, its value dropped. Selling ______________________
_________________________________________________________________________________.
When the __________________________________________ to pay off their debt, selling the
land didnt give the bank enough money.
The banks would then _____________________________________ the farmers owned.
Thousands were left homeless.

The Government
Of Mice and Men Notes- Burns ENG 9

There were ________________________________________________ to help people find food

or a place to stay.

_______________________________________________________________
_________.
By ___________, almost ___________ of working people had
_____________________________________.

For comparison, our unemployment rate now is the highest its been in years at
9.6%.

African American and The Great Depression

Especially hurt by the Depression were African Americans.
Sometimes their jobs were taken away and given to whites.
By 1930,____________________________________________________ had a job.
Frugality
To deal, some people became very ____________________, which means they...
o _______________________________________________________,
o _______________________________________________________,
o reused everything they could.
Do you know any older people who grew up during the Depression?
o Many of them are very frugal still.
Migrant Farm Workers
Migrant farm workers traveled from place to place looking for work.
Often they operated __________________________________ to process wheat and other
crops.

From personal experience, Steinbeck is able to provide vivid details about the setting
of California and the experiences of farm workers.

Earned ___________a day, plus food and shelter

Many of them came from the Midwest, which had been devastated by the Dust Bowl

The Dust Bowl was

A series of dust storms that brought a _________________

Too much plowing led to soil erosion (the top soil is blown or worn away from the earth)
During The Dust Bowl...
o _______________________________________________________.
Of Mice and Men Notes- Burns ENG 9

o _______________________________________________________.
o __________________________________________________________________________________
____________
Thousands of people in
_________________________________________________________________________
__________________________and ____________________________ left their homes and farms
as a result.

The Okies

The migration (movement) of people was so big that

___________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
____________.
This is why migrants were called________________________________.

Steinbecks Inspiration for Of Mice and Men

Steinbeck felt sorry for migrant farm workers.

________________________________________________________________________________________
______________
________________________________________________________________________________________
______________
________________________________________________________________________________________
______________

The men have only a few belongings, which they carry in a________________,
or____________________.
They complain that they have _____________________, which is slang for
_____________________.

Major Characters

Lennie
o Large man
o Learning Disabled
o Likes
to________________________
_
__________________________
_______
Dreams of
______________________
__________________________
________
__________________________

George
o Small man
o Quick-witted, smart
o ______________________
______________________
______________________
______________________
______________________
______
o Often talks about how
______________________
______________________
______________________
______________________
Of Mice and Men Notes- Burns ENG 9

Minor Characters: Farm Owners

The Boss:
A good and fair
boss who runs
the farm.
*Never given a
name.

Curly

Curleys Wife:
Newly married
to Curly.
________________
_____
________________
________________
________________
_______________
Never given a

Insecure_____________________________
____________
Short. Wears
___________________________________ to
look taller.
_____________________________. Always
picking fights with men who are
larger than him.
______________________________________

Minor Characters: Farm Workers

Slim:

____________________________Drives the team of mules during

the harvest.
Only character who seems
__________________________ with
himself

Candy:

Crooks:

Black ranch hand that lives in the

barn.
Does not like to socialize with racists
farm helpers.
______________________________________
_________

_____________________________
_____
Or handyman on the farm.
Lost his hand in an accident
on the farm.

Carlson:

Another ranch hand

Cant tell you much or else it
will give away the plot!

Themes/Symbols
The American Dream
o __________________________________________________________________________________
o __________________________________________________________________________________
The Strong vs. The Weak
o __________________________________________________________________________________
o __________________________________________________________________________________
o __________________________________________________________________________________
Loneliness vs. Companionship
o __________________________________________________________________________________
Of Mice and Men Notes- Burns ENG 9

o
o
o

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

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Of Mice and Men Notes- Burns ENG 9