English Literature: Of Mice and Men Introduction

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What is Of Mice and Men about?
Two farm workers and their dream of owning their own farm
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Where did the title of the novel come from?
Robert Burn's poem, 'To a mouse' In the poem Burns wrote that, "The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men/Gang aft agley" - this means that even really well-prepared plans often go wrong.
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Are the characters and events in the novel fictional? Explain.
Yes but they show what life was like during the Great Depression
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Briefly describe the real events of the Great Depression
The American stock market crashed in 1929 - so thousands of people who'd invested in shares lost their money, many banks were forced to shut down. No one could afford to buy things. This lack of demand meant millions of people ended up unemployed
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What is John Steinbeck's Novel based on?
His own experiences working on ranches while he was at university
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What trilogy is Of mice and men part of? What are the other two books involved?
Steinbeck's 'Dustbowl trilogy' which also includes In dubious Battle and The Grapes of Wrath
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Give a brief timeline of Steinbeck's life
1902-born in Salinas, California 1919-Went to Stanford Uni 1929-Published first novel Cup of Gold 1937-Publshed Of Mice and Men,instant success 1939-published the grapes of wrath 1940-Won Pulitzer prize 1962-Awarded nobel prize 1968-Died
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What did Steinbeck die from?
Heart Disease
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Where are Weed and Soledad?
In California
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Name eight very important places in the novel
Weed, Soledad, The Clearing, The pool, The Bunk house, The homestead, The barn, The harness room
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Brief description of: George
A small, fairly intelligent itinerant worker. He travels around with his friend Lennie.
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Brief description of: Lennie
A strong, big, slow-witted man who travels with George. He likes stroking soft things
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Brief description of: Curley
A small, aggressive man who hates big guys. He's the bosses sun and no one liked him
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Brief description of: Curley's Wife
A young, pretty girl, who's a bit of a flirt. She hates her life on the ranch and is very lonely
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Brief description of: Crooks
A crippled man who's picked on because he's black. He's very bitter about life.
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Brief description of: Slim
The most respected man on the ranch, everyone looks up to him
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Brief description of: Candy
An old, one handed rancher who sweeps the bunk house. He has an old smelly dog
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Brief description of: Carlson
An insensitive and aggressive rancher. He's always complaining and stirring up trouble
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Who did the Great Depression badly? Why?
Farmers, they were forced to leave their homes and move to other areas to find work. They had borrowed money from banks to buy modern machines, which helped them produce more crops but eventually led to overpopulation, which made prices fall.
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What created the 'Dust Bowl'? What was it?
A drought in the 1930's combined with over-farming. The soil dried up and the wind blew away the fertile layer top layer. Huge areas of farmland became like a desert, and couldn't be used to grow crops.
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Give a title for chapter one`
The calm before the storm
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Give a title for chapter two
Introductions
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Give a title for chapter three
Dreams and a dead dog
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Give a title for chapter four
The dream is spolied
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Give a title for chapter five
A dead girl and a dead dream
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Give a title for chapter six
George kills his best friend
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Briefly describe chapter one
G and L spend the night by a pool before starting work at a new ranch. G is annoyed with L cuz they'd to leave in a hurry from their last job. It turns out L has a habit of getting into trouble. L persuades G to tell him about their dream farm.
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Briefly describe chapter two
G&L arrive at the ranch late-the boss's angry.Can explains to G&L what life is like on the ranch.G&L meet all the people on the ranch.Cu tries to pick a fight with L,CW flirts with the ranchers&catches L's attention
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Briefly describe chapter three
G chats to S,we find a bit more about G&L background.Car wants to shoot Can dog cuz its not useful&smelly.Cans pushed into agreeing&.G&L talk about their dream.Can hears&asks to join-offering money.Cur starts a fight with L,but gets his hand crushed
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What does Slim convince Curley to say when Lennie crushes his hand in Chapter three?
That he got it caught in a machine
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Briefly describe chapter four
L wanders into Cr room.Can joins them,he feels uncomfortable but they all start talking about the dream.CW comes in,when Can stands up,she undermines their hopes&dreams.The others return when she leaves,G tells L off for telling about the dream.
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Who's not interested in the dream in chapter 4?
Crooks.
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Briefly describe chapter five
L is in the barn-he's accidentally killed his puppy.CW finds him&they talk about their dreams.CW wants to be a movie star.They find out they both like soft things.CW lets L stroke her hair but gets angry when L strokes 2 hard.L panics&breaks her neck
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What does Lennie do at the end of Chapter five once he's broken Curley's Wife's neck?
He runs away and Candy find's Curley's wife in the barn. The other men decide to hunt Lennie down
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Briefly describe chapter six
L goes back to the pool.L 'sees' his Aunt Clara&a giant rabbit who starts to lecture him about his faults.G finds L by the pool.He calms L down by telling him about the dream.G knows Cu wants to kill L in a painfully,so he shoots L before they arrive
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Where did the title of the novel come from?

Back

Robert Burn's poem, 'To a mouse' In the poem Burns wrote that, "The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men/Gang aft agley" - this means that even really well-prepared plans often go wrong.

Card 3

Front

Are the characters and events in the novel fictional? Explain.

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

Briefly describe the real events of the Great Depression

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

What is John Steinbeck's Novel based on?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
View more cards

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