Literature Analysis: Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

1.) Briefly summarize the plot of the novel you read.


The story is about two best friends and companions, that are travelling and looking for work in order to raise enough money for their dream farm. George and Lennie are complete opposite; George is short and strong-minded and Lennie is big and tall with a mental disability. They both make plenty of friends along their adventure and hopes of getting enough money, including Slim and Candy. Since Lennie is so huge, he often ends up destroying the most precious things to him and getting himself and George into much trouble. After arriving at a farm where they've been working, Lennie is left alone with a flirtatious woman (which is the boss' son's wife) and accidentally chokes her to death. Lennie flees to their "meet up place" and waits for George there. When George arrives he tells Lennie their dream farm story and then shoots him in the back of the head. 


2.) Succinctly describe the theme of the novel. Avoid cliches.


The theme of the story is that no matter how high expectations you have for a person, they ultimately make their own decisions and sometimes choose to go against you. Just as Lennie had so much trust, faith, and devotion to George and he repaid him by killing him. 


3.)Describe the author's tone.  Include three excerpts that illustrate your point(s).


The author's tone throughout the story was a mix of pity and sadness. He attempts to show the sentimental aspects of life and occurrences that cause such feelings by demonstrating them through Lennie and George.

• "His anger left him suddenly. He looked across the fire at Lennie's anguished face, and then looked ashamedly at the flames." In this excerpt George had been mean and rude to Lennie for causing trouble. However, after seeing how defenseless and dependent he was of him, George feels bad and the pity is seen for Lennie.
• Candy was always very attached to his dog and his world fell apart the day Carlson shot him, giving off a sad vibe. " A shot sounded in the distance. The men looked quickly at the old man. Every head turned toward him. For a moment he continued to stare at the ceiling. Then he rolled slowly over and faced the wall and lay silent."
• After having killed Lennie, George was in shock and realized what he had done leaking the sadness through his character. "'Yeah. Tha's how.' George's voice was almost a whisper. He looked steadily at his right hand that had held then gun." 

4.) Describe five literary elements/techniques you observed that strengthened your understanding of the theme and/or your sense of the tone.  Include three excerpts that will help your reader understand each one.

• Syntax: Lennie's character was based on a person with a disability which caused him to speak differently from the rest of the characters. His inability to be like the rest of the men in the story caused a sense of pity and deep love towards his character. "I'd pet 'em, and pretty soon they bit my fingers and I pinched their heads a little and then they was dead-- because they was so little."
• Diction: Steinbeck characterized George with a strong, foul-mouthed personality, which caused me pity for Lennie who was stuck with him. Lennie was so dependent of George that he had to stand that sort of mental abuse from his companion and friend. "You crazy son-of-a-bitch. You keep me in hot water all the time. Jus' wanted to feel that girl's dress--jus' wanted to pet it like it was a mouse---Well, how the hell did she know you jus' wanted to feel her dress?"
• Direct Characterization: I was able to distinguish both characters by such great differences they obtained that the author described. George and Lennie were two completely different characters and it was demonstrated in detail at the beginning of the story. " 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."
• Indirect Characterization: George an Lennie showed who they really were through their words and actions. That is how I was able to detect that Lennie wasn't like George or any of the other characters in the story. That he was defenseless to the outside world, the one that wasn't made up in his imagination. " Lennie dabbled his big paw in the water and wiggled his fingers so the water arose in little splashes; rings widened across the pool to the other side and came back again. Lennie watched them go. 'Look, George. Look what I done.'"
• Symbolism: The mouse that George had carried in his pocket, dead, which he had crushed symbolized him. He crushed the mouse accidentally, just because he wanted to be able to pet it and comfort it. His luck ended like the mouse when George shot him for his own good  and trying to comfort him. "I'd pet 'em, and pretty soon they bit my fingers and I pinched their heads a little and then they was dead-- because they was so little." "And George raised the gun and steadied it, and he brought the muzzle of it close to the back of Lennie's head...He pulled the trigger."