Novel Reaction: Thinking Forward

We have investigated many captivating themes that exist in John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men over the last few weeks. You have explored the desperation and poverty of the American 1930s through pictures and video. You have witnessed how John Steinbeck used naturalism to portray certain characters as "human beasts" acting on impulsiveness and instinct for self-preservation. You have examined how the author used literary devices such as sentimentalism, diction, tone, parallelism, and foreshadowing in order to propel these themes. You have close-read and analyzed the text digging deeper and deeper for evidence of themes such as Power vs. Powerlessness, Individual vs. Community, The American Dream, Euthanasia, Racism, Loneliness, and maybe even a little Sexism. Pat yourself on the back! You have been critically thinking about this novella on so many different levels.

For this week's blog response, you need to make some pretty serious decisions! We are quickly approaching the time where you will be expected to write your Research Paper based on a topic of interest from Of Mice and Men. If you have been keeping up with your reading, completing your notes, participating in conversations and activities during class on the various themes, and completing your blog responses this choice will be fairly easy! If not, you may be in for a struggle....

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? Select a topic/theme from the list above that peaks your interest, and, in this week's blog response, discuss why you find it fascinating, which moment in the story you think about when reflecting on this theme, and how this theme is relevant in today's world.




A topic that I feel "hit home" was defiantly loneliness. I have felt alone in many situations. Loneliness is a problem everyone may have experienced and when authors like John Steinbeck uses it in the novels it helps you connect with the stories characters. You can see what they are going through or went through. Characters in the story like Crook, Curley's wife, Candy, and although it may not really seem like Lennie because he really doesn't portray it a lot, you can see when he is exclude from going out with others because he has a disability and the other guys don't want something to go wrong. Crook is lonely because of his race. Nobody wants to befriend him because he's different the push him away for example they leave him in a shed and let him sleep on straw. Curley's wife is lonely because of her gender and also she is the bosses wife. She's the only female in the ranch so she is seen entirely different from some of the others. Candy is lonely because of his age. The others don't feel like he would be good company if he went out with them. They're loneliness help certain people relate.