The
book I read “Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck starts off with two
workers named George and Lennie. The exposition reveals that Lennie is a large,
hulking man with a mental disability well George is the direct opposite of
Lennie, in that he is very small in comparison. George is basically the care
taker of Lennie and they both dream of eventually owning their own farm. They
continue from towards a farm where George lies about Lennie in order to get
them both hired. The plot advances when they are both hired to work on the farm
and George reveals the true story between him and Lennie to Slim. Later Slim
gives Lennie a puppy and Carlson puts down Candy's dog. Later Lennie breaks
Curley's hand by accident when he attempts to pick a fight with him. The next
day when everyone left the farm except for Lennie, Curley's wife found him and
he accidently broke her neck killing her. He then retreats to a spot previously
marked by George where he should run to if there is any trouble. During the
climax George puts Lennie down out of mercy so inhibit the Curley from lynching
Lennie.
I
feel that the theme of "Of Mice and Men" is the impossibility of
achieving the American dream. Many characters through the story talk about how
they would rather have another life and dream of what it will be like. George
and Lennie for example want to get a farm of their own with rabbits for Lennie
but, they never actually achieve this. Another example would be Curley's wife
who wanted to be a movie star instead of marrying Curley.
The
tone in "Of Mice and Men" is realistic, sympathetic, and
tragic."Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the
world. They got no family. They don't belong no place. . . . With us it ain't
like that. We got a future."(Ch.1) This is a good example of the tone in
that it is very brutal and sheds light on how the world is for most people who
have no one. Another example of the tone would be "All kin's a vegetables
in the garden, and if we want a little whisky we can sell a few eggs or
something, or some milk. We'd jus' live there. We'd belong there." (Ch.
1). This quote is just another example of the tone in that it shows how
Steinbeck is sympathetic towards his characters by giving them dreams to strive
for. “Le’s do it now,” Lennie says. “Le’s get that place now.” George agrees.
This is the tragic component of the tone when George had to put Lennie down in
order to prevent him from being lynched by the farmhands.
Imagery-"A
few miles south of Soledad, the Salinas River drops in close to the hillside
bank and runs deep and green. The water is warm too, for it has slipped
twinkling over the yellow sands in the sunlight before reaching the narrow
pool." (Ch.1)
Motif-"Guys
like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world. They got no
family. They don't belong no place. . . . With us it ain't like that. We got a
future."(Ch.1)
Metaphor-
“Lennie covered his face with his huge paws.” (Ch.1)
Symbol-"All
kin's a vegetables in the garden, and if we want a little whisky we can sell a
few eggs or something, or some milk. We'd jus' live there. We'd belong
there." (Ch. 1).
Simile-"the
rabbits sat as quietly as little grey sculptured stones." (Pg 19)
Foreshadowing-
"I want you to stay with me, Lennie. Jesus Christ, somebody'd shoot you
for a coyote if you was by yourself." (Pg 12)
Hyperbole-"...and
the cream is so God damn thick you got to cut it with a knife and take it out
with a spoon."(Ch.1)
Allusion-
“Murray and Ready's: a Depression-era employment agency" (Pg 21)
Onomatopoeia-"Through
the open door came the thuds and occasional clangs of a horseshoe
game...," (page 38)
Personification-"The
shade climbed up the hill towards the top." (Ch. 2)
Characterization
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