Of Mice and Men

by John Steinbeck
Objective: Students will gain an understanding of the historical background, author
background, and utilize their own beliefs prior to help them understand the themes and
events in Of Mice and Men.

Instructions: Go through and complete all the activities. Read and follow the directions for
each section.

History of Migrant Farming Answer the following questions in complete sentences:

in California
Read this article ‘History of 1. What was it like to be a farmer during this time period?
Migrant Farming in California’ Reference three specific pieces of evidence from this article
to support your answer.
It was likely hard to be a farmer during this time period, and
this is mostly due to the immense debt held by farmers who
bought more land and equipment, only for a recession and
dust bowl to engulf their farms. Banks were forced to
Be sure your answers are in a
foreclose on the farmers, forcing them to find work
complete sentence with
punctuation or you will lose elsewhere.
points.

2. What was the unemployment rate in 1933?

~25% was the average unemployment rate in 1933.

3. What caused the region to become known as the Dust

Bowl?
What caused the region to become known as the Dust Bowl
was erosion due to unsustainable farming, and a 7 year
drought.

4. What did migrant workers become known as? Why?

Migrant workers became known as Okies, since a large part
of Oklahoma was impacted by the Dust Bowl.

5. Why did people from the Great Plains flock to California

specifically?
People from the Great Plains flocked to California specifically
due to their beliefs that it was the promised land.
 John Steinbeck Biography Answer the following questions in complete sentences:
1. When and where was Steinbeck born?
Read the following short
John Steinbeck was born on Februrary 27th, 1902, in Salinas,
biography about the author of Of
California.
Mice and Men. This website looks
like it won’t load, but if you scroll
down the biography will 2. Where did he first attend college? Did he finish and get a
eventually show up. degree? If so, what degree?
Steinbeck first attended college at Stanford, but but drifted
in and out of college, mostly due to why he went to college,
which was to please his parents. He did not get a degree.
Be sure your answers are in a
complete sentence with
punctuation or you will lose 3. What kind of jobs did he work?
points. He worked as a freelance writer, reporter, construction
worker, and eventually back in California as a caretaker to
pursue writing again.

4. What was his first novel the article mentions?

His first novel the article mentions was “Of Mice and Men”
(1937).

5. What was his job during WWII?

His job during WWII was to be a war correspondent for the
New York Herald Tribune.

6. In what year did he win the Nobel Prize for literature?

He won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1962.

7. What is a Pulitzer Prize for literature?

A Pulitzer Prize for literature recognizes distinguished fiction
by an american author, that usually has to do with everyday
life as an american.

John Steinbeck Biography Answer the following questions in complete sentences:

Part 2
Read this second biography about 1.) What is a novella? Why is Of Mice and Men considered a
John Steinbeck and use the novella?
Merriam Webster’s definition of A novella is a story with a compact and pointed plot. “Of
novella to answer the questions in Mice and Men” is considered a novella because it follows one
the ‘Your Task’ section to the right. main point.
2.) What novel gave Steinbeck his first success both in terms
Be sure your answers are in a of payment and critical appraisal?
 complete sentence with The novel that gave Steinbeck his first success both in terms
punctuation or you will lose of payment and critical appraisal was “Tortilla Flat” (1935).
points.
3.) How many of Steibeck’s novels have been turned into
films? Only 1 of Steinbeck’s novels have been turned into
films, that being “East of Eden” (1952), starring James Dean.

4.) How many times was Steinbeck married?

Steinbeck was married a total of 3 times.

5.) Where is Steinbeck buried?

Steinbeck is buried in Garden of Memories cemetery, Salinas,
CA.

6.) What did his friendship with Edward Ricketts do for him?
Note: I am looking for two things.
Steinbeck’s friendship with Edward RIcketts gave him the
idea to write “Sea of Cortez” (1941). Ricketts also served
as a mentor to Steinbeck, assisting him collect info about
marine biology.

7.) The setting for Steinbeck’s novels occurs in what part of

the country? State and region.
The setting for Steinbeck’s novels occurs in the central valley
of California.

Reflection
You’ve read two biographies about the author and a historical context document about what migrant
farming was like in California at the time this book was written.

Last 3 interesting facts you learned about John Steinbeck that were not already questions you had to
answer before.
1. John Steinbeck was nominated for an academy award for his performance in a film.

2. John Steinbeck dabbled in Mexican folktales in “The Pearl”.

3. John Steinbeck was interested in marine biology enough to travel down to mexico to study
it.

2. What factors, places, and events impacted Steinbeck’s writing most profoundly? (this question must
be answered in more than two sentences
 The greatest factors, places, and events that impacted Steinbeck’s writing most profoundly was for
one his home, and the Great Depression. At the time, the Great Depression affected the nation in an
unprecedented way, making way for the federal government to fail, and for millions of people
having to go through immense hardships during the period of the Great Depression.

Anticipation Guide
For Part 1: Go through the statements in the ‘Your Task’ section to the right. If you agree with it put an
X in the ‘Agree’ column. If you disagree with it, put an X in the ‘Disagree’ column
Agree Disagree Statement

X Believing that an unhappy situation is only temporary makes it more bearable.

X Dreaming is for dreamers, and dreamers go nowhere. Be real.

X There are times when euthanasia (mercy killing) can be justified.

X Of the many feelings that hurt – grief, anger, resentment, jealousy, loneliness –
loneliness hurts the most.

X Feeling responsible for someone can be a burden.

X If you are in a bad relationship it is okay to flirt with others.

X It is okay to physically intimidate people to get what you want.

x No matter what crime a friend commits it is okay to not tell on them.

For Part 2: For the second part, go through and pick 3 of the statements that you feel strongly about.
Highlight them using the highlighting tool in Google Docs.
Then, go through and explain in ONE COMPLETE SENTENCE why you chose the stance you did in the
‘Explanation/”The Why?”
Explanation/“The Why?”

For statement 1, I chose this stance because burying yourself in a dark place is the perfect
environment for your mental state to deteriorate, and you have to maintain a view into the
outside world, and know that it won’t be this way forever, not letting you give up to whatever
situation you’re in.

For statement 2, I chose this stance because while dreaming too much and doing nothing about
it is unhealthy, it is detrimental for us to have goals, so we can have direction and purpose in
our life, instead of just drifting and hoping for thing to happen.

For statement 3, I chose this stance because this is definitely something that has happened to
everyone I know and this statement is simply true, because for example if you taught someone
how to do something bad, and they misuse this, or do it too much, you feel directly responsible
because, other wise they wouldn’t gave known how to do whatever it is they’re doing. Being
responsible for a horrible thing is definitely one of the heaviest burdens one can carry, and
everyone experiences this at least a few dozen times in their lifetimes.