Of Mice and Men Of Mice and Men paper paper assignmentassignment

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LITERARY ANALYSISLITERARY ANALYSIS

There are several themes we can There are several themes we can explore as we consider what explore as we consider what topic to choose for our topic to choose for our Of Mice Of Mice and Menand Men one-page essay. Let’s one-page essay. Let’s look at some of these.look at some of these.

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Potential themesPotential themes

LonelinessLoneliness The importance of The importance of

dreamsdreams DiscriminationDiscrimination FriendshipFriendship

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Let’s choose one of Let’s choose one of these themes to these themes to consider: lonelinessconsider: loneliness

Who or what illustrates Who or what illustrates this theme in the this theme in the novel?novel?

Candy, after his dog Candy, after his dog is shot.is shot.

Curley’s wife, who is Curley’s wife, who is just looking for just looking for someone to talk to.someone to talk to.

Crooks, who lives Crooks, who lives alone with little alone with little interaction with other interaction with other people.people.

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Let’s expand these a little more:Let’s expand these a little more:

Candy:Candy: He has only his dog as his one companion. Upon the dog’s death, he He has only his dog as his one companion. Upon the dog’s death, he has no one, and therefore, attaches himself to George and Lennie’s has no one, and therefore, attaches himself to George and Lennie’s dream. He does not want to end up an outcast and alone. Even after dream. He does not want to end up an outcast and alone. Even after Lennie kills Curley’s wife, Candy clings to the dream out of desperate fear Lennie kills Curley’s wife, Candy clings to the dream out of desperate fear that he will end up alone.that he will end up alone.

Curley’s wife:Curley’s wife: She is so overwhelmed by her loneliness, she seeks She is so overwhelmed by her loneliness, she seeks friendship from the other men, including (as a last resort) Lennie, for none friendship from the other men, including (as a last resort) Lennie, for none of the other men want anything to do with her. “Think I don’t like to talk to of the other men want anything to do with her. “Think I don’t like to talk to somebody ever’ once in a while?”somebody ever’ once in a while?”

Crooks:Crooks: He feels “a guy goes nuts if he ain’t got nobody. Don’t make no He feels “a guy goes nuts if he ain’t got nobody. Don’t make no difference who the guy is, long’s he with you.” Crooks would work for difference who the guy is, long’s he with you.” Crooks would work for nothing, as long as he can communicate with others.nothing, as long as he can communicate with others.

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What we have done here is form a basis for a literary analysis of What we have done here is form a basis for a literary analysis of Of Mice and Of Mice and MenMen, concentrating on the theme of loneliness. Candy, Curley’s wife, and/or , concentrating on the theme of loneliness. Candy, Curley’s wife, and/or Crooks could each represent points that could be discussed in a paper about Crooks could each represent points that could be discussed in a paper about loneliness in the novel.loneliness in the novel.

How would we begin this analysis? First, we have to come up with a thesis How would we begin this analysis? First, we have to come up with a thesis statement, or a “controlling purpose” regarding loneliness. We start by deciding statement, or a “controlling purpose” regarding loneliness. We start by deciding what we know from our reading about loneliness:what we know from our reading about loneliness:

It is a constant threat that George and Lennie fight: “Guys like us are the It is a constant threat that George and Lennie fight: “Guys like us are the loneliest guys in the world … they don’t belong no place … They ain’t got loneliest guys in the world … they don’t belong no place … They ain’t got nothing to look ahead to.” Lennie fights this with, “But not us! … because I got nothing to look ahead to.” Lennie fights this with, “But not us! … because I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you…” (14).you to look after me, and you got me to look after you…” (14).

At the ranch, loneliness is part of the inhabitants’ lives and especially Candy’s, At the ranch, loneliness is part of the inhabitants’ lives and especially Candy’s, Crooks’s, and Curley’s wife’s. They are so used to this loneliness, others on Crooks’s, and Curley’s wife’s. They are so used to this loneliness, others on the ranch suspect something funny about the closeness of George and Lennie the ranch suspect something funny about the closeness of George and Lennie (for example, the boss thinks George is taking Lennie’s pay). (for example, the boss thinks George is taking Lennie’s pay).

George knows that without Lennie’s companionship, he will be doomed to a George knows that without Lennie’s companionship, he will be doomed to a terribly lonely and unfulfilling life. terribly lonely and unfulfilling life.

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So can we create a thesis statement out of that, reflecting So can we create a thesis statement out of that, reflecting the theme of loneliness? (Note: Theme is what a story the theme of loneliness? (Note: Theme is what a story revealsreveals, not what it , not what it teachesteaches: That is the : That is the moralmoral.).)

Maybe it could look something like this:Maybe it could look something like this:

““Loneliness is a harmful thing many characters in the book Loneliness is a harmful thing many characters in the book experience. experience. The story shows that all humans need The story shows that all humans need companionship or else they get emotionally sick.” companionship or else they get emotionally sick.”

That thesis statement could be the main part of our That thesis statement could be the main part of our introduction. What else does an introduction need? introduction. What else does an introduction need?

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In addition to a thesis statement, an In addition to a thesis statement, an introduction ideally includes:introduction ideally includes:

An attention-getting first sentence. An attention-getting first sentence. The name of the author and the title of the The name of the author and the title of the

book.book. A preview of points that will be used to A preview of points that will be used to

support the thesis.support the thesis.

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Let’s think of an attention-getter, based on Let’s think of an attention-getter, based on the theme of loneliness and how it can the theme of loneliness and how it can make us emotionally sick. How about:make us emotionally sick. How about:

Loneliness is a virus that can devour the Loneliness is a virus that can devour the human spirit.human spirit.

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Now let’s add our other elements:Now let’s add our other elements:

Loneliness is a virus that can devour the human Loneliness is a virus that can devour the human spirit. spirit. This sickness devastates many of the emotionally This sickness devastates many of the emotionally malnourished characters in John Steinbeck’s malnourished characters in John Steinbeck’s heartbreaking novel, heartbreaking novel, Of Mice and Men. Of Mice and Men. Candy, the aged Candy, the aged and disabled swamper, is consumed by the loss of his and disabled swamper, is consumed by the loss of his only companion, his dog. Curley’s wife, ignored by her only companion, his dog. Curley’s wife, ignored by her husband and seen by the other ranch hands as a trouble-husband and seen by the other ranch hands as a trouble-making tart, is starved for attention. Denied friendship, making tart, is starved for attention. Denied friendship, Crooks wastes away alone in his room and Crooks wastes away alone in his room and shows more shows more than any other character how loneliness eats away at the than any other character how loneliness eats away at the human soul. human soul.

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We have accomplished our goals:We have accomplished our goals:

An attention getterAn attention getter A clear thesis statementA clear thesis statement Introduction of pointsIntroduction of points

As an added bonus, this paragraph has a theme: emotional starvation. Think As an added bonus, this paragraph has a theme: emotional starvation. Think of all the words or phrases that go with eating:of all the words or phrases that go with eating:

DevourDevour MalnourishedMalnourished ConsumedConsumed StarvedStarved eat awayeat away wastes away (usually refers to losing weight due to illness)wastes away (usually refers to losing weight due to illness)

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What if we wanted to choose another theme or maybe something What if we wanted to choose another theme or maybe something besides theme to write about?besides theme to write about?

Alternate theme: DreamsAlternate theme: DreamsAttention getter: Everyone has a dream that gives him or her purpose Attention getter: Everyone has a dream that gives him or her purpose

in life.in life.

Thesis statement: Dreams play an important role in John Steinbeck’s Thesis statement: Dreams play an important role in John Steinbeck’s novel novel Of Mice and Men, Of Mice and Men, which includes characters who illustrate which includes characters who illustrate how how dreams are often crucial to survival in a hostile and lonely dreams are often crucial to survival in a hostile and lonely world.world.

Three points: This is demonstrated through George and Lennie’s Three points: This is demonstrated through George and Lennie’s dream to buy some land of their own; Candy’s dream to join dream to buy some land of their own; Candy’s dream to join George and Lennie so Candy won’t end up outcast and alone; and George and Lennie so Candy won’t end up outcast and alone; and Curley’s wife’s dream to become a starlet. Curley’s wife’s dream to become a starlet.

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What about something besides theme? Let’s try looking at What about something besides theme? Let’s try looking at the literary device of foreshadowing, as shown in this the literary device of foreshadowing, as shown in this essay by a freshman last year:essay by a freshman last year:

Of Mice and Men Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck is a heart-by John Steinbeck is a heart-wrenching novel about two migrant workers living wrenching novel about two migrant workers living during the Great Depression, sharing the dream of during the Great Depression, sharing the dream of owning a farm to call their own. Even before the ending, owning a farm to call their own. Even before the ending, however, however, there are clues to show that this dream is not there are clues to show that this dream is not to be, including three important examples of to be, including three important examples of foreshadowing:foreshadowing: the dead mice, Lennie’s conversation the dead mice, Lennie’s conversation with Crooks, and the death of Candy’s dog.with Crooks, and the death of Candy’s dog.

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Here’s another one about foreshadowing from a freshman:Here’s another one about foreshadowing from a freshman:

The natural beauty of Western California serves as a The natural beauty of Western California serves as a setting of contrast to the lives of Depression-era ranch workers setting of contrast to the lives of Depression-era ranch workers Lennie Small and George Milton, the protagonists in Lennie Small and George Milton, the protagonists in Of Mice Of Mice and Men and Men by John Steinbeck. Part of that beauty is George and by John Steinbeck. Part of that beauty is George and Lennie’s dreams of the future, including owning their own farm. Lennie’s dreams of the future, including owning their own farm. However, the ugly reality is that the dream is doomed. However, the ugly reality is that the dream is doomed. Steinbeck uses foreshadowing to give the reader a hint that the Steinbeck uses foreshadowing to give the reader a hint that the dream won’t happendream won’t happen, especially through animals. He uses , especially through animals. He uses dead mice, a dead puppy, and a heron and snake to show that dead mice, a dead puppy, and a heron and snake to show that George and Lennie’s dream is not meant to be.George and Lennie’s dream is not meant to be.