Writer’s Methods

‘Of Mice and Men’

Authorial Purpose

Animal imagery

Animal symbolism

Pathetic fallacy

Other symbolism

Sounds and silence

Framed portraits

Structural linking of

chapters 1 and 6

Adverbs with

speech

Authorial PurposeThe Writer’s Methods

Animal imagery • The characters are often compared to animals.

• This reinforces the theme that the world is a jungle and the lives of men (and women!) are as vulnerable as the lives of mice.

• The title is one example: the best laid plans of mice and men can often go badly wrong.

WRITER’S METHODSSome examples of the imagery include:“like a terrier” (Lennie P26) “they’ll tie you up with a collar like a dog” (Lennie P104) “the way a bear drags his paws” (Lennie P19) “snorting into the water like a horse” (Lennie) “somebody’d shoot you for a coyote” (Lennie) “flopping like a fish” (Curley P91) “her body flopped like a fish” (Curley’s wife P128) “a rat-trap”, “a bitch” (Curley’s wife)

WRITER’S METHODS

ANIMAL SYMBOLISMThe deaths of animals often parallel the deaths of humans and the animals symbolise human vulnerability and mortality.

The killing of the mouse, Candy’s dog and Slim’s pup link with the deaths of the girl, Lennie and the death of the dream.

ANIMAL SYMBOLISM

All the victims are innocent and death comes suddenly and unexpectedly. This perhaps points to the cruelty of life – although some of the deaths are more “positive” as they emphasise human love and compassion.

Candy’s dog symbolises Candy as both are old and of limited use to society which emphasises the cruelty of society.

ANIMAL SYMBOLISM

The dog is also linked to Lennie by Steinbeck’s use of the same gun (Carlson’s Luger) to kill both of them. Also, they are described as being shot in exactly the same part of their body – the back of the head. The significant difference is that Carlson kills the dog out of hate (it “stinks”) but George kills Lennie out of love. As Candy regrets – he should have killed his own dog – as George does with Lennie.

The girl is linked to the pup as they both die in the same place and both because of Lennie’s over-affection. Also, she is often referred to as a dog (“bitch”). Also, her death is foreshadowed when Lennie threatens to break the “necks” of any cats which attack the rabbits on their farm. This is a type of prophetic irony because Lennie does break the neck of the feline (always on the prowl) girl but this destroys the dream of the farm and the rabbits.

ANIMAL SYMBOLISM (Original Analysis)

A more subtle example of unexpected death is the heron killing a water snake at the start of the final chapter. (Both animals were described with almost identical phrases in chapter 1). Clearly there is a symbolic parallel with Lennie’s death intended by Steinbeck.

PATHETIC FALLACY

The idea that nature/animals are aware of human actions and sort of empathise with the feelings of humans. “The sycamore leaves whispered in a little night breeze” (ends Ch1) – the trees are personified as if they know a secret that we do not. “the ancient dog” raises its head when Curley enters the room – perhaps forewarning us of his danger (ends Ch2) – creates suspense (foreshadowing)

“the resting horses rattled the halter chains” – almost like a warning sign of the commotion to follow in the barn (Ch5)

OTHER SYMBOLISM

The solitaire game (theme of loneliness and isolation) No name for Curley’s wife (an object/unvalued) The colour red for Curley’s wife (connotations) George walks in front of Lennie at the start Lennie picks a picture card – “why is it both ends the same?” (possibly symbolises the mirror effect of chapters one and six – both ends of the novel are similar)

SOUNDS and SILENCES

These are used to great effect either to add dramatic tension to a scene or to increase suspense or to add poignancy (sadness) to the mood. The silence often emphasises loneliness and isolation – two major themes.

The technique is used often in the narrative – a distant noise (often of an animal) is heard which only emphasises the silence in the present scene:“It was Saturday night… the sound of moving horses” (P99) – Crooks alone “From outside came the clang of horseshoes” – Lennie alone in the barn (P121)“From outside came the cry of men” (P128)“It was quiet in the barn…”(P129)“The sound of the men grew fainter” – Candy alone in the barn (P135)“From the distance came the sound of men shouting to one another” George and Lennie in the brush (P144)“The silence fell on the room again…there was a little gnawing sound from under the floor…a shot sounded in the distance” (P75-76)

FRAMED PORTRAITSThis technique is used for the girl and for Slim. They both appear in a doorway “framed” by the door frame like in a painting or in a freeze-frame. This is followed in each case by a lengthy physical description. This helps us to literally “picture” the character:

“the rectangle of sunshine in the doorway was cut off. A girl…” (P53) “A tall man stood in the doorway. He held…” (P55)

ADVERBS with SPEECH

Throughout the novel the inner emotions, thoughts and attitudes of characters are conveyed by the frequent use of adverbs to describe how something has been said (or done):

“helplessly”, “coldly”, “softly”, “levelly”, “cautiously”, “ominously”, “absorbedly”, “slowly”, “deliberately”, “confidently”, “casually”

(these examples come from just three pages of the novel – pages 47-49)

STRUCTURAL LINKING OF CHAPTERS 1 AND 6

The final chapter mirrors the opening chapter in various ways. In both chapters: Lennie drinks from the pool, he embraces his knees, he suggests he lives in a cave, the dream is repeated and “Guys like us that work on ranches…” and “I want you to stay with me” (pages 31 and 145).

Much of the physical description of the brush is repeated:

The sun is setting in both chapters (sadly symbolic of Lennie’s life in the final chapter) “a water snake glided up the pool, twisting its

periscope head” (page140 and almost identical on page 25) “The heron pounded the air with its wings” (page 140 and nearly the same on page 19)

STRUCTURAL LINKING

Lennie is compared to a bear (page 19 and page 140)

“sycamores with mottled…” (page 18) and “the mottled sycamores” (page 140) “a little bird skittered over the dry leaves” (page 141) and “a lizard made a great skittering”

Why does Steinbeck do this?

In both chapters there is a tranquillity and beauty in nature but also a loneliness and sadness that parallel George and Lennie’s situation in life (as well as Candy, Crooks, the girl) – especially with Lennie’s death.

Significantly, many of the animals are described as isolated individuals: “a lizard”, “a heron”, “a mouse”, “a water – snake”, “a coyote” (Lennie?) separated and calling to “a dog” (George?), “the rabbits sat as quietly as little grey, sculptured stones” (so, isolated?)

Final Chapter

The last chapter reminds us of the first chapter and this increases the tragedy and sadness because we are reminded of the funny side ofGeorge and Lennie’s relationship and all their great hopes from the start of the novel – all of which is about to end.

Of course there are differencesbetween the chapters:

Both chapters contain imaginary rabbits – “red and blue and green rabbits” (Ch 1) and “from out of Lennie’s head there came a gigantic rabbit” (Ch 6).

The swearing, blaspheming and cruel rabbit of chapter 6 is amusing but sinister and helps to create a more threatening mood. It is the same with the contrasting Aunt Clara’s from each chapter.

In the last chapter a water-snake is killed by the heron but this is not so in the opening chapter. So, this is an ill-omen in the last chapter. The “coyote” and “dog” of chapter 1 are replaced by the more sinister lynch mob: “A man’s voice called from up the river, and another man answered” (page 146).

LOVE?

However, one very important thing remains the same in both chapters – George’s love for Lennie and his repeated and heartfelt assertion: “I want you to stay with me” (page 31 and page 145).