“Of Mice and Men”: Intro ► The book is set in 1937 in the middle of one of the bleakest periods in U.S. history. ► One of every four Americans was jobless.

““Of Mice and Men”: IntroOf Mice and Men”: Intro

► The book is set in 1937 The book is set in 1937 in the middle of one of in the middle of one of the bleakest periods in the bleakest periods in U.S. history.U.S. history.

► One of every four One of every four Americans was jobless.Americans was jobless.

► If these unfortunates If these unfortunates had no families to take had no families to take them in, they were them in, they were either institutionalized either institutionalized or thrown into lines for or thrown into lines for bread or employment bread or employment that stretched for that stretched for blocks.blocks.

““Of Mice and Men”: IntroOf Mice and Men”: Intro

► Out of sheer Out of sheer desperation, an desperation, an Arkansas man walked Arkansas man walked 900 miles to find work.900 miles to find work.

► Men set forest fires in Men set forest fires in Washington state so Washington state so they could be hired to they could be hired to put them out.put them out.

► For the only time in the For the only time in the country’s history, more country’s history, more people were leaving people were leaving America than coming in.America than coming in.

““Of Mice and Men”: IntroOf Mice and Men”: Intro

► The Salinas Valley The Salinas Valley region in California was region in California was really hard hit because really hard hit because of the immigration of of the immigration of thousands of jobless thousands of jobless men, many with men, many with families, who were families, who were driven westward to driven westward to seek work by lingering seek work by lingering drought in the Great drought in the Great Plains.Plains.

The Dust Bowl: Of Drought and The Dust Bowl: Of Drought and MenMen

The Dust BowlThe Dust Bowl

► An ecological and An ecological and human disaster in human disaster in the 1930s that the 1930s that lasted about a lasted about a decadedecade

►Hit the Great Plains: Hit the Great Plains: Kansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Texas, New Mexico, ColoradoColorado

The CauseThe Cause

► Years of misuse of landYears of misuse of land► Sustained droughtSustained drought► Millions of acres rendered uselessMillions of acres rendered useless► Native Americans’ warning to “leave the grass Native Americans’ warning to “leave the grass

alone” ignoredalone” ignored

The FalloutThe Fallout

► As land dried up, As land dried up, great clouds of dust great clouds of dust and sand, carried by and sand, carried by wind, covered wind, covered everything: The everything: The “Dust Bowl” was “Dust Bowl” was bornborn

► In 1937 alone, 134 In 1937 alone, 134 dust storms dust storms recorded, creating recorded, creating “Black Blizzards”“Black Blizzards”

The human costThe human cost

► Occurred during a time Occurred during a time of social and economic of social and economic upheaval: The upheaval: The DepressionDepression

► Hundreds of thousands Hundreds of thousands of people forced to flee of people forced to flee homeshomes

► Farmers who hit the Farmers who hit the road alone were often road alone were often called “bindlestiffs”: called “bindlestiffs”: They carried what they They carried what they owned on their backs, owned on their backs, in little bundles or in little bundles or “bindles” made up of a “bindles” made up of a rolled up blanket.rolled up blanket.

““Of Mice and Men”Of Mice and Men”► In just five years, In just five years,

350,000 of these 350,000 of these “bindlestiffs” left their “bindlestiffs” left their homes in the Dust Bowl homes in the Dust Bowl states of Oklahoma, states of Oklahoma, Arkansas, and other Arkansas, and other states to journey to states to journey to California.California.

► All of them had the same All of them had the same dream: to live “off the dream: to live “off the fat of the land” like they fat of the land” like they had back home. It was a had back home. It was a simple goal: a few acres simple goal: a few acres of land for farming, to of land for farming, to grow just enough food to grow just enough food to be self-sufficient.be self-sufficient.

““Of Mice and Men”Of Mice and Men”

► This is the world that This is the world that George, Lennie, and the George, Lennie, and the other migrant ranch other migrant ranch workers inhabit in workers inhabit in Of Mice Of Mice and Menand Men..

► George and Lennie George and Lennie represent thousands and represent thousands and thousands of others for thousands of others for whom the American whom the American Dream would remain out Dream would remain out of reach. of reach.

► They, and others like They, and others like them, were people them, were people isolated from the society isolated from the society of their time.of their time.

““Of Mice and Censorship”Of Mice and Censorship”

Other controversial booksOther controversial books

► ““Harry Potter”: promotes the Harry Potter”: promotes the occult.occult.

► ““Where’s Waldo:” Where’s Waldo:” Apparently, a tiny picture of Apparently, a tiny picture of a nude sunbather in profile a nude sunbather in profile made its way into one of the made its way into one of the books.books.

► ““James and the Giant James and the Giant Peach”: challenged by Peach”: challenged by parents who disapproved of parents who disapproved of the word “ass”; supposedly the word “ass”; supposedly promotes the use of drugs promotes the use of drugs and alcohol; and supposedly and alcohol; and supposedly encourages children to encourages children to disobey their parents and disobey their parents and other adults.other adults.

““Of Mice and Censorship” Top Of Mice and Censorship” Top 10 most challenged books10 most challenged books

► Scary Stories Scary Stories (Series) by Alvin Schwartz(Series) by Alvin Schwartz ► Daddy's Roommate Daddy's Roommate by Michael Willhoiteby Michael Willhoite ► I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya by Maya

AngelouAngelou ► The Chocolate War The Chocolate War by Robert Cormierby Robert Cormier ► Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twainby Mark Twain ► Of Mice and Men Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeckby John Steinbeck ► Harry Potter Harry Potter (Series) by J.K. Rowling(Series) by J.K. Rowling ► ForeverForever by Judy Blume by Judy Blume ► Bridge to Terabithia Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Patersonby Katherine Paterson ► AliceAlice (Series) by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor (Series) by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

Source: Censor The Book www.freewebs.comSource: Censor The Book www.freewebs.com

Of Mice and MenOf Mice and Men: : AnnotationsAnnotations

► Grading: 50 pointsGrading: 50 points► Considerations in grading: not just quantity. Did you:Considerations in grading: not just quantity. Did you:► Offer more than plot summary? Did you question and make Offer more than plot summary? Did you question and make

predictions about what was happening?predictions about what was happening?► Explain why you highlighted or marked a passage? Explain why you highlighted or marked a passage? ► Go beyond pointing out a character’s actions by discussing the Go beyond pointing out a character’s actions by discussing the

character’s possible motives or noting how the character changes? character’s possible motives or noting how the character changes? Create a detailed, complete list of characters in the front of the Create a detailed, complete list of characters in the front of the book, going beyond their physical descriptions?book, going beyond their physical descriptions?

► Create and discuss a list of themes, allusions, motifs, etc. in the Create and discuss a list of themes, allusions, motifs, etc. in the back of the book?back of the book?

► Note how Steinbeck established tone or mood? Did you identify Note how Steinbeck established tone or mood? Did you identify other literary elements, such as foreshadowing, imagery, etc?other literary elements, such as foreshadowing, imagery, etc?

► Identify words you did not know and define them?Identify words you did not know and define them?

Mice and Men: Socratic Mice and Men: Socratic SeminarSeminar

► My observations:My observations:► Discussion was excellent, especially in light of fact Discussion was excellent, especially in light of fact

that this was the first one of these for many of you.that this was the first one of these for many of you.► There was a bit of “script” reading but not too bad.There was a bit of “script” reading but not too bad.► It’s an emerging skill: the ability to feed off of and It’s an emerging skill: the ability to feed off of and

reply to other comments, especially those you reply to other comments, especially those you disagreed with.disagreed with.

► Some overlap in comments, repetition. Again, this Some overlap in comments, repetition. Again, this improves as you participate in more of these.improves as you participate in more of these.

Mice and Men: Socratic Mice and Men: Socratic SeminarSeminar

► Your observations:Your observations:► Generally very positive: Most of you appreciated the give-and-take of the Generally very positive: Most of you appreciated the give-and-take of the

discussion and said this lends much more meaning than a standard test discussion and said this lends much more meaning than a standard test would have.would have.

► Other comments made me say “Hmmm.”Other comments made me say “Hmmm.”► Some claimed that you did not have the opportunity to speak.Some claimed that you did not have the opportunity to speak.► Others said the conversation lacked depth and that the format made you Others said the conversation lacked depth and that the format made you

feel intimidated and judged by others.feel intimidated and judged by others.► A few said it should have been set up as a standard conversation: no A few said it should have been set up as a standard conversation: no

circle, raise hands, wait to be called on, etc.circle, raise hands, wait to be called on, etc.► My thoughts on that: Well…get used to it. Socratic seminars are not only My thoughts on that: Well…get used to it. Socratic seminars are not only

popular at WHS, they are reflective of the conversations you’ll have in popular at WHS, they are reflective of the conversations you’ll have in college and your jobs.college and your jobs.

► Don’t be a victim: Make your opportunities. If you aren’t comfortable Don’t be a victim: Make your opportunities. If you aren’t comfortable interrupting or jumping in, give me an indication you want to say interrupting or jumping in, give me an indication you want to say something.something.