Of Mice and Men Vocab

Transient

Adjective

Lasting only a short time

Migrant

Noun

A person who moves from one place to another, especially in order to find work or better living conditions

Okie

A migrant agricultural worker from Oklahoma

Dust Bowl

Noun

An area of land where vegetation has been lost and soil reduced to dust and eroded, especially as a consequence of drought or unsuitable farming practice

Segregation

Noun

The action or state of setting someone or something apart from others

White-washing

Adjective

Concealing unpleasant facts about someone or something

Repatriate

Verb

Send someone back to their own country

Symbolism

Noun

The use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities

Imagery

Noun

Visually descriptive or figurative language, especially in literary work

Direct Characterization

Describes the character through their physical description, line of work, or passions and pursuits

Indirect Characterization

Describes the character through their thoughts, actions, speech, and dialogue

Author

Noun

A writer of a book, article, or report

Speaker

The point of view or narrator

Dehumanize

Verb

Deprive of positive human qualities

Demonize

Verb

Portray as wicked and threatening

Recumbent

Adjective

Person or human figure lying down

Skittering

Verb

Move lightly and quickly or hurriedly

Setting

Noun

The place or type of surroundings where something is positioned or where an event takes place

Morosely

Gloomy or in a bad mood

Bindle

A bag or sack or carrying device

Yammer

Verb

Talk foolishly or incessantly

Intellectual Disability

Noun

A disability that effects the acquisition of knowledge and skills, in particular any or various neurodevelopmental conditions

Scourge

Noun

A person or thing that causes great trouble or suffering

Scowl

Noun

An angry or bad-tempered expression

Ominous

Adjective

Giving the impression that something bad or unpleasant is going to happen

Reassure

Verb

Say or do something to remove the doubts or fears of someone

Complacent

Adjective

Showing smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one’s achievements

Grizzled

Having dark hairs mixed with grey or white

Belligerent

Adjective

Hostil and aggressive

Monotonous

Adjective

Dull, tedious, and repetitious; lacking in variety and interest

Discontent

Noun

Lack of contentment; dissatisfaction with one’s circumstances

Snivel

Verb

Cry and sniff in a feeble or fretful way

Jeer

Verb

Make rude and mocking remarks, typically in a loud voice

Confide

Verb

Tell someone about a secret or private matter while trusting them not to it repeat it to others

Aloof

Adjective

Not friendly or forthcoming; cool and distant

Apprehension

Noun

Anxiety or fear that something bad or unpleasant will happen

Reverently

Adverb

With deep and solemn respect

Reprehensible

Adjective

Deserving censure or condemnation

Bemused

Adjective

Puzzled, confused or bewildered

Fasten

Verb

Close or do up securely

Rigid

Adjective

Unable to bend or be forced out of shape; not flexible

Pleadingly

Adverb

In an emotional way that shows that you want something very much but are not certain that somebody will give it to you

Bias

Noun

Prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another, usually in a way considered to be unfair

Motif

Noun

A decorative design or pattern

Prefix “Dis”

Distance

Prefix “Con”

With

Prefix “Bel”

Fight