Of Mice and Men Study Guide

Naturalism

Natural forces that have control over you, making it harder to escape the limitations of environment, heredity, and social conditions in shaping human behavior and experiences.

Migrant Workers

Individuals who travel to find short-term work, often in agriculture, facing economic hardship and social challenges, especially in California.They often move from place to place seeking seasonal employment. Also called “bndle bums”

American Dream

In the 1930s, it was considered living a stable life and only having what was deemed necessary

Oppression

The unfair and controlled treatment of a particular group of people

Censorship

The suppression of information can be seen as harmful. Many tried to ban this book due to derogatory comments

Modernism

A literary movement that brought realism and pessimism, aiming to portray life during that era

Setting

Northern Cali inthe 1930’s (farming/ranching community)

Foreshadowing

A hint/warning, like when George says “If you ever get in trobule this is where you go”

Symbolism

Objects/ideas to represent larger themes, Rabbit=dreams/goals

Allegory

Symbolism repeates throughout a work, the rabbit being Lennies dream

Themes

Goals/dreams, companionship/loneliness. responsibility ,respect/lack of dignity

Style

Naturalist- dialogue,realistic Lyrical-descripted

Animal Imagery

Use of figurative language to build an image in the reader's head, like calling lennies hand a bear paw

Characterization

Direct- Flat out saying how the character is like & Indirect- Just based on what the character looks like or what they say or do