Theme Analysis

Theme Analysis

In last week's blog response, I asked you to select a theme that "hit home" with you the most.  Now that you have set your sights on a theme you would most like work with some more, it is time to test your skills of analysis.  Scan through the last chapter (6) in Of Mice and Men and see if you can pull out a moment from the text that, upon close reading, says something about your selected theme.

For example, imagine that I am a student who was most interested in the theme of "The American Dream."  When scanning chapter 6 I came across this moment in the text:

 "A water snake glided smoothly up the pool, twisting its periscope head from side to side; and it swam the length of the pool and came to the legs of a motionless heron that stood in the shallows.  A silent head and beak lanced down and plucked it out by the head, and the beak swallowed the little snake while its tail waved frantically." 

Next, try to analyze how this moment is somehow connected to the theme you have chosen.  It mights sound something like:

One of the final images of setting that Steinbeck offers us in Of Mice and Men involves a snake being eaten unexpectedly by a taller, silent bird.  The snake "gliding smoothly up the pool" is similar to an American citizen in the 1930s attempting to work their way towards a goal of prosperity.  The snake moves its way around obstacles as it sees them, just like a hardworking citizen has to jump some hurdles in the pursuit of their dream.  However, the unfortunate truth of the matter is that "The American Dream" is beyond the grasp of most people because of unforeseen enemies to their progress.  The tall heron might be a symbol for the more powerful upper or dominant class of society silently waiting in the shadows.  The heron ultimately swallows the snake, and in the same light, many Americans dreams are snatched from American people in ways that they do not suspect. 

" Lennie turned his head and looked off across the pool and up the darkening slopes of the Gabilans. " We gonna get a little place," George began. He reached in his side pocket and brought out Carlson's Luger; he snapped off the safety, and the hand and gun lay on the ground behind Lennie's back. He looked at the back of Lennie's head at the place where the spine and skull were joined." 

Throughout the book we see many passages in which George has power over Lennie. In this passage George has the power of Lennie's life in his hands. He is the one deciding whether Lennie gets to live or die.  That's and ultimate type of power because no human is worth enough of deciding if you get to live or not. George has the power of Lennie at this very moment, in the passage.   

Chapter 6 Notes

Reflect: On page 100 I feel bad for Lennie. He remembered when George first told him he ever got in trouble to run and hide in the bush. Although Lennie sometimes doesn't mean to cause harm to anyone, he ends up doing the wrong thing. It's upsetting because Lennie has a mental disability and he can't control his mind at times. I feel that people should understand and kinda be on Lennie's side. If anyone his Aunt Clara should have been by him.

Question: Were Aunt Clara and the talking rabbit signs that Lennie was going to die? And why were they so mean to him? Talking about how George was gonna beat him and leave him. 

Summarize: Lennie runs to ride in the bush as he waits for George to come. As he waits his Aunt Clara appeared out of Lennie's mind. His Aunt began to tell him, how nice George has been to him and Lennie has re-payed him by being mean. A rabbit also talked to him and added on to his Aunt Clara. George then arrives and reminds him of the house and animals there planning to have, secretly he puts a gun to his back and kills him. 

Novel Reaction: Thinking Forward

We have investigated many captivating themes that exist in John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men over the last few weeks.  You have explored the desperation and poverty of the American 1930s through pictures and video.  You have witnessed how John Steinbeck used naturalism to portray certain characters as "human beasts" acting on impulsiveness and instinct for self-preservation.  You have examined how the author used literary devices such as sentimentalism, diction, tone, parallelism, and foreshadowing in order to propel these themes.  You have close-read and analyzed the text digging deeper and deeper for evidence of themes such as Power vs. Powerlessness, Individual vs. Community, The American Dream, Euthanasia, Racism, Loneliness, and maybe even a little Sexism.  Pat yourself on the back!  You have been critically thinking about this novella on so many different levels. 

For this week's blog response, you need to make some pretty serious decisions!  We are quickly approaching the time where you will be expected to write your Research Paper based on a topic of interest from Of Mice and Men.  If you have been keeping up with your reading, completing your notes, participating in conversations and activities during class on the various themes, and completing your blog responses this choice will be fairly easy!  If not, you may be in for a struggle....

What topic or theme that we have touched on during this unit has "hit home" with you the most?  Which theme or topic has a personal connection for you?  Which did you find most captivating or interesting to discuss and investigate during this unit?  Select a topic/theme from the list above that peaks your interest, and, in this week's blog response, discuss why you find it fascinating, which moment in the story you think about when reflecting on this theme, and how this theme is relevant in today's world.

The topic that has "hit home" with me the most has been Power vs. Powerless. It's been the most captivating for me because you see in various parts in the book. It's easy to connect to modern days now because Power vs. Powerless is still around, and probably always will be. It's interesting to see how one person has power over the other, but another character has more power than them. For example George has power over Lennie, because Lennie cant use his mind like George. BUT Curley has power over both George and Lennie. There isn't an exact or main point of power I would use. The topic is written all over the book. I would use all the small passages where power or powerless is shown and expand in depth for my research paper. 

Investigating Themes in Of Mice and Men

         Investigating Themes in Of Mice and Men


Choose one of the following questions that interests you most to respond to in this week's 
blog post: 

1.) What different forms of power exist Of Mice and Men? What kind of power does Lennie have? What kind of power does George have? What kinds of power or powerlessness do other characters possess?


2.)  What kind of relationship does George and Lennie have? Is their relationship a friendship? How does relationship express Steinbeck's on the individual versus the community?


3.) Is the American Dream a real possibility in the story ? If yes, what characters, symbols, events, or other details from the story confirm that the American Dream is within reach? If not, what characters, symbols, events, or other details from the story represent the American Dream is out of reach?


Check Out the Info History.com has to offer about the American 1930's! Who had power in the 1930's? Who did not? What kinds of power existed then?

Answer to question # 1.

In the story of Mice and Men there are different forms of power that exist, such as mental power that George obtains. Also, physical power that Lennie has.

 Lennie has the physical power between the duo. When they were being interviewed at the Bunkhouse George let's us know that Lennie was strong. On page 22 it states, " No, he ain't, but he's sure a hell of a good worker. Strong as a bull."(Steinbeck) When Curley began to pick on Lennie, George reassured he was a force to be reckon with. Even though Lennie may not have brains he does have strong big hands that can cause harm.  Page 27 Steinbeck writes, " Lennie ain't no fighter, but Lennie's strong and quick and Lennie don't know no rules."

Opposite to Lennie, George has the mental power, that Lennie desperately depends on. George has the power over his mind and the decisions that he makes, unlike Lennie. Because George does have that Lennie looks up to George in whether or not to make certain decisions. For example, when Curley started hitting Lennie, George had to tell Lennie to defend himself because Lennie doesn't have power in his mind. George had to do all the talking because Lennie could have costed them the job. George usually has to carry all the weight when it comes to the mental.

Power isn't only found between these two characters. For example all the characters except Crooks have racial power. There white and Crooks is colored so he gets treated differently than the rest do. There are certain benefits that only white people get due to their race, during the 1930's. Candy lacks the physical power that others may posses, due to the fact that his hand is injured and isn't able to perform the tasks others can.