Of Mice and Men - Dreams

Question 1

What are 4 points for dreams?

Answer 1

1. Independence/Self-Sufficiency + Universality (G+L)
2. Inability to achieve Dreams (Curley’s Wife)
3. Embarrassing - only shared with close people (G+L+Candy)
4. Power of Dreams (G+L)

Question 2

What is a topic sentence for independence/self-sufficiency + universality of dreams?

Answer 2

In ‘Of Mice and Men’, Steinbeck presents the universality of the dream of independence in 1930s America…

Question 3

What are two quotes and a context for the universality of dreams and hopes of independence?

Answer 3

“every damn one of ‘em’s got a little piece of land in his head” - (Crooks to G+L)

“An’ live off the fatta the lan’” (Lennie to George, he shouts this, showing his excitement about the prospect of their farm together)

Pressure on farms in 1920 – want to get away and do it your way on your farm

Question 4

What is a topic sentence for the inability to achieve dreams?

Answer 4

Steinbeck presents dreams as unattainable and unrealistic, through Curley’s wife’s dream to be a Hollywood actor…

Question 5

What are two quotes and a context for the inability to achieve dreams?

Answer 5

“An’ a guy tol’ me he could put me in pitchers”, but she had a “nasal, brittle” voice (Unlikely she would be a movie star) - Curley’s Wife

“I never seen a guy really do it,” - Crooks

American capitalism - Hard to become rich and achieve dreams while working at a low-paying job

Question 6

What is a topic sentence for the embarrassment of dreams ?

Answer 6

Steinbeck presents the harsher nature of dreams - that people are often scared to share their dreams and are embarrassed, as shown by Lennie, George and eventually Candy…

Question 7

What are two quotes and a context for the embarrassment of dreams?

Answer 7

“We was always gonna do it by ourselves.”

“Don’t tell nobody about it. Jus’ us three an’ nobody else.” - G to Candy about the dream

American dream - yours and no one else’s

Question 8

What is a topic sentence for the power of dreams?

Answer 8

Through George and Lennie, Steinbeck presents the power of dreams, but the destruction caused when a dream comes crashing down….

Question 9

What are two quotes and a context for the power of dreams?

Answer 9

“Le’s do it now. Le’s get that place now.” - L’s last words, power of dreams

“because I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you” - L, power of hope that he is excited to be with G and hopeful

The Great Depression - Power of hope during dark times