OMAM Flashcards
The American Dream
An ideal borne out of the pilgrims who founded America- that every man, if he worked to the best of his capability, could make a little place for himself
Isolation
To be lonely
Misogyny
A belief in the superiority of men
Misogynist
Someone who believes in the superiority of men and doesn’t think much of women
Itinerant worker
Someone who has to move around for work, therefore never being able to settle down or have a family
Emasculate
To take away someone’s masculinity. This can be done metaphorically by humiliation, or literally through castration. (Lennie emasculates Curley by crushing his hand)
Femininity
Womanliness
Corruption
Something (including an idea or society) becoming rotten
Deterioration
A decline in quality
Prejudice
Unreasonable feelings, opinions or attitudes of a hostile nature, regarding a racial, religious or national group
Feminism
A belief in the rights of equality for women
Tragedy
Any literal composition dealing with a serious theme, carries to a tragic conclusion
Tragic hero
The protagonist of the tragedy that is mostly good but has a tragic downfall which causes his doom (Lennie)
Segregated
Discriminating against a group/race. Separating people on the basis of their race
Oppression
The exercise of authority or power in an unjust manner
Provocative
Something that will stimulate
Dehumanise
To deprive of human qualities or attributes/treat like an animal
Protagonist
Main character in a story
Fractured
In a metaphorical way to show the breakdown in society
Derogatory
Something nasty e.g use of “nigger”
Fraternity
Friendship between men (George and Lennie’s relationship shows idealised fraternity)
Prototype
The ideal form (dream)
Idyllic
Perfect, heavenly (dream)
Alienation
An idea Steinbeck explores which he thinks represents American society- everyone is essentially alone
