setting in omam

Question 1

Soledad

Answer 1

Spanish for solitude

Question 2

Nature is perfect in the absence of men

Answer 2

“water is warm”
“yellow sands in the sunlight”
“golden foot-hill slopes”
“willows fresh and green”

-IDYLIC backdrop to ACCENTUATE the flaws of humankind and provides contrast to the BLEAK bunkhouse

Question 3

Presence of men intrudes upon the tranquility and perfection

Answer 3

“beaten hard”
“many fires”
“shouts of men”

-man pays the ultimate price for their own destruction. They are victims of themselves. The Great Depression was man-made

Question 4

The FRAGILITY of life and insignificance of the individual

“dog eat dog world”

Answer 4

“A water snake glided smoothly up the pool…and came to the legs of a motionless heron that stood in the shadows.”

Question 5

inescapable flaws of human kind; theme of fate

Answer 5

cyclical structure
-cycle of destruction that never ends

Question 6

What does setting the novella in a real place do?

Answer 6

Steinbeck gives the story authenticity: charcters represent reality

Question 7

The Bunk house is uninviting - disregard for workers

Answer 7

“eight bunks”
“burlap” (a quilt/blanket)
“un-painted”

Question 8

The bunkhouse had a DREARY atmosphere, symbolising the hopelessness of the workers situations

Answer 8

“Although there was evening brightness showing through the windows of the bunk house, inside it was dusk”

Question 9

why did people have limited personal belongings?

Answer 9

The Great Depression and Dustbowl meant employment was scarce. Workers could easily be replaced and people were poor.

Question 10

Why was the idea of the American dream ABSURD?

Answer 10

The idea that one’s life, LIBERTY and PERSUIT of happiness was LAUGHABLE as the living conditions were terrible

Question 11

What does the physical position of the Harness room tell you about the way Crooks is treated?

Answer 11

He is treated in an inhuman manner as he is right next to the horses. He is ostracized

Question 12

Significance of the sound of the halter chains

Answer 12

“rattle of halter chains” used to tie the horses could be a symbol of slavery. Steinbeck suggests that slavery is still happening. The new “chains” are the social constrains placed on African-Americans

Question 13

Significance of the small electric globe

Answer 13

“A small electric globe threw a meager yellow light”
meager light - hopelessness of Crooks improving his social situation

Question 14

When was slavery abolished (the year)

Answer 14

1865

Question 15

When were the Jim Crow laws enforced?

Answer 15

between 1876 and 1965

Question 16

The sense of calm was ominous and makes us feel uneasy - foreshadows death of Curley’s wife

Answer 16

“From outside came the clang of horse shoes on the playing peg and the shouts of men, playing, encouraging, jeering. But in the barn it was quiet and humming and lazy and warm”

Question 17

The pressence of flies forshadows death

Answer 17

“There was the buzz of flies in the air”
-attracted to puppy

Question 18

The significance of the darkness in the barn contrasting the light outside

Answer 18

“The air was dusky”
-SINISTER setting
-represents man’s FUNDAMENTAL nature

Question 19

Significance of the pigeon flying into the barn

Answer 19

“A pigeon flew in through the open hay door and circled and flew out again”

pigeon - symbol of freedom
Curley’s wife escaped pain/oppression through death

Question 20

Curley’s wife is finaly at peace when she’s dead

Answer 20

“The light was growing soft in the barn”