Writer's Methods and Techniques Flashcards
Q: How does Steinbeck use a cyclical structure in Of Mice and Men?
A: The novel begins and ends in the same location by the river. This structure reinforces the idea of fate and inevitability, showing that George and Lennie’s story was doomed from the start.
Q: How does Steinbeck use foreshadowing in the novel?
A: Many events hint at future tragedies, such as:
Lennie’s strength and inability to control it (killing mice foreshadows Curley’s wife’s death).
Candy’s dog being shot foreshadows George’s mercy killing of Lennie.
George telling Lennie to return to the riverbank if there is trouble foreshadows the novel’s ending.
Q: How does Steinbeck use symbolism in Of Mice and Men?
A: The novel includes several key symbols:
The Dream Farm: Represents the unattainable American Dream.
Candy’s Dog: Symbolizes how society discards the weak and elderly.
Lennie’s Puppy: Reflects Lennie’s own fate—something small and powerless destroyed by uncontrollable strength.
The Rabbits: Represent Lennie’s hope and innocence, which are ultimately crushed.
Q: How does Steinbeck use setting to reflect the novel’s themes?
A: The settings highlight different aspects of the characters’ lives:
The Riverbank: A place of hope and peace but also a site of death, reinforcing the cyclical nature of the novel.
The Bunkhouse: A harsh, impersonal place symbolizing the loneliness of itinerant workers.
Crooks’ Room: Reflects racial segregation and isolation.
Q: How does Steinbeck use dialogue to develop character and theme?
A: The dialogue is naturalistic and reflects social hierarchies:
George speaks protectively yet impatiently to Lennie.
Curley speaks aggressively, reflecting his insecurity.
Crooks speaks defensively, highlighting racial prejudice.
Candy and Curley’s wife reveal their loneliness through their speech.
Q: How does Steinbeck use animal imagery?
A: Animals are frequently used to describe Lennie and reflect his fate:
Lennie is compared to a bear (“dragging his paws”), emphasizing his strength.
He drinks like a horse, highlighting his simplicity.
The deaths of small animals (mice, puppy) foreshadow Curley’s wife’s death.
Q: How does Steinbeck use realism in the novel?
A: The novel is based on Steinbeck’s own experiences working with migrant laborers. He accurately depicts the struggles of the Great Depression, using authentic dialects and realistic settings to immerse the reader.
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Q: What role does dramatic irony play in Of Mice and Men?
A: The reader often understands more than the characters:
George and the reader know that Lennie’s actions will cause trouble, but Lennie does not.
The reader can foresee Curley’s wife’s tragic fate, but she remains unaware of the danger.
Lennie believes he will tend rabbits, but the reader knows this is impossible.
Q: How does Steinbeck use contrast in the novel?
A: Steinbeck contrasts different elements to highlight key themes:
Strength vs. Weakness: Lennie vs. small animals, Curley vs. Candy.
Hope vs. Reality: The dream farm vs. harsh working conditions.
Companionship vs. Isolation: George & Lennie vs. other lonely characters.
Q: How does Steinbeck create tension in key moments?
A: He builds suspense through:
Short sentences and quick dialogue during Curley’s fight with Lennie.
Vivid descriptions of silence before George shoots Lennie.
Pauses and hesitations in dialogue, showing fear and anticipation.
Q: How does Steinbeck use contrast between light and dark?
A: Light and darkness are used to set the mood:
The barn is dark when Curley’s wife dies, symbolizing death and loss.
The riverbank is peaceful in the daylight but becomes the site of Lennie’s death at dusk, showing the shift from hope to tragedy.
Q: How does Steinbeck use repetition in the novel?
A: Key phrases and ideas are repeated to reinforce themes:
Lennie constantly talks about tending the rabbits, showing his childlike hope.
George repeatedly reminds Lennie about the consequences of his actions.
The American Dream is brought up multiple times, only to be crushed in the end.
Q: How does Steinbeck use Curley’s wife to critique society?
A: Her lack of a name symbolizes how women were seen as possessions. Her failed dream of being an actress highlights the limited opportunities available to women in the 1930s.
Q: How does Steinbeck use Crooks to highlight racial discrimination?
A: Crooks is physically isolated, sleeps in the barn, and is treated as inferior, showing the racism embedded in society at the time.
Q: What is the effect of Steinbeck’s use of simple and direct language?
A: The novel’s straightforward style reflects the lives of working-class people. The lack of complex vocabulary mirrors the characters’ uneducated backgrounds, making the story accessible and realistic.
