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Title: Themes in Of Mice and Men -The American Dream - Author: svanvlo Last modified by: Gerardi, Jessica Created Date: 9/29/2004 7:17:35 AM – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: Dreams%20and%20Of%20Mice%20and%20Men


1
Dreams and Of Mice and Men
  • Do Now Brainstorm!
  • Think about your own dreams and how youre going
    to achieve them!

2
Themes in Of Mice and Men -The American Dream -
  • The American Dream Everyone has a dream to
    strive for. The poor ranch hands wish to be their
    own bosses (independence), and actually have
    stability (a home) in their lives.

3
What is the American Dream
  • The term was first used by James Truslow Adams
    in 1931. He states
  • "The American Dream is that dream of a land in
    which life should be better and richer and fuller
    for everyone, with opportunity for each according
    to ability or achievement. It is not a dream of
    motor cars and high wages, but a dream of social
    order in which each man and each woman shall be
    able to achieve the fullest stature of which they
    are capable of, and be recognized by others for
    what they are, regardless of the circumstances of
    birth or position."

4
Think about the followingIs the American dream
possible in the historical context of the novel?
5
Historical Context to Consider
  • The Dust Bowl
  • The Great Depression
  • Migrant farmers
  • Extreme poverty
  • Lack of connection with fellow human beings
  • Lack of understanding (empathy) of the disabled
  • Dehumanization (how the workers are made to feel
    less human)

6
Dream 1 The Farm DreamGeorge and Lennie
  • "'Well,' said George, 'we'll have a big
    vegetable patch and a rabbit hutch and chickens.
    And when it rains in the winter, we'll just say
    the hell with goin' to work, and we'll build up a
    fire in the stove and set around it an' listen to
    the rain comin' down on the roof...'"

7
Interpreting George and Lennies Dream
  • Their perfect world is one of independence.
    Workers like Lennie and George have no family, no
    home, and very little control over their lives.
    They have to do what the boss tells them and they
    have little to show for it. They only own what
    they can carry. Therefore, this idea of having
    such power over their lives is a strong
    motivation.

8
Loneliness and George and Lennies Dream
  • George and Lennie have a dream, even before they
    arrive at their new job on the ranch, to make
    enough money to live "off the fat of the land"
    and be their own bosses. Lennie will be
    permitted, then, to tend the rabbits.
  • Candy, upon hearing about the dream, wants to
    join them so that he wont not be left alone.
  • Crooks, the African American outcast, wants to
    join them so that he wouldn't be alone.

9
Dream 2 Leaving a Permanent Mark on the World
  • When Whit (one of the ranch hands) brings in the
    magazine with the letter written by Bill Tenner,
    a man who used to work on the ranch, the men are
    all very impressed.
  • They are not certain that Bill wrote the letter,
    but Whit is convinced he did, and tries to
    convince the others.
  • Because the ranch hands live a lifestyle where
    they travel all the time and have no real home,
    it is rare for them to leave any kind of
    permanent mark on the world.
  • In this letter Bill Tenner has achieved some of
    the immortality (living forever, being
    remembered) that the other men cannot imagine for
    themselves.

10
Dream 3 Returning to a Time of Childhood
Innocence
  • Childhood symbolizes
  • Innocence
  • Freedom
  • Play
  • Simplicity
  • Imagination
  • A better world/time
  • Unlimited possibility

11
Dream 3 Returning to a Time of Childhood
Innocence
  • When George talks about their farm, he twice
    describes it in terms of things he loved in
    childhood "I could build a smoke house like the
    one gran'pa had..." Chapter 3, pg. 57.
  • George yearns for his future to reflect the
    beauty of his childhood. "An' we'd keep a few
    pigeons to go flyin' around the win'mill like
    they done when I was a kid."

12
Dream 3 Returning to a Time of Childhood
Innocence
  • The ideal world presented by Crooks also
    reflects childhood. His father had a chicken
    ranch full of white chickens, a berry patch, and
    alfalfa. He and his brothers would sit and watch
    the chickens.
  • In this world, he had friends and family, and was
    not alone. He was also not disabled.

13
Dream 4Curleys Wife
  • Curley's wife has a dream that although different
    in detail from the other's dreams, is still very
    similar in its general desires.
  • She wants companionship so much that she will try
    to talk to people who don't want to talk to her,
    like all the men on the ranch.
  • Unsatisfied by her surly husband, she constantly
    lurks around the barn, trying to engage the
    workers in conversation.

14
Curleys Wifes Dream Part II
  • The second part of her dream is similar to the
    men's desire for their own land.
  • She wanted to be an actress in Hollywood. She
    imagines how great it would be to stay in nice
    hotels, own lots of beautiful clothes, and have
    people want to take her photograph.
  • Both attention and financial security would have
    been hers.
  • Like the men she desires friendship, and also
    material comforts, though the specifics of her
    dream differ from theirs.

15
The Death of the Dream
  • When George tells Lennie to look across the
    river and imagine their farm, he lets Lennie die
    with the hope that they will attain their dream,
    and attain it soon.
  • George, who must kill Lennie, is not allowed
    such comfort. He must go on living knowing the
    failure of their dream, as well as deal with the
    guilt of having killed his best friend.

16
The Death of the Dream
  • Steinbeck used George and Lennies dream as a
    symbol of the American Dream
  • So, because George and Lennies dream dies with
    Lennie, Steinbeck is saying that the American
    Dream is dead.

17
Dreams Review
  • Dreams are one of the ways in which the
    characters combat the loneliness and hopelessness
    of their existence.
  • The most obvious example is the dream farm, a
    dream shared at first only by George and Lennie,
    but which later spreads to include Candy and
    Crooks.
  • Crooks reveals that it is the favourite dream of
    the ranch hands
  • 'Seems like ever' guy got land in his head.'
  • It is a powerful dream, however, and even the
    cynical Crooks falls under its spell for a short
    time.
  • To Lennie, the dream is an antidote to
    disappointment and loneliness, and he often asks
    George to recite the description of the farm to
    him.
  • Curley's wife is another who has dreams, her
    fantasies of a part in the movies and a life of
    luxury. Part of her dissatisfaction with her life
    is that it can never measure up to her dreams.
  • Significantly, none of the characters ever
    achieve their dreams.

18
Writing A Dream PaperBrainstorming Ideas
  • The first thing you need to decide is who you
    want to write about
  • George
  • Lennie
  • Curleys Wife
  • Next, you need to decide what that persons dream
    was!
  • Did this person achieve his/her dream? Why or
    why not?

19
1st Topic Sentence/Hook A general discussion of
the papers topic-this could be anywhere from 1-3
sentences, but dont ramble
General Specific
2nd TAG Explain how the text, using the TAG,
relates to the topic-this could be anywhere from
1-3 sentences
As we move from top to bottom, information goes
from general to specific
3rd Thesis
Remember to transition between sentences
throughout your paper (and your introduction)
20
Writing a Good IntroductionTopic Sentence/HOOK
  • Remember, the topic of ALL of our papers is
    DREAMS
  • Creating that Topic Sentence or HOOK
  • Lets look at the HOOK handoutwhich hooks would
    be appropriate for this type of essay?

21
Writing a Good IntroductionTAG Statement
  • TAG means
  • Title
  • Author
  • Genre
  • You want your TAG to link to your topic!
  • Example In Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck,
    Steinbeck discusses the power of dreams.

22
Writing a Good IntroductionThesis
  • What is a Thesis Statement?
  • A thesis statement is a claim or a central
    argument that you prove throughout your paper
  • A thesis statement provides your reader with a
    guide to your paper (or, what you will prove)
  • A thesis statement is strong when
  • it takes a stand
  • expresses one main idea
  • is specific
  • A thesis is strongest when it begins with the
    words While or Because or Although (setting up an
    argument)

23
Writing a Good IntroductionThesis
  • Some sample thesis statements-how could you
    change these to make your own thesis statement?
    Remember, you need to believe in your thesis!
  • Lennie example Because Lennie dies still
    believing in the dream, he achieves his dream
    through the freedom of death.
  • George example While George does believe in the
    dream, because the dream relies on companionship,
    his dream ends when he is forced to kill Lennie.
  • Curleys Wife example Although Curleys wifes
    death should be the end of her dream, her dream
    truly ended when she married Curley .

24
A Good, Basic ParagraphFor a Thematic Essay
  • 1-2 Topic Sentence
  • What you will prove in the paragraph
  • 1-2 Example from the text
  • Should be specific and detailed
  • Avoid Plot Summary!
  • 1-2 Quote from the text
  • Should illuminate the example
  • Should prove (through text) how the example is
    accurate
  • 2-3 ANALYSIS
  • Proves how the information provided relates back
    to and proves the thesis
  • Avoid Plot Summary!

25
A Good, Basic ParagraphFor a Thematic Essay
  • 1-2 Topic Sentence
  • What you will prove in the paragraph
  • This does not mean that you write, I will prove
    that Georges dream dies as a result of Lennies
    death.
  • Never say I in an essay
  • Never say I will prove or I will show or I
    think thatjust write the part that comes after
    that statement.
  • Georges dream dies as a result of Lennies death
    is an excellent topic sentence!

26
A Good, Basic ParagraphFor a Thematic Essay
  • 1-2 Example from the text
  • Should be specific and detailed
  • Avoid Plot Summary!
  • This does not mean that you rewrite the whole
    book. Basically, you are giving a quick example
    in order to set up your quote.
  • Using our example Georges dream dies as a
    result of Lennies death.
  • Example George and Lennes dream was about
    companionship. When George is forced to kill
    Lennie so that Curley does not kill Lennie in a
    painful way, Georges dream dies.

27
A Good, Basic ParagraphFor a Thematic Essay
  • 1-2 Quote from the text
  • Should illuminate the example
  • Should prove (through text) how the example is
    accurate
  • Using our example Georges dream dies as a
    result of Lennies death.
  • George and Lennes dream was about companionship.
    When George is forced to kill Lennie so that
    Curley does not kill Lennie in a painful way,
    Georges dream dies.
  • Example George says, With us it aint like
    that. We got a future. We got somebody to talk
    to that gives a damn about usIf them other guys
    gets in jail they can rot for all anybody gives a
    damn. But not us (Steinbeck 14).

28
Evidence and MLA
  • Evidence in the form of a quote (or citation)
    needs to be properly MLA cited. That means you
    need to use punctuation, quote marks and a
    parenthetical citation which provides the
    authors name and the page number of the
    evidence. It sounds confusing, but its actually
    very easy!
  • The page of the citation is always at the end of
    the sentence, followed by a period.
  • The punctuation only goes after the citation-it
    does NOT go inside of the quote.
  • Good example A few miles south of Soledad, the
    Salinas River drops in close to the hillside
    (Steinbeck 1).
  • The only punctuation which goes inside of the
    quotation is a question mark or an exclamation
    point
  • Confused? Seek outside help!
  • Owl at Purdue University

29
Evidence and MLA
  • Good example A few miles south of Soledad, the
    Salinas River drops in close to the hillside
    (Steinbeck 1).

30
Summary v. Analysis
  • Analysis is the detailed explanation of
    relationships and processes
  • This can be called interpretation of technique
  • The explanation is focused and specific
  • Addresses not only what something means or
    represents, but also how the author communicated
    an effect, understanding, or observation
  • Summary restates facts or events without
    deviating from the original source
  • Summary can include inferences made about plot
  • Summary is not analytical because it communicates
    a general, uniform understanding

31
Summary v. Analysis
  • First In three sentences, summarize the
    Cinderella fairy tale
  • Now, in three sentences, analyze and interpret an
    aspect of the Cinderella fairy tale

32
Summary example
  • Cinderella has two stepsisters and one
    stepmother, all of whom forbid her from living in
    the upper-class lifestyle that they enjoy. When
    the prince holds a ball in order to find his
    future bride, Cinderella can only attend with the
    help of her fairy godmother, but she must leave
    the ball at midnight without even telling her
    name to her new love, the prince. However, the
    prince finds and weds Cinderella because the
    glass slipper that she left at the ball fits her
    foot.

33
Analysis Example
Your analysis does not need to be this detailed!
Its a student example from a few years ago.
  • Cinderellas plight stems from the competition
    among women the principal theme of the story is
    marriage, and the principal conflicts are those
    among women who wish to use marriage to gain
    money and social standing. While Cinderella is
    an innocent girl who does nothing wrong, her
    stepmother and stepsisters are punished because
    they torture Cinderella and claim that they are
    more eligible for the ball, which is essentially
    the marriage market. Therefore, Cinderella is
    rewarded because she refuses to compete with the
    other women she is moral while they are not.

34
Try these simple analysis tips!
  • A-level analysis
  • The writer thinks critically/digs deeper into the
    meaning of the passage and connects that meaning
    to the thesis
  • The writer asks himself
  • What is the authors purpose?
  • Why is this example important?
  • What is the author really trying to say?
  • So?
  • And then the writer answers these questions

35
A Good, Basic ParagraphFor a Thematic Essay
  • 2-3 ANALYSIS
  • Proves how the information provided relates back
    to and proves the thesis (thesis While George
    does believe in the dream, because the dream
    relies on companionship, his dream ends when he
    is forced to kill Lennie.)
  • Avoid Plot Summary!
  • Using our example Georges dream dies as a
    result of Lennies death. George and Lennies
    dream was about companionship. When George is
    forced to kill Lennie so that Curley does not
    kill Lennie in a painful way, Georges dream
    dies. George says, With us it aint like that.
    We got a future. We got somebody to talk to that
    gives a damn about usIf them other guys gets in
    jail they can rot for all anybody gives a damn.
    But not us (Steinbeck 14).
  • Example The dream farm represents many things.
    It represents independence and freedom from an
    oppressive boss, a return to childhood and the
    American Dream. But, the most important part of
    the dream is that it is about companionship.
    Because Steinbeck forces George to kill Lennie,
    Steinbeck believes that that, in this period, the
    American Dream is impossible to achieve.

36
Phrases To Avoid
  • When analyzing your text, avoid the following
    phrases
  • This quote means
  • This quote shows
  • This quote is important
  • Another example
  • As you can see
  • Whatever would come after that phrase, keep! But
    delete the phrase!

Also avoid saying In Conclusion in your
conclusionI know its your conclusion!
37
Proof-read!
  • Some proof-reading tricks of the trade
  • Take some time off between drafting and
    proof-reading. Your eyes know what should be
    there, rather than what is there.
  • Read the draft aloud, either to yourself or to a
    group of people.
  • What sounds funny?
  • Is there any place where you trip over your own
    words?
  • Make corrections! Nothing is ever perfect!
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