The document provides a detailed summary and analysis of key passages from John Steinbeck's novel Of Mice and Men, including quotes and paraphrases from the text alongside identification and explanation of rhetorical devices used. Key devices highlighted include allusion, paradox, irony, repetition, and pathos. The analysis explores how these devices reveal deeper themes about the loneliness of ranch hands and the circular nature of their lives.
The document provides a detailed summary and analysis of key passages from John Steinbeck's novel Of Mice and Men, including quotes and paraphrases from the text alongside identification and explanation of rhetorical devices used. Key devices highlighted include allusion, paradox, irony, repetition, and pathos. The analysis explores how these devices reveal deeper themes about the loneliness of ranch hands and the circular nature of their lives.
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Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
The document provides a detailed summary and analysis of key passages from John Steinbeck's novel Of Mice and Men, including quotes and paraphrases from the text alongside identification and explanation of rhetorical devices used. Key devices highlighted include allusion, paradox, irony, repetition, and pathos. The analysis explores how these devices reveal deeper themes about the loneliness of ranch hands and the circular nature of their lives.
Copyright:
Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
Steinbeck, John. Of Mice and Men. 1937. New York City: Triangle Book, 1937.
Quote or Summary Paraphrase or Summarize Rhetorical Device or Commentary
*Be sure to include page #’s or *Include at least five (5) paraphrases. Strategy/ Literary *Explain the effect of the device (connotations parenthetical citation if using a source or associations) other than the text. Elements *Explain how the device connects to the *Label ALL the devices/strategies meaning of the passage or to the author’s the writer employs purpose “What’s your name?” The boss asks George what his George’s last name, Paradise Lost is a story “George Milton.” (Steinbeck name was; George replies that Milton, is an allusion to the concerning the fall of man—Adam 41). his name is George Milton. author of Paradise Lost, and Eve sinned against God and John Milton. were consequently kicked out of the Garden of Eden. This story, also found in the book of Genesis in the Bible, shares many similarities with Steinbeck’s novel. Similarities include the actions of imperfect humans, the presence of temptation, and the consequences of doing sinful things. The author uses the allusion to help the audience relate to a familiar story. “I’m George Milton. This here’s George introduces himself and This is an example of Lennie’s last name, Small, seems Lennie Small.” Lennie Small to Carlson. paradox. unfitting, because Lennie is a very “Glad ta meet ya,” Carlson said Carlson jokes that Lennie’s last large man. This irony about again. “He ain’t very small.” He name is in stark contrast to his Lennie is much deeper: many chuckled softly at his joke. physical appearance, for Lennie things in his life are paradoxical. “Ain’t small at all,” he repeated. is no small man. He works much harder than any (Steinbeck 64) other laborer, yet he is mentally retarded. His strength is great, yet he desires the simple things in life —soft things and animals. He is
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the underdog—the one the readers feel sorry for and root for —yet he is the cause of so much trouble. “A few miles south of Soledad, The Salinas River, which is a This is an example of artful The first and last scenes of the the Salinas River drops in close short distance from the town of syntax. book occur in the same place—on to the hillside banks and runs Soledad, runs close to hills and the banks of the Salinas River. deep and green.” (Steinbeck 7) is deep and green. The circular pattern of syntax mirrors the circular pattern of “The deep green pool of the Towards evening, the deep ranch hands. Men strive to Salinas River was still in the green Salinas River is still. become bigger than themselves, late afternoon.” (Steinbeck achieve wealth, seek a better life, 172) yet in the end, they are still lonely men. The plot comes full circle. “I seen the guys that go around While George describes his This is an example of While most ranch hands don’t on the ranches alone. That relationship with Lennie to Slim, pathos. travel from job to job with a ain’t no good. They don’t have George admits how lonely, companion, George has Lennie, fun.” (Steinbeck 73) boring lives ranch hands lead and Lennie has George. The without a partner. audience feels a sense of sadness for the ranch hands. They have no friends and have no fun. Steinbeck uses this example to illuminate the greater picture—all human suffering. This novel exposes the cruel, grueling life of ranch hands, and this example only adds to their anguish. “I said what stake you got in this The boss asks George why he This is an example of The boss, Curley, and Slim all ask guy? You takin’ his pay away answers for Lennie. He thinks repetition. George about his relations with from him?” that George takes Lennie’s pay Lennie. They find it unusual for “No, ‘course I ain’t. Why ya away from him. George two ranch hands to travel together. think I’m sellin’ him out?” honestly denies taking Lennie’s The repetition of this question “Well, I never seen one guy money and asks the boss why reinforces that the life of ranch take so much trouble for he thinks George would do hands are lonely and rootless. another guy. I just like to know that? The boss believes This relates to Steinbeck’s overall what your interest is.” money is the motive because purpose for writing the novel: to (Steinbeck 43) George takes on a lot of trouble expose the cruelty that humans
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for Lennie. are forced to endure. Curley’s “What the hell are you getting’ Curley asks George why he insinuation that George and into it for?” answers for Lennie. George Lennie have a sexual relationship “We travel together,” said replies that he and Lennie travel shows that Curley is a vulgar and George coldy. together. Curley implies that cruel man. Slim’s inquiry shows “Oh, so it’s that way.” they have sexual relations. that traveling with a companion (Steinbeck 48) might help the ranch hands to overcome loneliness. “Funny how you an’ him string Slim kindly states how it is along together.” It was Slim’s unusual that Lennie and calm invitation to confidence. George travel together. George “What’s funny about it?” asks why Slim finds that funny. George demanded defensively. Slim replies that guys usually “Oh, I dunno. Hardly none of don’t travel together. the guys ever travel together.” (Steinbeck 71) “Well, it’s ten acres,” said George describes the house This is an example of a Lennie and George are just like George. “Got a little win’mill. that he and Lennie desire to connection made by the Jay Gatsby in The Great Gatsby. Got a little shack on it an’ a own. It has a windmill, a shack, author to another book. In The Great Gatsby, the featured chicken run.” (Steinbeck 100) and a chicken run. characters live in excess; however, in Of Mice and Men, the Lennie said softly, “We could Lennie wishes that one day featured characters live in dirt live offa the fatta the lan’.” they could live off of the fat of poor conditions. No matter their “We’d jus’ live there. We’d the land—live somewhere social or economic status, people belong there.” (Steinbeck 101) where they belonged. still can’t achieve their dream. Both stories contribute to the impossibility of the American dream. “S’pose he took a powder and Crooks asks Lennie what would Within this quotation are Colloquialism illustrates the men’s just ain’t coming back. What’ll happen if George went away. examples of colloquial lack of education. Their whole you do then?” (Steinbeck 124) He knows Lennie depends diction and regional lives have been devoted to work, upon George. dialect. with little or no education. “They’ll take ya to the booby Crooks tells Lennie that they Steinbeck uses this to bring to hatch. They’ll tie ya up with a would take Lennie to an asylum light the larger problems in society collar, like a dog.” (Steinbeck and tie him up like a dog. at the time. The ranch hands’ 126) rustic dialect reflects the setting of the book and the lack of schooling
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for the workers. Perhaps Steinbeck is pushing for reform in the realm of education as well. “Curley’s wife lay on her back, After Lennie accidentally broken This is an example of Curley’s wife is now dead—lifeless and she was half covered with her neck, Curley’s wife laid in passive voice. and helpless. This intentional use hay.” (Steinbeck 160) the hay on her back. of passive voice allows Steinbeck to communicate her weakness and powerlessness. In this time period—the early 1900’s—women were second-class citizens. Steinbeck points out the plight of women of this time—they were subordinate to their male counterpart. Curley’s wife is never mentioned by name within the book. The effect of leaving her nameless also highlights the rights and expectations of women. Essentially, they were to be of no use to society. “As happens sometimes, a The time following Curley’s Within this quotation are Polysyndeton mimics the setting. moment settled and hovered wife’s murder seemed to stand examples of polysyndeton Using “and” allows the sentence to and remained for much more still, to remain, to linger. and repetition. move at a slower pace and allows than a moment. And sound the audience to absorb the stopped and movement shocking event. Just as the stopped for much, much more sentence seems to continue, so than a moment.” does the “moment.” The repetition of “more than a moment” conveys the seriousness and length of the time following Curley’s wife’s death. A water snake glided smoothly A water snake swam through This is an example of The quote alludes to the snake in up the pool, twisting its the pool of water, turning its allusion, symbolism, and the Garden of Eden. In Genesis, periscope head from side to head from one side to the other. foreshadowing. the snake is the source of evil; the side; and it swam the length of It swam near a heron, which audience knows that something the pool and came to the legs of quickly plucked the snake out of bad is about to happen. Also, just a motionless heron that stood in the water and swallowed it. as the heron unsuspectingly
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the shallows. A silent head and seized the snake from the water, beak lanced down and plucked George will also unsuspectingly it out by the head, and the beak shoot Lennie. Lennie will be just swallowed the little snake while as clueless about his imminent its tail waved frantically. death as the snake was. The (Steinbeck 172) snake’s death foreshadows Lennie’s death and prepares the reader for a devastating event soon to happen.