Something That Happened

When he first wrote this novel, Steinbeck titled it Something That Happened.  Then, he remembered the poem "To a Mouse," which we read in class.  From that poem he took the title Of Mice and Men.  Which title Something that Happened or Of Mice and Men do you think is the better title?  Why?  Give specific reasons.  (The deadline to post a response to this question is midnight, Saturday, December 6, 2014.) Please take a moment to vote in the poll at the right and there is another blog below this one, too.

A guy gets sick, I tell you...

As we read Of Mice an Men, we saw how Steinbeck shows the many effects of loneliness and lost dreams. Explain how loneliness has affected Curley's wife, Crooks, and Candy.  (The deadline to post a reponse to this question is midnight, Thursday, Dec. 4, 2013.)

In the land of misfit toys....

Chapter Four provides a look at the "misfits" of the ranch. Even among "their kind," these four-Crooks, Lennie, Curley's wife, and Candy--show both the human need for acceptance and the desire for dominance. Explain how each of these characters tries to be the most powerful of the group and tell why they do these things.(The deadline to post a response to this blog question is Wednesday, December 3, 2014.)

In the bunkhouse

 In  Chapter 3 in Of Mice and Men, three important events occur as the men sit in the bunkhouse: Candy's dog is shot, Candy, George, Lennie and Candy decide to buy their dream ranch, and Curley attacks Lennie. Select one of these events and write about how Steinbeck created mood/tone of the scene. Explain how this scene made you feel. (The deadline to post a response to this question is midnight, Tuesday, November 25, 2014.)

I got you and you got me...

We have just met George Milton and Lennie Small, the main characters in Of Mice and Men. These men are very different,but have a friendship.  Why do you think Steinbeck has made these men foils, character opposites?  What keeps them together?  (The deadline to post a comment to this blog question is midnight, Friday, November 14, 2014.)

What does the data say?

You have been researching now for a few days.  Tell us something you have learned about your topic that you find very interesting or had no previous idea about. ( The deadline to post a response is midnight, Wednesday, November12, 2014.)

From the pen of Geoffrey Crayon

Since the beginning of time, people have said to one another, "Tell me a story."  Many of these stories have been folktales. Most folktales contain common elements, such as subtle humor, stereotypical or stock characters, moral themes, eerie or strange settings, and rumor-based or word-of-mouth information. "The Devil and Tom Walker" by Washington Irving, who used the pen name Geoffrey Crayon,  is classified as an American folktale. Select any two elements of folktales and explain how the incorporation of these elements added to the story. How did these elements help the story?  (This post closes at midnight on Thursday, November 6, 2014.)