Journal #3

Characterization – Journal #3

Choose an important character

Write the following:

Write a paragraph about the character and include:

--appearance.
--actions
--ideas-- what the character thinks.
--manner-- how the character acts.
--reactions of others to the characters.

Lennie is a tall guy who is really strong. He is retarded so he has trouble understanding people. Lennie has been mentioned throughout the whole novel and he has gone from being lonely, to breaking Curley’s hand, to becoming friends with Crooks. Since Lennie is retarded he doesn’t have many ideas, but he does have one idea. That idea is that he and George would get their own house. He is really excited about that idea and unfortunately that is what gets him into a fight with Curley. Lennie is mostly nice throughout the book, but when he gets angry he will fight back. Most of the characters find Lennie to be nice, but characters such as Curley and his father don’t like him that much because of his personality.

Why is s/he important in the novel?
Lennie is important in the novel because he is one of the main characters. He has mostly been involved in everything that has happened in the book. He usually makes a part in the book funny by saying something stupid. This book wouldn’t be the same without him.

Would you like to be the main character? Why or why not?
I would not like to be any of the main characters in this story. They are not intelligent and none of them have proper manners. I would not also want to be retarded like Lennie.

Would you like the main character for a friend? Give your
reasons.

I probably would not want Lennie to be my friend. Although he is strong and could protect me from anyone he would follow me everywhere. He would rely on my advice for all his decisions. I would have to answers all his questions and help him get a job.

Discussion #3 - Discussion Director

Discussion #3
Discussion Director
1. Why don’t people respect Crooks? - People in the farm do not respect Crooks because he is black. They do not appreciate that he is a different color.
2. How does Crook’s expression towards Lennie change?- At first Crooks does not like Lennie and tells him to get out, but when he starts to talk to him more Crooks starts to like him.
3. How does Lennie react when Crook talks about George not coming back? - Lennie says that George will always comes back and even when Crook says that Gerge will never ever come back Lennie just ignores him and keeps replying that George will come back.
4. What does Crook think about Lennie and George’s idea? - Crook thinks that George and Lennie's idea of owning their own ranch is crazy. He knows that they will not be able to do it because it is to big of a job.
5. Why do Candy and Crooks not want Curley’s wife to be talking to them?- Candy and Crooks do not want to be talking to Curley's wife because she always gets everybody she talks to into trouble with Curley.

Journal #2

Journal #2
1. This story is told in 3rd person.
2. I like the way that this book is written because it is very interesting.
3. I think that one of the most important parts in the book is when Lennie gets into a fight with Curley. I am going to be Lennie.

After thinkin’ about what da guys and me had been talking about I was in smiles. I couldn’t stop thinking about the house. I was really excited about what it was goin’ to look like inside. I looked over and saw Curley yellin’ at Slim an’ Carlson. I couldn’t really undertand why he was yelling at them.
All of sudden I looked straight ahead and saw Curley coming at me. His face kinda looked like a dog. Curley started to yell at me, but I coundn’t understand him. Then he started to get really angry and stood up and called me a bad word. I think that he wanted to fight me so I quickly looked at George not knowing what to do. I got up and started to back away, but Curley quickly frew a punch at my nose and I started to bleed. I cried out to George tellin’ him to tell Curley to stop, but he kept punching me.
I could hear George telling me to fight back, but I just didn’t do anything. He then hit me in the stomach and I was winded. I could faintly hear George tellin’ me again to fight back. Curley threw his fist again at me, but this time I caught his fist in my hand. Just then I squeezed Curley’s hand and he was flopping like crazy. I could tell that he was in pain. His fist was still in my hand and I could hear George saying to leggo, but I just wouldn’t let go. I could start to feel his bones in his hand crunching. Curley started to cry and cower.
Just then I let go, Curley fell to the ground. I backed up and crouched up against the wall. I could see Curley’s broken and in how much pain he was in. George looked at me and I told him that I did what he had told me. In the background I saw Slim an’ Carlson around Curley and talkin’ about how they would take him to a doctor. I cried “I didn’t want to hurt him, I didn’t wanna hurt him!”

Discussion #2- Literary Luminary

Discussion #2
Literary Luminary
Paragraph 1
Whit laid down his cards impressively. “Well, stick around an’ keep your eyes open. You’ll see plenty. She ain’t concealin’ nothing. I never seen nobody like her. She got the eye goin’ all the time on everybody. I bet she even gives the stable buck the eye. I don’t know what the hell she wants.” (P. 51)
RED - slang term for a word
BLUE - Metaphor for saying she flirts a lot
I think that this is a good paragraph of writing because it shows how the boys talk when they are alone and it shows how they talk on the ranch. The slang word that the author uses makes the paragraph sound more interesting.

Paragraph 2
George stood up. “We’ll do her,” he said. “We’ll fix up that little old place an’ we’ll go live there.” He sat down again. They all sat still bemused by the beauty of the thing, each mind was popped into the future when this lovely thing should come about. (P.60)
RED - slang term for a word
BLUE - Metaphor for a house
GREEN - interesting word meaning confused
This paragraph is very well written because of the way that he uses metaphors. I also like how he uses a word that sounds confusing and actually means confusing.

First Journal Response

First Journal Response
1. Describe the setting in the novel- Time, Place, and Circumstances. Please use quotations to support your answers.
So far the story is taking place during the 1930s in the meadows and a ranch. The circumstances are that George and Lennie are looking for a job on a ranch
2. Which characters have you been introduced to so far? What are they like? Is there any conflict between characters?
Characters that have been introduced are George, Lennie, the boss, the swamper, Curley, Slim, and Carlson. George is with Lennie most of the time and he tries to help Lennie because he is retarded. George is also a bit mean with Lennie. The boss is a stiff man that is tough and hard to crack. Curley is the boss’s son and always tries to act tough because e is small. Slim is the team leader of the grain team and he has 5 puppies. Carlson is one of the workers. The swamper is a man that lives on the ranch with his old dog. He seems to be nice and funny. Conflicts between the characters are that Curley tries to act all tough when he meets Lennie. Carlson suggests that Slim give one of his puppies to Candy(the swamper) to replace his old dog. Curley is married to girl that flirts with all the other workers.
3. Find a quotation that helps describe each of the characters that you have been introduced to.
George- “If I was a relative of yours I’d shoot myself.”
Lennie- “I wasn’t kicked in the head with no horse, was I, George?”
The boss- “I say what stake you got in this guy? You takin’ his pay away from him?”
Curley- “An’ you won’t let the big guy talk, is that it?”
The swamper- “The old man moved toward the door, and his ancient dog lifted his head and peered about, and then got painfully to his feet and followed”
Slim- “Yeah, five. I kept the biggest.”
Carlson- “The dog of Candy’s is so God damn old he can’t hardly move his head.”

Discussion #1 - Vocubulary Enricher

Chapter 1-2

Vocabulary enricher

“His glance was at once calculating and pugnacious.” (25) Pugnacious- inclined to quarrel or fight readily; quarrelsome; belligerent; combative

“He fell morosely silent.” (23) Morosely- characterized by or expressing gloom

“He said plaintively.” (29) Plaintively- expressing sorrow or melancholy

“We… we was diggin’ a cesspool” (23) Cesspool- a cistern, well, or pit for retaining the sediment of a drain or for receiving the sewage from a house

“He had drawn a derogatory statement from George.” (27) Derogatory- tending to lessen the merit or reputation of a person or thing

Author

Who is John Steinbeck?

John Steinbeck was born February 27, 1902 and died December 20, 1968. Steinbeck grew up in the Salinas Valley, region of California. He moved to New York City for a short period of time, but then moved backed to California. Johns main occupation was as an author and as a short story writer. He wrote 25 books and won a Noble Prize for Literature. Some of his most famous books are Of Mice and Men, The Grapes of Wrath, and Cup of Gold.

Reviews

"Of Mice and Men is a thriller, a gripping tale running to novelette length that you will not set down until it is finished. It is more than that; but it is that....In sure, raucous, vulgar Americanism, Steinbeck has touched the quick in his little story." The New York Times

"Of Mice and Men", by John Steinbeck, is one of the most often banned books in the world. Considered the sixth most challenged book in the 1990's, this book, often "required reading" in many high schools and colleges, is still being challenged in schools and libraries around the country.