John Steinbeck's original title for his classic novella, Of Mice and Men, was ‘
Something That Happened
‘.
What is another title for Of Mice and Men?
Steinbeck decided to take the title of his story from a line from a 1785 Robert Burns poem, “To A Mouse.” The full line is, “The best-laid schemes
o' mice an' men gang aft agley
,” the last three words meaning “often go wrong.” This line captures the idea that regardless…
Why was Of Mice and Men originally called something that happened?
Steinbeck wanted to write a novel that could be played from its lines, or a play that could be read like a novel. Steinbeck originally titled it Something That Happened (referring to the events of the book as “something that happened”
because nobody can be really blamed for the tragedy that unfolds
in the story).
Where did the title Of Mice and Men come from 1 sentence?
For one, the title, Of Mice and Men, is an allusion, meaning it was taken from another work. Steinbeck borrowed his title from
the poem, “To a Mouse,” by Scottish farmer and poet, Robert Burns
.
What is Lennie's disability?
Lennie has
a mental disability
, making him dependent upon George to manage day to day life in the difficult environment in which they live and work. Lennie is physically very strong (so his name is ironic), but cannot control himself, leading to escalating acts of accidental violence through the book.
Why does George shoot Lennie?
George killed Lennie,
because Candy told George he wished he would have shot his own dog
, Lennie killed Curley's wife, the puppie, and the mouse, and the lynch mob would have done worse things to Lennie. The first reason why George is justified in killing Lennie is because Lennie is worthless like Candy's dog.
Why was Of Mice and Men banned?
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck is regularly on the banned books list put out by the American Library Association. It has been banned
because of vulgarity, racism, and its treatment of women
. … Steinbeck was interested in writing a book that was historically accurate and reflected the times.
What does Lennie symbolize?
It was Steinbeck himself that originally remarked that Lennie was meant to represent the “inarticulate and powerful yearning of all men.” In the context of the setting, it is clear that Lennie Small is a symbol for
the frustration and hopelessness felt by dispossessed men during the Great Depression
.
Why is George and Lennie's plan possible now?
Here, Candy asks if he can join in George and Lennie's plan to
own a small farm
, ultimately turning their dream into a possible reality since he has money to contribute. “They all sat still, all bemused by the beauty of the thing” because the three men realize that this plan now has real possibility.
Is Curley's wife to blame for Lennie's death?
Curley's wife does inadvertently cause Lennie's death
because he killed her when she went to visit him, but it was not her fault. George decided that Lennie was too dangerous to be left alive, and he was just doing what he thought was best for Lennie and anyone he might encounter.
Why doesn't Curley's wife have a name?
Curley's wife does not have a name
because she does not have her own identity
. … Curley's wife (as the boss's son's flirtatious wife, she is not identified by any other name) wanders around the ranch searching for some human contact. All that Curley's wife has is a dream. She is really considered a nobody.
What does the quote of mice and men mean?
No matter how carefully a project is planned, something may still go wrong with it. The saying is adapted from a line in “To a Mouse,” by Robert Burns: “
The best laid schemes o' mice an' men / Gang aft a-gley.”
Lennie is simply George's close friend and
is not related to him in any way
. When George and Lennie meet the boss of the ranch for the first time, George lies to him by saying that Lennie is his cousin. … After Aunt Clara died, George kept his promise and has been Lennie's friend and guardian ever since.
Did Lennie get kicked in the head?
In chapter 2 of Of Mice and Men,
George tells the boss that Lennie got kicked in the head by a horse
and that he and Lennie are cousins.
What mental illness does Lennie Small have?
The character of Lennie has learning difficulties and also—as identified by some researchers—exhibits many characteristics of
autism
.
What does George say when he shoots Lennie?
George's actions in the end of the book results in him murdering Lennie. For example, in Of Mice and Men George tells Lennie, “
No, Lennie. I ain't mad, an' I ain't now. That's a thing I want ya to know”
(Steinbeck 106).
