Comparing the Beginning of the Novel and the Film Of Mice and Men

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Comparing the Beginning of the Novel and the Film Of Mice and Men Like any writer or director, John Steinbeck and Gary Sinise set out to grab the audience's attention. Although the novel and the film are based on the same story, John Steinbeck and Gary Sinise immediately involve the audience in different ways. When writing "Of Mice and Men" John Steinbeck draws the reader in by mainly describing the setting. In the first two pages a very descriptive and lyrical style of language has been used to give a calm, peaceful atmosphere and to give a strong visual effect of the Willow Pool. John Steinbeck chooses to start at the Willow Pool because this is a very important setting, as the story begins and ends there even though the violent end chapter is in contrast to the calm and peaceful atmosphere of the first. The reader is able to imagine the atmosphere and feeling through the use of descriptive language and therefore immediately the author has captured the reader's interest. Also by using present tense John Steinbeck suggests a real geographical location "the Salinas river drops close to the hill-side" and also presents nature's permanence in contrast human frailty and vulnerability, which is one of the novel's themes. John Steinbeck raises hopeful expectations in the beginning of the novel by suggesting that it is spring "…green with every spring." Spring is the first season therefore this shows the beginning of a cycle. The cycle will be of a new beginning and of hope because when George tells Lennie (and the reader) about the dream "We'll have a big vegetable patch and a rabbit hutch" This adds realism and people's expectat... ... middle of paper ... ... actor chosen to play Lennie should have been a lot taller to fit the physical description, as I do not feel John Malkovich has the build and stature as described in the book although he played the character of Lennie brilliantly, because he is able to show the child like immaturity of Lennie's character for instance when Lennie says he like tomato ketchup on his beans, because he goes on and on about having tomato ketchup, like a child would John Malkovich shows that Lennie isn't intelligent. Gary Sinise skillfully changed the order of events to get across to the audience the background information of past events and therefore I think that the adaptation of the book was clever even though the order of events was changed. Gary Sinise faithfully re- produced the Willow Pool scene, as it is a crucial part of the story.

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