Guess the Character
In the book Mice and Men, John Steinbeck uses both Direct Characterization, and Indirect Characterization, to describe the characters. Direct characterization is when you tell the reader the characteristics of the character directly. For example, “She is tall and skinny.”On the other hand, Indirect characterization is when you give a description of the character, without directly saying what the character is like, through speech and actions. Direct And Indirect Characterization can easily be compared and contrasted in many ways.
Right away at the start of the book, Lennie is described both directly and indirectly. He is described using direct characterization, “A huge man, shapeless of face with large, pale eyes, with wide sloping shoulders…” ( Steinback 2). This characterization forthrightly states how Lennie looks. This gives the reader a little insight into one of the main protagonists. Steinbeck uses
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indirect characterization when he says, “ He walked heavily, dragging his feet a little, the way a bear drags his paws. His arms did not swing at his aides, but hung loosely” (Steinback 2). We can presume that Lennie is a bulky, and heavy but strong man; he is probably a bit tired, but wants to keep moving. In both characterizations, Lennie is described in an effective way that readers know how he looks and what type of person he is. In this next example, Crooks is described two times as well, in different sections of the book, but both use indirect characterization. The forest example is on page 20, “Yeah. Nice fella too. Got a crooked back where a horse kicked him. The boss gives him hell when he’s ad...He reads a lot. Got books in his room” (Steinback 46). We can deduce that Crooks is a elderly man, who is very lonely, because his reading books suggests that he does not have many friends to talk to, so instead he reads books. And also, at the time when this book was written, African American’s were not treated kindly, or equally, so as a result, this is another one of the factors that made Crooks as lonely as he is. Another example of Crooks being described later on in the book, indirectly, is on page 67, “His body was bent over to the left by his crooked spine, and his eyes lay deep in his head...His lean face was lined with black wrinkles and he had thin pain tightened lips…” (Steinback 67). We can assume many things just from this quote about Crooks, some including, how he has led a hard, cruel life, and has suffered through most of it. Crooks probably had a laborious life, filled with hard work, and is probably a wise man with years of wisdom. Although this character is described two times, both as indirect characterization, we can deduce many things just through a few lines in the passage. The next example is of Slim, who is only described once indirectly through out the whole book, and never directly.
This could be for many reasons, but the most probable might be that Steinbeck wants us to delve deeper in the story, and make our own inferences. Because of this concept, the character might be a bit “fuzzy”, meaning that because he is not described directly, there can be many interpretations to just one common character. This indirect characterization of Slim is on page 46, where it reads, “A young laboring man came in. His sloping shoulders were bent forward and he walked heavily on his heels, as though he carried an invisible grain bag” (Steinbeck 46). We know that Slim is a young man, however from the quote above, some might be led to think that he his a bit elderly because of the “weight he carries”, infering that he has a laborious life. Nonetheless, from the information we know and the quote above, it is probably safe to assume that in the short life Slim has had so far, he has worked during most of it, but is a kind
man. The final example is of Curley’s wife, who is described both indirectly and directly in the book. Because Curley’s wife is an important character in the book, and is the one that results in the end of the story, Steinbeck probably wanted to have her described in detail, so we know how she looks, and what she is like. The example of her being described indirectly, is towards the beginning of the book in Chapter 2, “Both men glanced up, for the rectangle of sunshine in the doorway was cut off. A girl was standing there looking in…” (Steinbeck 31). She had full rouged lips and wide spaced eyes, heavily made up. Her fingernails were red. Her hair hung in little rolled clusters, like sausages. She wore a cotton house dress and red mules, on the insteps of which were little bouquets of red ostrich feathers” (Steinbeck 31).
this is when the author directly tells the reader what the character is like. Indirect characterization- consists of the writer showing a character's personality through their speech, actions, or appearance. 2. While writers track their plots in different ways, all writers tend to follow the same plot structure and test their characters’ actions against the same framework. Briefly explain the framework that writers use for
First, Steinbeck uses the character of Slim to describe that helping others makes that individual feel gratitude towards the individual who helped
An example of direct characterization is when Steinbeck show how Carlson likes to do things like play cards by himself when there are others around but instead he decides to play solitar which is a one-person game instead of playing together. Also, direct characterization is used when Carlson says “Well, looks here, Slim.
At the beginning, the author describes his movement using a metaphor, as Lennie “[drags] his feet… the way a bear drags his paws” (p.2), to show that he is much alike a bear physically. In addition, Steinbeck uses a simile to emphasize Lennie’s animal-like behaviour, as he “[drinks] wit long gulps, snorting into the water like a horse” (p.3). By comparing his physical and behavioural characteristics, this can foreshadow that the author implies that Lennie is seen as more animal than human because of his metal disabilities. George further makes it evident when he infers that “somebody [would] shoot [him] for a coyote if [he] was by [himself]” (p.12). This shows that people are scared of him and his unpredictable, animal-like behaviour because of the lack of understanding about mental health during the early 1900s. Furthermore, this can be the foundation for the theme where the lack of communication and understanding with the mentally disabled can lead to dire and tragic
Characterization is the process by which the author reveal the personality of a character. Characterization can be created in two different ways: direct and indirect characterization. Direct characterization is when the author tells the readers what a character is like. Indirect characterization is based on clues from the story, the reader decides what a character is like. Indirect characterization can come from what the character says/does, what the character thinks, what others say about the character, and the character’s physical appearance.
There isn’t a label on the screen that necessarily says “angelic, gullible teen” or “selfish, arrogant villain.” Instead, you have to watch and listen to that person to notice how the character’s personality is revealed through the story. By doing so, you are seeing how indirect characterization is being used on the screen. This also occurs in many novels and short stories. Instead of watching the character, you imagine the character in your head as you read descriptions of the actions and dialogue. The well-known phrase “show, don’t tell” can apply to indirect vs. direct characterization. Indirect characterization shows who a character is based on what he/she does and says, while direct characterization tells the reader or audience exactly what type of person that character is. An example would be, If a mother calmly tells her son it’s time for bed and he responds by saying, “No, I don’t have to do what you say! I’m staying up all night!” then we can infer that this young boy is mad, obstinate and may have authority issues. The author is not telling us directly what type of personality the boy has instead, we must decide this based on the author’s use of speech. Differences: As where Direct Characterization rather consists of the author telling the audience what a character is like. A narrator
One of the similes is the following: "He's jes' like a kid, ain't he,"(104). At the ranch, Slim, a jerkline skinner and George talk about Lennie and how strong he is. Slim is the one who says that Lennie is like a kid, which is true. Although Lennie may be an adult just like his brother George, he behaves similar to a child. One could know this because of Lennie's passion for rabbits, his inability to stay out of trouble, and his inability to think before doing. Today, he would be diagnosed with a mental disorder, but that was a different story during the 1930s. Nobody knew why people behaved like Lennie did. The only solution they would have come up with was the idea of throwing him into a mental asylum. Because of his childish behavior, he is unable to think for himself. Therefore, he is not to be blamed for his immature behavior. But Curley did not know that, and Lennie had to go through suffering that he did not even deserve. John Steinbeck uses this quote to explain the cruelty of life inside somebody, even though he does not deserve it. The relates to how people feel pity for those who are diagnosed with a mental
In the book Of Mice and Men, the author,John Steinbeck, uses stereotype characters to convey his message. He wants to empathize with his characters as human beings. He uses stereotype characters such as Lennie, George, Curly, Slim, Candy, Crooks, and Curly's wife. Steinbeck's goal is to inform people how life was like for a migrant worker in the 1920's to 1930's.
John Steinbeck explores human experience in the novella ‘Of Mice and Men’ in friendship, loneliness and marginalisation. He does this through the characters as explained thought the paragraphs below.
His hands, large and lean, were as delicate in their action as those of a temple dancer.” (Steinbeck, 33-34) Slim is the noblest of the ranch as the only character who seems to be at peace with his circumstances and his life. The other characters view slim as wise and respectable man and often go to him for guidance, as the only person who has achieved what he wants in life.
The quote that inspired John Steinbeck was the best laid schemes often go off track can be seen in the novel of Mice and Men. When Curley's wife met a man in her childhood that offered her to be an actress but the chance went away and she later died. Then Curley wanted to be a professional boxer but the dream never happened and he became a farmer then got his hand broken for trying to be tough. George and Lennie were going to buy a farm to live off the fat of the land then Lennie had to get in trouble and George had to give up the dream and kill Lennie for what he had done.
There is only one way an author can get their readers to cry, laugh, and love or just enjoy their master pieces. That one way is through the uses of literary devices such as similes, metaphors and personification. These are the small things that brings the author`s thoughts and ideas alive. The author`s ability to use literary devices through the book helps in direct characterization and lets readers get a better understanding of Lennie and George, the two main characters Of Mice and Men. It also helps in keeping readers thinking on their feet and constantly questioning George and Lennie`s next move while in Salinas, California. John Steinbeck, in his novel Of Mice and Men, makes use of similes and foreshadowing to keep readers in touch with the characters and at the edge of their seats throughout the story.
The background into a character is one of the most important necessities for understanding a book. John Steinbeck uses certain repetitive imagery whenever describing a character to give readers an insight on their mannerisms and peculiarities. Among the images Steinbeck uses, the dog and the bear are the most important. John Steinbeck develops the persona and character of Lennie, a big, strong farmhand that is small minded,by the animal imagery that he uses to describe him and through this Steinbeck conveys his overall message about farmhands of the time.
In my opinion, Lennie Small is the most interesting character in Steinbeck's novel Of Mice and Men. Steinbeck does a very good job describing and characterizing Lennie's personality. Lennie's character is, indeed, quite unique. A large man with enormous strength, yet kind and childlike, he seems to find joy in simple life pleasures like petting a furry animal and making the water ripple. Lennie's greatest difficulty seems to be remembering; and it is the lack of the ability to remember that ultimately leads to his tragedy at the end of the book. In the novel, Steinbeck seems to reinforce Lennie's characteristics of strength, kindness, childlike manner, and somewhat animal-like personality. In this paper, I will focus on these characteristics.
During this time period there was many people that were in the lower class of society or higher up in society. Slim was just one of the people that were higher up in society. He was skinnier than the others but he was nice like some of the others on the ranch. Unlike the others he was the prince of the ranch he could lead many mules with one line. He was really well respected on the ranch and had high authority. In the book it states, “ There was a gravity in his manner and a quite so profound that all talk stopped when he spoke.” (Steinbeck 33). This helps express oh Slim was different than the other characters in the book. When they would sit in the bunkhouse and have a conversation there is many people that would all talk at once but when