‘Of Mice and Men’ is a novel written by John Steinbeck about the Great Depression time period and was originally published in 1937. The novel consists of many techniques used by Steinbeck to engage and communicate with readers, such as dialogue, description, animal imagery and foreshadowing. These carefully considered four techniques allows Steinbeck to emphasise on the important aspects of the plot and convey vital messages as to engage the audience.
Dialogue is an important component in a novel as it allows the characters to express themselves with precision. Conversation amongst two or more characters has the ability to further engage the readers because it makes the plot enjoyable and interesting. The different tones in dialogue affects
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It provides readers with descriptions of people, places, objects and events. The description makes the novel interesting as it describes the details of an event. “…The Salinas River drops in close to the hillside bank and runs deep and green. The water was warm too…” (3) This brief description of a scenery informs the reader about the setting and also communicate a feeling about it. In this case, the feeling is somewhat cool and calm. Steinbeck uses similes and metaphors to communicate descriptive language to audiences. A simile is the comparison between one thing and another of a different kind. It is often used to make a description for emphatic. “Suddenly Lennie appeared…came as silently as a creeping bear moves.” (98) A metaphor is a figure of speech where a word is applied to something that is not literally appropriate. An example is “The curls, tiny little sausages, were spread on the hay behind her head, and her lips were parted.” (91) Understandably, this description is not to be taken literally as it is a metaphor. Description is an essential literary device that was used successfully by Steinbeck as it effectively engages the audience with similes and …show more content…
It is a crucial part in this novel as it builds anticipation and a dramatic tension about what can happen next. It is used to create suspense or to give insight on information. An example of foreshadowing is at the beginning, when Lennie is holding and stroking a dead mouse. This scene foreshadows the climatic event where Lennie accidentally kills Curley’s wife as he “shook her; and her body flopped like a fish.” (90) The death of Candy’s dog foreshadowed the death of Lennie’s, both characters were killed by the same weapon, as Lennie is associated with animals. When Lennie receives a puppy from Slim, he accidentally kills it by stroking it too hard, giving it the same fate as the mice he previously had. From these series of events, the readers learn that Lennie is unaware of his own strength and is simple-minded but also that he means no harm. Steinbeck effectively used foreshadowing as it plays a significant role in the novel to engage the audience as it creates a climatic
Peter Lisca’s analysis on “Motif and Pattern in Of Mice and Men” clarifies that Steinbeck’s misunderstood usage of symbols, actions, and language convey motifs and patterns that connects the beginning of the book to the end. Lisca implies that the first and primary usage of symbolism was the area near the river where the story initiated and ended. He insinuates that the cave that Lennie mentioned twice and the river George ordered Lennie to visit when in danger symbolizes as “a safe place” and innocence while becoming “translated into terms possible in the real world” (Lisca 1). In addition, Lisca also advocates that the rabbits serve as symbols to dramatize Lennie’s devotion for his safe place, but also to “define the basis of what desire on a very low level” (Lisca 2).
An example of a metaphor in “Four Directions” is when Waverly relates her relationship with her mother to that of a horse and rabbit. “And that’s what she is. A Horse, born in 1918, destined to be obstinate and frank to the point of tactlessness. She and I make a bad combination, because I’m a Rabbit, born in 1951” (167).
John Steinbeck, an American novelist, is well-known for his familiar themes of depression and loneliness. He uses these themes throughout a majority of his novels. These themes come from his childhood and growing up during the stock market crash. A reader can see his depiction of his childhood era. In Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck shows the prominent themes of loneliness, the need for relationships, and the loss of dreams in the 1930s through the novels’ character.
One example is when Walter Dean Myers wrote this simile, “The voice high and brittle like dry twigs being broken.” This simile helps to show the reader that the person coming up to Greg wasn’t big or strong, he is not intimidating. Another example of a simile in The Treasure of Lemon Brown is, “Father's words like the distant thunder in the streets of Harlem still rumbled in his ears.” This simile helps the reader understand Greg's father, the way his tone is described makes the reader believe Greg's dad is a big, strict parent. Furthermore this simile also helps the reader understand Greg's feelings, the “thunder still rumbling” helps the reader understand that Greg’s father's words are loud and repeating in his head. Another example of figurative language in The Story of Lemon Brown is when the author writes in personification, “Gusts of wind made bits of paper dance between the parked cars.” In this case the personification is used to help describe the setting. The fact that bits of paper were flying around the place probably means that Greg does not live in the nicest of neighborhoods. In the story The Treasure of Lemon Brown, the author uses figurative language to develop settings and characters.
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.
Metaphors and Similes are often used in this story, so the reader has a better image of the setting, this is something, and I find Connell did incredibly well, for instance when he refers to the darkness of the night like moist black velvet, the sea was as flat as a plate-glass and it was like trying to see through a blanket.
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.
Steinbeck creates Lennie’s persona as a strong but not at all bright farm hand with his use of bear imagery. As Lennie walks he is described as: “Dragging his feet a little, the way a bear
In the novel Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck brings out the themes of Lonliness and companionship, and strengths and weaknesses through the actions, and quotations of the characters. Irony and foreshadowing play a large roll on how the story ends. Lennie and his habit of killing things not on purpose, but he is a victim of his own strength. George trying to pretend that his feelings for Lennie mean nothing. The entire novel is repetitive in themes and expressed views.
Roethke uses a few different literary modes to help create his imagery. Metaphor and similes are figures of speech in which a word or phrase tha...
Literary Devices Identified in Hamlet’s Soliloquy O, what a rogue and peasant slave am I! Metaphor The purpose of a metaphor is to compare the similarities between two different ideas.
Of Mice and Men is a novel written by John Steinbeck. It is set in California during the great depression. The story follows two ranch hands who travel together and are very poor. Throughout the novel we witness many different philosophical references. Many different types of characters from this novel are reused in today’s society. Steinbeck also writes eloquently about the many different emotions, aspirations, and dreams of man.
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
John Steinbeck uses similes to build and create powerful characters that touch the hearts of readers. Throughout the story Lennie`s character grows to be stronger and stronger through Steinbeck`s use of similes. When George and Lennie arrive at the farm, George introduces himself and Lennie to the boss. George compliments on Lennie being a hell of a good worker and tells the boss Lennie was “Strong as a bull” (Steinbeck 22). Up till this quote, Lennie is thought to be a huge man, shapeless of face who walked very heavily until Steinbeck`s use of similes help uncover Lennie`s true character. John Steinbeck illustrates Lennie`s body and strength by comparing him to a large, heavy and physically powerful animal such as a bull. The use of similes helps in indirect characterization as well and adds to Lennie`s physical appearance and age. The use of similes in this quote helps to create a more powerful character and bring more ...
An example of a metaphor is when Heaney describes the berries as a “glossy purple clot”. This smart use of an imagery and a metaphor at the same time gives an image of a ripe berry. There is also a smart use of a simile, “hard as a knot”, for the unripe berries. When Heaney says “hard as a knot”, it sounds rather short, sugge...