The Setting and Character Depiction in the Novels Of Mice And Men by John Steinbeck and Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

The Setting and Character Depiction in the Novels Of Mice And Men by John Steinbeck and Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

In this coursework I will be analysing the comparison and

contradictions between the two novels "Of Mice And Men" by John

Steinbeck and "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens. I will be

concentrating on character depiction and setting. The background of

both authors will be brightly highlighted to provide an insight into

their ideas. Throughout my coursework, I will be constantly referring

to each novel in order to provide a thorough analysis.

Charles Dickens was a British born writer born in February 1812. His

father had constant money problems and was in debt most of the time,

due to this his father was put in prison his family had to go with him

but Charles Dickens was arranged to live outside prison with

relatives. Dickens came from a large family and had seven brothers and

sisters. At first Dickens worked as a law clerk, after some time he

became a court reporter and then went onto become a great novelist.

John Steinbeck who was American was born on the twenty seventh

February 1902 in California. Steinbeck was the third child of John

Steinbeck (his father) and Olive Hamilton Steinbeck. Steinbeck's

father managed a flourmill but when he went bankrupt he had to work

for Spreckels sugar plant. John Steinbeck was a fluent reader at five

and read novels.

A short synopsis of "Of Mice And Men" is that the two main characters

George and Lennie when we first meet them are looking for jobs on a

ranch. George was a small but smart person. Lennie was a large man but

he was mentally handicapped. The story ends tragically with the end of

a long friendship with the death of Lennie. Another life is also lost

and this is of Curley's wife in Lennie's hands.

A short synopsis of "Great Expectations" is that in the first part of

"Great Expectations" we read and find out that Pip has lost everyone

but his older sister.