Of Mice and Men

Project details will be provided after spring break. The project due date will be extended.

Essay Topics

1. Steinbeck examines many social issues (which still exist today) in Mice & Men. Pick a specific social issue and discuss how the characters, events, and/or symbols in the novel help to convey Steinbeck’s message regarding the specific social issue. Hint: The social issue you choose to address and your thesis is VERY IMPORTANT (keeps you on track – so PICK THE RIGHT ONES).

2. “The Dream” and dreams in general are crucial in the novel. Discuss the importance of dreams to the characters and events of Mice & Men. What is/are the purpose(s) of dreams and how do they affect the characters and events of the story?

3. In Mice & Men, Steinbeck creates a unique world contemporary to his time and creates characters so memorable and an environment so descriptive that it’s very easy for readers to imagine exactly what is happening in each scene. Drawing from concrete examples in the text, discuss how Steinbeck manipulates language to create a rustic world full of seemingly simple yet complex characters.

PLEASE COME UP WITH AN ORIGINAL THESIS AND SUPPORT YOUR ESSAY WITH REFERENCES FROM THE TEXT (THAT’S WHY YOU HAVE YOUR BOOKS AND NOTES).