Novel Reaction: Thinking Forward

What topic or theme that we have touched on during this unit has "hit home" with you the most?  Which theme or topic has a personal connection for you?  Which did you find most captivating or interesting to discuss and investigate during this unit?  Select a topic/theme from the list above that peaks your interest, and, in this week's blog response, discuss why you find it fascinating, which moment in the story you think about when reflecting on this theme, and how this theme is relevant in today's world.

The topic that touched me the most is racism. I also had a personal connection with The American Dream. The most interesting was the human beast and naturalism. The reason is because it relates to your animal instincts and very interesting to me to talk about this topic. The moment at the pond where Lennie was drinking like a bear relates to this theme so many ways. It is relevant to today's world because if you look in society everyone acts like animals. For example a business man being ruthless to close a deal or someone killing innocent people for no reason. Last time I checked that's what animals do.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naturalism_(philosophy)

A portrait of racism

A Portrait of Racism

Chapter 4 in Of Mice and Man, paints a very realistic portrait of racism in the 1930s.  Discuss at least two ways in which racism is explored in this chapter.  Include quotes and your own analysis of key moments in this chapter that clearly demonstrate the racism that existed in the American 1930s.  What do readers understand about racism as a result of reading this chapter?

In chapter 4 their are many signs of racism. For example,on page 68 middle paragraph crook states"'Cause I'm black. They play cards in there,but I can`t play because I'm black. They say i stink".Another great example is on page 70 the bottom of the page where crook is saying" If I say something, why it`s just a nigger sayin it  .In these sentences crook is being aggressive because he is upset that they wont let him do things with them and get the respect that he deserves  because of race. the readers understand thadst racism towar the blacks in the 1930`s was a big thing.http://find.galegroup.com/gic/infomark.do?&contentSet=EBKS&idigest=fb720fd31d9036c1ed2d1f3a0500fcc2&type=retrieve&tabID=T001&prodId=GIC&docId=CX2831400031&source=gale&userGroupName=itsbtrial&version=1.0#sra_article_col1

chapter 4 notes

2) Prediction:  Write down your prediction for what you think will happen next in the story. Don’t forget to explain what happened in this chapter that helped you form this prediction.

4) Summarize:  Re-tell, in your own words, the main plot and important details of your reading. Your summary should not be more than about a paragraph, or 5-7 sentences.
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5) Reflect:  Write down any quotes, sayings, or moments that affect you in some way.  So far, what do you think is the reason the author wrote this book?  Are there any themes you recognize?  Do you like the book so far?  Why or why not?  What changes could be made so that you understand or connect with the story better

i predict that Lenny is going to get into trouble. i also think that Lenny is going to kill his puppy and someone at the barn. i  think when geogre is going to punish Lenny for doing those things but i don't know how yet. he is either going to isolate him by putting him in the house or he is going to kick him off the barn.
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In chapter four we talk about Crooks. Crooks tells us how everyone looks down on him and how he is a lonely man because of his skin color. So Lenny starts to talk to him to understand why. All of a sudden Lenny starts to talk about the rabbits that he is going to have on the farm and what he going to feed them. Later curley`s wife walks in and she talk about her unhappy marriage so candy and crook tell her to leave before she starts trouble.

 "Just like heaven. Ever’body wants a little pieceof lan’. I read plenty of books out here. Nobody never gets to heaven, and nobody gets no land". now i think the author wrote this book to show how people suffered back then. i see the theme of brotherhood between Lenny and George . i enjoy the book because of the peice of history that it brings.

chapter3 notes

4) Summarize:  Re-tell, in your own words, the main plot and important details of your reading. Your summary should not be more than about a paragraph, or 5-7 sentences 
2)Write down your prediction for what you think will happen next in the story. Don’t forget to explain what happened in this chapter that helped you form this prediction.
5) Reflect:  Write down any quotes, sayings, or moments that affect you in some way.  So far, what do you think is the reason the author wrote this book?  Are there any themes you recognize?  Do you like the book so far?  Why or why not?  What changes could be made so that you understand or connect with the story better?

4) In this chapter a lot of things have happened. For example Lennie gets a new puppy that he got from slim because George as slim to give one to Lenny. While asking for the puppy George told slim how he met Lenny and how he got the task of taking care of him. Curly beats up Lenny because he is mad at slim, but Lenny fights back and brakes curley`s hand.

2)I predict the curly `s wife is going to get them in some trouble with Curly. Curly already doesn't like Lenny because he is big. Also because Lenny broke his hand,  I feel that Curley is really going to hurt Lenny . I predict this because Lenny and curley fought already and i think curley wants to get revenge.

5)" But Lennie watched in terror the flopping little man whom he held. Blood ran down Lennie 's face,one of his eyes was cut and closed PG 63."  I think Steinbeck wrote this book to tell future generations about what happened in the 1930`s. yes, I like the book because you never know what some characters might do next. maybe a person cause try to increase their intelligence so i could understand it better. 

investigation themes in mice in men

2.)  What kind of relationship do George and Lennie have?  Is their relationship a friendship?  How does this relationship express Steinbeck’s position on the individual versus the community?

George and Lenny have a good brotherly relationship, they try to stick up for one another through thick and thin.Their relationship reminds me of my childhood cartoon Pinky And The Brain. George reminds me of brain because he is small and the leader of the two of them. Lenny reminds me of Pinky because he tall and not that bright. i believe that Steinbeck is trying to say that the individuals are better then the community because you can trust a individual more than a community .  http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/friendship

Naturalism As a Mirror In The 1930s

   

www.olystudio.com

 Literature is often a reflection of the time period in which it was written or, in the case of historical fiction, of the time period it is focused on.  Authors will often find sneaky little ways to demonstrate the dominant characteristics of the time period by blending in details, that, at a closer glance, reveal these hidden themes.

     In class, we viewed several videos (in the LitByFleming blog video bar) that gave us a look at some major events and common themes or characteristics of the 1930s.  John Steinbeck certainly considered these elements when writing Of Mice and Men.  In fact, it might be said, his writing style intentionally made use of naturalism in order to capture and expose some of the attitudes and characteristics of the American 1930s.

www.dailymail.co.uk

     Let's see if you can make the connection!  Think about some of  the naturalistic elements we identified in class (Chapter 1).  What aspects or characteristics of the 1930s are being demonstrated to us at those moments in the text?  What do you believe John Steinbeck was trying to show us or expose about the way people, life, or society was during this time in American history? 

Naturalism is defined as detailed realism to suggest that social conditions, heredity, and environment had inescapable force in shaping human character.In class we discussed that naturalism  would be ill educated,lack of manners and etc. In this case in the book naturalism was demonstrated as uneducated,no manners and etc. I believe that John Steinbeck is trying to tell us that everyone acted like beast because of the surroundings they were in.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naturalism_(literature)

chapter 1 note taking

1) Question:  Write down the names of characters involved, as well as where and when the story is taking place at this point in the text.  Next, write down questions you have about the story or characters, and any questions about the reading that you did not understand and would like clarification.

2) Prediction:  Write down your prediction for what you think will happen next in the story. Don’t forget to explain what happened in this chapter that helped you form this prediction.

3) Connection:  Write down anything that you found familiar:  either a situation you have experienced, a character that reminds you of someone, or an event from the story that is similar to something you have already read.  *Remember to use good technology ethics!  Do not expose names of people anyone could or would know.  Use good judgement!
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4) Summarize:  Re-tell, in your own words, the main plot and important details of your reading. Your summary should not be more than about a paragraph, or 5-7 sentences.

5) Reflect:  Write down any quotes, sayings, or moments that affect you in some way.  So far, what do you think is the reason the author wrote this book?  Are there any themes you recognize?  Do you like the book so far?  Why or why not?  What changes could be made so that you understand or connect with the story better

4) The main characters in the story are named George and Lenny. George and Lenny are on their way to California to look for a job. After miles of walking they come to a pond to drink and rest. While they were resting they were talking about their future and how they would get land and have all different types of animals. They also discussed why they had to leave their small town called weeds. The reasons why they left  is because Lenny was accused of trying to molest a little girl . 
2) I'm predicting that Lenny and George will go to the farm and get the job but they are going to get in a little trouble along the way. I think Lenny is going to do something similar to what he did the last time. I also predict that later in the story, Lenny is going to get into so much trouble not even George could bale him out. Based on chapter one I think Lenny is going to get into trouble because of his mental disability and he doesn't realize right from wrong.
5) When George and Lenny were talking about what life they had in the future that effected me because all they are looking for is happiness and it was hard to get during this time. I think the author wrote this book to inform future generations what they had to go through at this time and so we can look at it through his perspective.I do not recognize the theme because i haven't read that much of the story. yes, I do like the book but since I didn't that much I cant give a honest opinion.   

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Depression