OMAM English literature revision bank
George:
Theme 1: George is presented as a victim of the economic
circumstances stuck in a cycle of itinerancy during the
1930s economic hardship brought on by the Wall Street
Crash and Dust Bowl.
Quotes:
· “Both were dressed in denim trousers and in denim coats”
· “They give us work cards”
· “We’re gonna work on a ranch like the one we come from up
north”
· “Jus’ keep me shovin’ all over the country”
· “Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the
world”
· “We’d have our own place where we belonged”
· “Got his eye on us”
Context:
· October 1929 – US stock market crashed, many lost life savings
· Dust Bowl led to itinerant workers coming from Texas, Arkansas,
Oklahoma and Missouri
· 1932 – ¼ of all Americans unemployed
· 1933 – 17 million Americans unemployed
· Steinbeck dropped out of college to become a manual labourer
· Ranch owners valued productivity over ethics as farm income
fell by 50%
. 38 states closed their bank
. 250,000 Americans evicted from their homes
,Theme 2: Throughout the Novella, George is exposed to
have the sole purpose of protecting Lennie from harm on
the ranch.
· “Don’t drink so much”
· “Give it here!”
· “I been mean, ain’t I?”
· “With us it ain’t like that”
· “We kinda look after each other”
· “I said get him”
· “You ain’t gonna leave me are ya, George?”
Context:
· Lennie is mentally infirm
· Labelled as ‘feebleminded’ and were viewed as heavy little use
in society
· Sent away to state- or privately-run institutions
· Lobotomy, ECT, Hydrotherapy, tranquilisation and insulin shock
therapy
· Straitjackets and manacles
· Low funding so there was no forward movement in terms of a
more caring approach
Theme 3: Steinbeck explores the futility of friendship of
the ranch through the exploration of Slim being George’s
confidante and the Social Darwinism that occurs on the
ranch.
· “So that’s what Curley picks for a wife”
· “George’s voice was taking on the tone of confession”
· “You wouldn’t tell nobody”
, · “George spoke proudly”
· “George was on guard immediately”
· “You stick with us so we don’t think you had nothin’ to do with
this”
· “Me an’ you’ll go in an’ get a drink”
· “What the hell ya suppose is eatin’ them two guys”
Context:
· Many men travelled alone because they were sent by agencies
· Social Darwinism – Survival of the fittest, men were not friends
because it made them weaker
· Suspicious of friendship because being homosexual was illegal in
1930s America
Theme 4: Like many other characters, George is seen to
have a dream of a better future where he is not restrained
by the orders of a boss, however this dream, like everyone
else’s, is seen to be futile.
· “With us it ain’t like that”
· “They looked at one another amazed”
· “This thing they never really believed in was coming true”
· “Then - it’s all off?”
· “I’ll take my fifty bucks an’ I’ll stay all night in some lousy cat
house”
· “And George raised the gun and steadied it”
Context:
· James Truslow Adams coined the term ‘The American Dream’
· “Life shoulder be better and richer and fuller for everyone”
· “Regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of birth or position”
George:
Theme 1: George is presented as a victim of the economic
circumstances stuck in a cycle of itinerancy during the
1930s economic hardship brought on by the Wall Street
Crash and Dust Bowl.
Quotes:
· “Both were dressed in denim trousers and in denim coats”
· “They give us work cards”
· “We’re gonna work on a ranch like the one we come from up
north”
· “Jus’ keep me shovin’ all over the country”
· “Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the
world”
· “We’d have our own place where we belonged”
· “Got his eye on us”
Context:
· October 1929 – US stock market crashed, many lost life savings
· Dust Bowl led to itinerant workers coming from Texas, Arkansas,
Oklahoma and Missouri
· 1932 – ¼ of all Americans unemployed
· 1933 – 17 million Americans unemployed
· Steinbeck dropped out of college to become a manual labourer
· Ranch owners valued productivity over ethics as farm income
fell by 50%
. 38 states closed their bank
. 250,000 Americans evicted from their homes
,Theme 2: Throughout the Novella, George is exposed to
have the sole purpose of protecting Lennie from harm on
the ranch.
· “Don’t drink so much”
· “Give it here!”
· “I been mean, ain’t I?”
· “With us it ain’t like that”
· “We kinda look after each other”
· “I said get him”
· “You ain’t gonna leave me are ya, George?”
Context:
· Lennie is mentally infirm
· Labelled as ‘feebleminded’ and were viewed as heavy little use
in society
· Sent away to state- or privately-run institutions
· Lobotomy, ECT, Hydrotherapy, tranquilisation and insulin shock
therapy
· Straitjackets and manacles
· Low funding so there was no forward movement in terms of a
more caring approach
Theme 3: Steinbeck explores the futility of friendship of
the ranch through the exploration of Slim being George’s
confidante and the Social Darwinism that occurs on the
ranch.
· “So that’s what Curley picks for a wife”
· “George’s voice was taking on the tone of confession”
· “You wouldn’t tell nobody”
, · “George spoke proudly”
· “George was on guard immediately”
· “You stick with us so we don’t think you had nothin’ to do with
this”
· “Me an’ you’ll go in an’ get a drink”
· “What the hell ya suppose is eatin’ them two guys”
Context:
· Many men travelled alone because they were sent by agencies
· Social Darwinism – Survival of the fittest, men were not friends
because it made them weaker
· Suspicious of friendship because being homosexual was illegal in
1930s America
Theme 4: Like many other characters, George is seen to
have a dream of a better future where he is not restrained
by the orders of a boss, however this dream, like everyone
else’s, is seen to be futile.
· “With us it ain’t like that”
· “They looked at one another amazed”
· “This thing they never really believed in was coming true”
· “Then - it’s all off?”
· “I’ll take my fifty bucks an’ I’ll stay all night in some lousy cat
house”
· “And George raised the gun and steadied it”
Context:
· James Truslow Adams coined the term ‘The American Dream’
· “Life shoulder be better and richer and fuller for everyone”
· “Regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of birth or position”
