of mice and men

of mice and men Essay Examples

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Published: Friday 25th of January 2013

Of Mice and Men Essay Writing Guide & Example

The analytical essay subjects that we’ll list out and present in this article are devised for the precise purpose of assessing your comprehension of the famous novel Of Mice and Men. Furthermore, these topics are great for assessing the significant motifs as well as the literary instruments used in the novel. After every query from our list, we’ve also included a model of an essay structure. If you pay close attention to the topics and outlines in this essay, we’re pretty sure that you’ll be able to commence work and write a winning essay on Of Mice and Men.

Subject no. 1

Solitude constitutes a prevalent motif in the famous novel Of Mice and Men. The vast majority of the characters are solitary and looking for an individual who could be their friend or who could at least listen to what they have to say. Talk about the instances of character solitude, the characters’ struggles of finding a friend, as well as their distinct levels of successfulness or failure.

Structure model

  1. Thesis assertion: In his famous novel Of Mice and Men, the widely-acknowledged author John Steinbeck portrays the critical level of solitude entailed by living at a Californian cattle farm in the 1930s. The writer attempts to showcase the manner in which individuals are determined to discover friendship.
  2. The lack of names for characters
    • The Boss
    • Curley’s spouse
  3. George and Lennie
    • Regard one another as kin
    • Lennie is portrayed similarly to a pet
    • George’s convictions regarding laborers who go on journeys all by themselves
    • The Godlike Slim regarded as an audience for George
  4. Candy
    • His touching bond with the dog
    • The demise of Candy’s pet
    • Candy’s demand of joining George and Lennie
    • Candy’s necessity of talking to Lennie about his viewpoints
  5. Crooks
    • Segregated due to racial reasons
    • Crooks’ eagerness for companionship
    • Crooks’ readiness to talk about his dream regarding the ranch
  6. Curley’s spouse
    • Trifling with the laborers
    • Discussing with Crooks, Candy, and Lennie in the stable
    • Convincing Lennie to hear what she has to say
  7. The hopefulness and strength individuals draw from companionship
    • George and Lennie
    • Candy
    • Crooks
  8. The characters’ unhappiness when they can no longer enjoy company
    • Crooks
    • Candy
    • George

Subject no. 2

The writing style of John Steinbeck’s famous novel Of Mice and Men is similar to that of a drama in what concerns the organization. Furthermore, this literary work also has a lot of similitudes with a tragedy. Analyze Of Mice and Men as a drama. To what criteria associated with a drama piece does it accord? Can it be defined as a tragedy?

Structure model

  1. Thesis statement: John Steinbeck intended his literary work, Of Mice and Men, as a dramatic play. To be more precise, the author wanted to write a tragedy.
  2. Of Mice and Men can be split into three separate acts of 2 chapters each (scenes)
    • The primary act presents the characters as well as the environment
    • The second act expands on the disputes between the characters
    • The third and last act brings the events to a conclusion
  3. The places where the novel takes place can be easily staged on a theatrical scene
  4. The most substantial part of the work could be transposed into conversations or stage indications
    • Every single chapter commences with broad descriptions of the environment.
    • The characters are mainly portrayed with regards to their aspect
  5. This literary work can be defined as a tragedy
    • The main character is an outstanding individual who confronts unhappiness
    • The plot honors the attitude of facing loss with bravery
    • The story gets concluded with a sad disaster that was impossible to avert

Subject no. 3

The novel Of Mice and Men is charged with an extensive array of realistic as well as naturalistic elements. Talk about the way in which the author proves to be both compassionate and emotionless regarding existential matters by including both realism and naturalism in the novel.

Structure model

  1. Thesis: The author, John Steinbeck, showcases both an empathetic and an emotionless stance regarding the features characteristic of both humans and nature by using both realistic and naturalistic elements.
  2. Realism – discussing the objective truth
    1. The environment presented in the first chapter
      • The water
      • The critters
      • The vegetation
      • The humans
    2. How the author describes the bunkhouse
    3. The regionalisms and jargon of the people
    4. The clothing and customs of the people
    5. Dying seen as a normal phase of everyone’s existence
  3. Naturalism – the focus on destiny
    1. Making use of the image of critters to portray individuals
      • Lennie
      • Curley’s spouse
    2. People of inferior standing
    3. The names of the locations
      • Soledad
      • Weed
  • Premonition
    • Lightness and darkness
    • The corpses of the mouse and the puppy
    • The sick disabled dog
    • The game of Solitaire
  • The use of symbols in the last chapter
    • The heron and the serpent
    • The windy outburst
    • Slim’s remark

Topic no. 4

The evolution of the characters of George and Lennie is related to the matters addressed in the following question: Am I my brother’s keeper? Can one consider themselves obliged to tend to the needs of their relatives and companions? What are the outcomes that emerge if one replies with a “yes” or a “no”?

Structure model

  1. Thesis statement: The author points out to the fact that if one does not show empathy towards the necessities of the people around them, some alarming consequences may emerge.
  2. The defenseless characters
    • Lennie
    • Candy
    • Crooks
  3. The unsympathetic characters
    • The boss
    • Curley
    • Curley’s spouse
  4. The heartless character – Carlson
  5. The compassionate characters
    • Slim
    • George

Subject no. 5

Every US citizen dreams of having their own place where they can conduct business and gain the admiration of others. Everyone wishes to ascend to a position that accords to their level of determination as well as their efforts. In John Steinbeck’s novel, the countryside land gets portrayed as a lucky charm, a hopefulness for success. Talk about the American Dream as depicted in Of Mice and Men.

Structure model

  1. Thesis: In Of Mice and Men, the characters do not succeed in accomplishing their American Dream.
  2. The American Dream
    • Being a house owner
    • Relishing the liberty of decision
      • Actions
      • Companionship
    • Becoming an upper-class citizen
    • Doing as little work as possible
    • Being safe in case of illness or elderliness
  3. The irrational elements of the American Dream
    • It can be regarded as a utopia and is therefore unattainable
    • A delusion for tramps
    • The shortage of financial means
  4. George and Lennie’s viewpoints regarding the American Dream
    • It constituted a consolation during turbulent times
    • They did not honestly follow the American Dream
  5. Crook’s viewpoints regarding the American Dream
    • Crooks’ convictions
    • Crooks’ regret
  6. Candy’s viewpoints regarding the American Dream
    • Candy’s convictions
    • Candy’s money
    • Candy’s regret towards the ending
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