Conflict in OMAM

Conflict is all around us.... we see it every day in a variety of forms.

There are TWO different types of conflict-
INTERNAL & EXTERNAL.

INTERNAL CONFLICT is a battle that MAN has with HIMSELF.

EXTERNAL CONFLICT can occur in 3 different ways:
MAN against MAN
MAN against SOCIETY
MAN against NATURE


Your group's task:
Create a chart listing the 4 types of conflict and find examples in OMAM Chapters 1 through 4 of the various types.

American Dreams for All ? OMAM Chapter 4

Think about all we have learned about Crooks, the "stable buck", in OMAM. Now think about what you know about "the American Dream". Is it truly for everyone? Or is there a separation between who can and who cannot achieve the American Dream?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQbZRMLKozk

Want Ads for Lonely People

One of the sub-themes in Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men is LONELINESS.

Think about the following characters: GEORGE, CROOKS, CURLEY, and CURLEY'S WIFE.
What makes them lonely? What do they want out of life that they do not currently have?
Is each person's "loneliness" the same? Or is it different from person to person?

The following are examples of Personal Ads, both written by someone looking for something in his/life, something to replace his/her loneliness.

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Your group's task is to write a Personal Ad for each of the following characters from OMAM.
GEORGE, CROOKS, CURLEY, CURLEY'S WIFE
Your ad must reflect your group's understanding of each character and what makes him/her lonely as well as what kinds of things you think this person is looking for to replace the loneliness in his/her life.

Loneliness in OMAM -Chapter 3

Of Mice and Men is a story about many different types of relationships, but at the same time, it is a story about many lonely people. Talk about how loneliness is pervasive throughout the ranch....How does it exemplify itself in the lives of the characters (through Chapter 3)?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IC8XymUq6L0

The Irony in OMAM

Irony is defined as a difference or contrast between appearance and reality - that is a discrepancy between what appears to be true and what really is true. After reading Chapters 1 and 2, what irony can you find in Of Mice and Men?

3 Types of Irony-
1. Verbal irony occurs when people say the opposite of what they mean (and in its most bitter form becomes sarcasm.)
2. Situational irony is when the situation is different from what common sense indicates it is, will be, or ought to be.
3. Dramatic irony occurs when a character states something that they believe to be true but that the reader knows is not true.

Friendship of Lennie & George

Chapter 1 gives us a first glance into the friendship of Lennie and George. Describe that relationship and talk about if you could see yourself in the role of George? Could you befriend a person like Lennie? Truly befriend.....?

Beliefs before Reading Of Mice & Men

Referring to the ten statements on the OMAM Anticipation Guide, choose the ONE about which you have the strongest opinion (agree OR disagree). Post it as a comment this blog and tell why.

1.People who are poor should rely on their friends, family, or church for help, not the government.

2.A true friend will tell you the truth even when you don’t want to hear it.

3.The “n-word” is more offensive than other racial slurs because of the history of hate behind it.

4.Women today are more often treated by men as equals rather than objects.

5.When people are a victim of a crime, they should be able to take the law into their own hands.

6.States with the death penalty have lower murder rates.

7.The best place for justice to be determined is in a court of law.

8.Being rich is more important than having close friends.

9.Sometimes a person has to break the law to make sure justice is served.

10.Life today is more difficult than it was in the 1930s



After we finish reading John Steinbeck´s Of Mice and Men, we will look at each of your responses and see if any of your opinions have changed (or lessened in their degree).