Of Mice and Men: Structure & Context

Of Mice and Men: Structure & Context

1. Structure

   • Chapters
     • Crooks is the only character with his own chapter
       • Isolation from all the characters
   • Story has a time span of 4 days
     • Sense of inevitability
   • First&Last chapter
     • Have similar chapter openings
       • Repeating itself
   • Third person
     • Given an unbiased view of character so we are able to build our own opinions

2. Context

   • Racism/Discrimination
     • Civil Rights
   • American Dream
     • Meritocracy - If you work hard, then you will be rewarded
   • Great Depression
     • Wall Street Crash
     • Men would travel to the west to get work on ranches
   • Women
     • Limited rights
     • Inferior to men