Grapes of Wrath and of Mice and Men Character Study

Grapes of Wrath and Of Mice and Men: Character Study The American Novelist, John Steinbeck was a powerful writer of dramatic stories about good versus bad. His own views on writing were that not only should a writer make the story sound good but also the story written should teach a lesson. In fact, Steinbeck focused many of his novels, not on average literary themes rather he tended to relay messages about the many hard truths of life in The United States. Upon winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 1962 the Swedish academy introduced him by saying He had no mind to be an unoffending comforter and entertainer. Instead, the topics he chose were serious and denunciatoryÂ… This serious focus was not exempt from his two works The Grapes†¦show more content†¦In Of mice and Men the boss and his son Curley are portrayed as the bad guys. Note: This is only my introduction unfortunately due to some extenuating circumstances I have not had enough time to do a complete rough draft. My plan is to characterize the characters in light of Steinbeck s bias portrayals and illustrate how the technique he used was effective in getting his point across. My next four points or paragraphs will be: 1.) Description of Tom Joad how he was bad yet good in the sense that his actions were bad but his cause was for the better. 2.) Description of Ma and the preacher, how they were characterized out of their traditional roles and how their straying form the norm was justified and helped relay to the reader the desperation of the family s situation. 3.) The roles of Lennie and George, how they were outcasts and Lennie killed a women yet the reader felt sorry for them both because they were on the opposite side of a greater injustice. 4.) Portrait of the rich and powerful. How Steinbeck s ignorance of not giving them names proved he did not like them. Every time they came up in the story they were doing something bad. And my conclusion. Hopefully I will get a chance to see you today, I have third period prep so I will look for you and we could chat. Thanx. Max Raffoul ENG OAC March 3, 1997 Mr.Show MoreRelatedAmerica Is Home To Many Great Writers Whom Come Different1709 Words   |  7 Pagesconcerned with migrant labor camps, and even traveled with migrants in Hooverville’s to observe conditions of camps. Steinbeck devoted himself to writing his famous works such as; Of Mice and Men, The Grapes of Wrath, Tortilla Flat, and Cannery Row. Some of Steinbeck’s pieces like Of Mice and Men and The Grapes of Wrath were such hits they were made into movies. Before Steinbeck’s death on December 20th, 1968 he was awarded Nobel Prize for literature in 1962, National book award, and Pulitzer PrizeRead MoreJohn Steinbecks use of Realism, Characterization, and Dreams in The Grapes of Wrath and Of Mice and Men2450 Words   |  10 Pagesthis nineteenth century literary style also creates great feelings of empathy toward the characters and their dreams. Steinbeck used realism to convey his points for a purpose, and his main purpose was that he wanted something to be made known to the public. Of Mice and Men and The Grapes of Wrath both tell of the hardships people went through and also the harsh conditions of their situations. The characters in both of these novels play and important role in personalizing the occurring events forRead MoreEssay about The Life Journey of John Steinbeck 1264 Words   |  6 Pagescollege Steinbeck took many odd jobs such as a ranch hand, fruit picker, factory worker, sales clerk, freelance news paper writer, construction worker, and farm laborer. These odd jobs that Steinbeck took later would become the influence for his characters and themes in his novels. Steinbeck yearned for more life experiences, so instead of taking a degree at Stanford he dropped out of college, worked, and wrote. His passion was writing all along. â€Å"Writing was indeed his passion, not only duringRead MoreAnalysis Of John Steinbeck s Of Mice And Men 2778 Words   |  12 PagesCisneros Mr. Thomas AP Literature 15 October 2014 Author Study: John Steinbeck John Steinbeck, born in February 27, 1902, worked as a manual labor worker before achieving his success as a well renowned American writer. A compassionate understanding of the world s disinherited was to be Steinbeck s hallmark. The novel In Dubious Battle (1936) defends striking migrant agricultural workers in the California fields. In the novel Of Mice and Men(1937; later made into a play), Steinbeck again utilizesRead More Skill and Craftsmanship in the Works of Steinbeck Essay1558 Words   |  7 PagesSkill and Craftsmanship in the Works of Steinbeck      Ã‚  Ã‚   Throughout Cannery Row, Of Mice and Men, The Red Pony and The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck professes his admiration for the man who displays skill and craftsmanship in his work. A man who does his job exceedingly well is, by extension in Steinbecks works, a hero who is satisfied in doing his best in affection for his craft - a direct contrast to the multitude of humans who are merely unsuccessful and unhappy dreamers.   Ã‚  Ã‚   TheRead MoreThemes And Styles Of John Steinbeck s The 4033 Words   |  17 Pagesmajority of his childhood there and readers learn about his home city and childhood in his works. Steinbeck wrote novels, non-fiction books, short stories, poetry, and plays. Some of his most impactful and recognized works include: Of Mice and Men, The Grapes of Wrath, The Pearl, The Moon is Down, East of Eden, In Dubious Battle, and Tortilla Flat. He was an investigative journalist who worked for the San Francisco News during his lifetime. He was a very controversial writer whose goal was to reformRead MoreJohn Steinbeck s Of Mice And Men1319 Words   |  6 PagesBryann Cervantes AP English IV Mrs. Batey Of Mice and Men To most, John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men is a revered novel on racial segregation in the United States. This text has been remarkably controversial because of the way it deals with difficult issues regarding race and the American dream; however, despite its disputable history, it is an incredibly important book that is used to study many aspects of race relations in the United States in the early to mid twentieth century, more specificallyRead MoreThe Grapes Of Wrath And Of Mice And Men1644 Words   |  7 PagesAmerican author of 27 books, widely known for award winning novels, The Grapes of Wrath and Of Mice and Men; Steinbeck is also a Nobel Prize winning of Literature. Steinbeck’s writing expresses realistic and creative thoughts, combining as they do compassionate comedy (through Lennie) and intense social perception with their surrounding national culture. John Steinbeck, â€Å"Of mice and Men†, Printed in 1937, articulating a tale of characters, George Milton and Lennie Small, two exiled migrant ranch workersRead More John Steinbeck Essay1735 Words   |  7 Pagesand encouraged him to continue with his writing. Throughout high school, John spent most of his free time writing stories in his room. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;John graduated from HS in 1919 and then went to Stanford University. John wanted to study to be a writer, but his mother wanted him to be something practical, like a lawyer. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;While attending Stanford University, John Steinbeck decided that a degree was of no use to a writer. Instead, he studied the things thatRead MoreThe Grapes Of Wrath By John Steinbeck1119 Words   |  5 Pagesattending Stanford University to study English Literature and failing to obtain a degree, Steinbeck moved to New York City and jumped between odd jobs and writing. With no luck in becoming published, he moved back to California, where he spent the rest of his life. As the author of novels, both fiction and nonfiction, along with collections of short stories, Steinbeck can definitely be recognized as a true classic author. His most noteworthy novel, The Grapes of Wrath, rightfully claims both the Pulitzer