Overview, Context & Setting (Junior Cert English): Revision Notes

Overview, Context & Setting

Overview

Of Mice and Men is a novella by John Steinbeck, published in 1937. The story follows two displaced ranch workers, George Milton and Lennie Small. They move from place to place in search of job opportunities.

Context

The novella is set during the Great Depression in California. Steinbeck wrote the novella to highlight the struggles of the working class. The story showcases themes of friendship, dreams, and loneliness. The Great Depression context is crucial as it underlines the characters' desperation and the era's social issues.

John Steinbeck was an American author known for his keen social perception and empathy for the common man. His works often focused on the lives of the working class and marginalised groups. Steinbeck's own experiences and observations of migrant workers influenced the narrative of Of Mice and Men. Other notable works by Steinbeck include The Grapes of Wrath and East of Eden.

Setting

The novella is set in California's Salinas Valley. The rural setting reflects the harsh economic realities of the time. The bunkhouse and the barn are central locations, symbolising the characters' transient and difficult lives. This setting emphasises isolation and hardship, grounding the story in a specific historical and social framework.