The document discusses John Steinbeck's novel Of Mice and Men and examines whether Steinbeck can be considered a fatalist based on the style and structure of the novel. It notes that the novel was originally titled Something that Happened, which suggests Steinbeck's detached style. It also references the poem "To a Mouse" by Robert Burns which has themes of fatalism. The structure of the novel, with its six chronological sections like a play, builds tension and contributes to a sense of inevitability and loneliness.

1. Something that happened
In Of Mice and Men
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2. Learning Objectives
We are learning to...
• Understand the structure of the
novel
• Explain how this meaning
S4L: Self control
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3. “Why not play the FUN new game everyone’s talking about...”
Am I a FATALIST?
A. Certain things are B. My destiny is an
inevitable – there open meadow of
isn’t much I can do endless possibility – I
about them? fully shape my future.

4. How’d you score?
Mostly As – Congratulations, you’re a
FATALIST.
You believe that individual humans have little control
over their inevitable destiny (things just happen).
Mostly Bs – Too Bad! You have Free
Will. Better luck next time ...
... Oh wait, the world is inevitable ... So – actually, it’ll
probably be just the same next time.
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5. In which column
would you put:
•George
•Lennie
•Candy
•Curley’s Wife
•Slim
Does it change
at different
times in the
novel?

6. So – Is John
Steinbeck a
fatalist?
The clues are
in his style!!

7. What makes a ‘well written’ story?
A Masterpiece is any text where the
style and the themes are absolutely
connected – the one informs and
energises the other.

8. Something that Happened
The original title of the novel
was Something that Happened.
This emotionally detached
statement helps us to
understand Steinbeck’s
intentions and the WAY he
writes (the style).

9. So – how might we describe Steinbeck’s style?
- A third person narrator.
- Unemotional and detached.
- Non-judgemental – the narrator never gives an
opinion.
- Objective (uninvolved) – a dispassionate report.
- Highly precise – carefully laying out the details.
- Stark and Cold – lacking human warmth.
- Determinist – the characters’ lives appear to be
determined by circumstances beyond their control.
- Lyrical and Poetic – occasionally using beautiful
metaphorical language and images.

10. Why Write Like This?
The sparse simplicity of
Steinbeck’s writing reflects
the stark reality of the Great
American Depression.

11. Why Change the Title?

12. “To a Mouse” (Robert Burns) (click for reading)
Wee, sleeket, cowran, tim'rous beastie,
O, what panic's in thy breastie!
Thou need na start awa sae hasty,
Wi' bickering brattle!
I wad be laith to rin an' chase thee,
Wi' murd'ring pattle!

13. I'm truly sorry Man's dominion
Has broken Nature's social union,
An' justifies that ill opinion,
Which makes thee startle,
At me, thy poor, earth-born companion,
An' fellow-mortal!

14. I doubt na, whyles, but thou may thieve;
What then? poor beastie, thou maun live!
A daimen-icker in a thrave 'S a sma' request:
I'll get a blessin wi' the lave,
An' never miss't!

15. Thy wee-bit housie, too, in ruin!
It's silly wa's the win's are strewin!
An' naething, now, to big a new ane,
O' foggage green!
An' bleak December's winds ensuin,
Baith snell an' keen

16. Thou saw the fields laid bare an' wast,
An' weary Winter comin fast,
An' cozie here, beneath the blast,
Thou thought to dwell,
Till crash! the cruel coulter past
Out thro' thy cell.

17. That wee-bit heap o' leaves an' stibble,
Has cost thee monie a weary nibble!
Now thou's turn'd out, for a' thy trouble,
But house or hald.
To thole the Winter's sleety dribble,
An' cranreuch cauld!

18. Fatalism!!!!
But Mousie, thou are no thy-lane,
In proving foresight may be vain:
The best laid schemes o' Mice an' Men,
Gang aft agley,
An' lea'e us nought but grief an' pain,
For promis'd joy!
Pessimism

19. Still, thou art blest, compar'd wi' me!
The present only toucheth thee:
But Och! I backward cast my e'e,
On prospects drear!
An' forward, tho' I canna see,
I guess an' fear!

20. So –
“How does the POEM help
us to prove / disprove our
hypothesis that Steinbeck
is a Fatalist?”

21. Why Write Like This?
The Novel was an experiment – the
first in a series for Steinbeck of trying
to write a novel in a play form.
The characters rarely (if ever) discuss their
emotions with each other – so it would be
strange for the narrator to do so. They
communicate through actions, bravado or
silence – Steinbeck simply presents these to us
and lets us make our own assumptions.

22. The essentials of the narrative are presented through both
detailed character descriptions and vivid dialogue.
There are NO chapters – just six sections which reflect the
six scenes of a play.
Numerous chapters would break up the growing sense of
tension and climax.
The main action takes place in either the bunkhouse or the
barn – which maintains a dramatic focus on the characters.
This emphasises the feeling of claustrophobia in the text.

23. Why Write Like This?
The Narrative Structure
The novel is aggressively chronological – the
events follow a simple, yet inevitable structure
that gradually builds towards the tragic climax.
Looking back over the novel – could it have ended
any other way?
Steinbeck’s style suggests “No”.

24. How does the structure of the novel
contribute to the feeling of loneliness
in the novel?
the limb is worn smooth by men
who have sat on it