5.1.6
Structure
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How Steinbeck Structures Of Mice and Men Like a Play
Although Of Mice and Men is a novel, it’s structure is almost like a play. Rather than being written in chapters, it is structured as six sections.
Settings
- Each section has a separate setting, and the first part of each section is always a detailed description of the setting: Section 1 begins with a detailed description of the Salinas River, Section 2 starts with a description of the bunkhouse and so on.
Plot
- The plot of the novel is relatively simple and happens chronologically, meaning that each scene follows on from the previous one.
- Sometimes the characters have flashbacks to previous incidents, but generally the story is told in order of time.
Dialogue
- There is a lot of dialogue, meaning that large sections of the novel involve characters speaking directly with each other.
- This is similar to a play, which would generally be made up entirely of dialogue.
Timeframe
- The story starts on a Thursday and ends on a Sunday, and the sequence of events is easy to follow.
- This simple chronological structure allows Steinbeck to really focus on his characters, presenting them in a way which allows the reader to fully understand their experiences.
The Ending of Of Mice and Men
It can be argued that the ending, although dramatic and emotional, does not really come as a surprise.
Lack of surprise
- Arguably, the ending is not a surprise.
- This is because, throughout the novel, Steinbeck gives us many clues about how the story will end.
- These clues about future events are normally referred to as foreshadowing.
Foreshadowing about Lennie and women
- At their previous work, Lennie had touched a girl’s dress, leading him to be accused of attempting to rape her.
- This is very similar to the incident with Curley’s wife: "Well, that girl rabbits in an' tells the law she been raped. The guys in Weed start a party out to lynch Lennie.” (George, Section 3).
Candy's dog and Lennie
- The killing of Candy’s dog also foreshadows what eventually happens to Lennie. The dog is no longer useful, and so he is killed out of supposed mercy.
- This is similar to what George does to Lennie at the end of the novel: “That dog ain't no good to himself. I wisht somebody'd shoot me if I get old an' a cripple.” (Slim, Section 3).
The fight between Lennie and Curley
- The fight involving Lennie and Curley, and specifically the damage inflicted upon Curley by Lennie, serves as another reminder to the audience of just how strong Lennie really is, and how he has little control over his strength: “The next minute Curley was flopping like a fish on a line.” (Section 3).
Lennie and animals
- Early on in the novel, we find out about Lennie’s tendency to accidentally kill mice. This is our first indicator that he is not in control of his own strength: “You ain't to be trusted with no live mice.” (George, Section 1).
- When Lennie kills the puppy, Steinbeck is giving the reader yet another reminder that Lennie is not in control of his actions: “I didn't bounce you hard.” (Lennie, Section 5).
Steinbeck's use of George
- There are several times throughout the novel where Steinbeck uses the character of George to give hints that Curley’s wife is going to cause trouble: “You keep away from her, cause she's a rattrap if I ever seen one.” (George, Section 2).
1Context & Overview
1.1Context & Overview
2Plot
2.1Section 1 - Analysis
2.2Section 2 - Analysis
2.3Section 3 - Analysis
2.4Section 4 - Analysis
2.5Section 5 - Analysis
2.6Section 6 - Analysis
3Key Characters
3.1Main Characters
3.2Minor Characters
4Themes
5Authorial Method
6Recap: Main Quotes
6.1Quotes per Section
6.2Text Structure - Quotes
Jump to other topics
1Context & Overview
1.1Context & Overview
2Plot
2.1Section 1 - Analysis
2.2Section 2 - Analysis
2.3Section 3 - Analysis
2.4Section 4 - Analysis
2.5Section 5 - Analysis
2.6Section 6 - Analysis
3Key Characters
3.1Main Characters
3.2Minor Characters
4Themes
5Authorial Method
6Recap: Main Quotes
6.1Quotes per Section
6.2Text Structure - Quotes
Practice questions on Structure
Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.
- 1What does each section have?Multiple choice
- 2On what day does the novel start?Multiple choice
- 3What is the term which describes clues about future events?Multiple choice
- 4What does the killing of Candy's dog foreshadow?Multiple choice
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