Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
Choose one of the following essay questions and answer it in a 3-4 page essay.
1. Steinbeck was going to name his story “Something That Happened.” Instead, he named if Of Mice and Men. Which title do you think is more appropriate to the novel as a whole? Explain your answer.
2. Steinbeck wrote Of Mice and Men originally as a play. Why do you think he decided to change the format of his story? Which format do you think is more effective and why?
3. In tragedies, the central character comes to a realization about his life or an understanding of life in general as a result of his suffering. Is this true of Of Mice and Men? Explain.
4. Choose a symbol used by Steinbeck and explain its significance in the novel.
