Of Mice and Men

American author John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men is a great work of literature that can be paired with the study of the Great Depression. Furthermore, Of Mice and Men gives an accurate portrayal of the struggles that can be faced while striving toward "the American dream."

Of Mice and Men is the tale of two men, George and Lenny, in California during the Great Depression. George and Lenny have a very close yet complicated relationship. In the English classroom, the characterization of the two men and their relationship is a great thing to study.

English students can also explore the topic of euthanasia in connection to the events of the book. Of Mice and Men provides a great basis for a number of creative writing topics.

As for the Social Studies classroom, John Steinbeck based the novel on the lives of migrant workers in California. The novel gives an accurate portrayal of working conditions during the time period.

The 1992 film version of the book is very well done and includes some big name actors. I've found that students really enjoy the film and are quite emotional when watching it!