Of Mice and Men facts for kids

Of Mice and Men is a short novel (sometimes called a novella) written by John Steinbeck. It was published in 1937. The story is a sad one about two friends, George Milton and Lennie Small, who work on a ranch. It takes place in the 1930s in California, United States.

The book is based on Steinbeck's own experiences working on ranches. The title comes from a poem by Robert Burns called "To a Mouse". When the book came out, it was very popular and sold many copies. It was even chosen by the Book-of-the-Month Club. Of Mice and Men is sometimes challenged in schools because it talks about difficult topics like strong language, unfair treatment of people, and violence. It is on the American Library Association's list of the Most Challenged Books of the 21st Century.

Main Characters

• Lennie Small - One of the two main characters. Lennie is a very strong man who loves soft things, like mice and puppies. He sometimes gets into trouble because he doesn't understand his own strength. He needs his friend George to look after him.
• George Milton - The other main character. George is smaller and smarter than Lennie, and he takes care of Lennie like a brother. Lennie often makes George's life harder, but George feels responsible for him. When Lennie causes a big problem, George has to make a very difficult choice to help him.
• Curley - The boss's son. He is a mean and jealous man who has just gotten married. He is very protective of his wife and quickly dislikes Lennie.
• Slim - A tall, respected ranch worker who drives a team of mules. Everyone on the ranch trusts his judgment. He is the only person Curley seems to respect.
• Candy - An old ranch worker who has only one hand. He is also known as the "swamper." Candy dreams of joining Lennie and George to buy their own piece of land.
• Aunt Clara - Lennie's aunt who used to take care of him. She is mentioned in the story but has died before the events of the book begin.
• Crooks - An African-American stable worker. He is the only Black person on the farm and faces unfair treatment from the other workers, having to live by himself. He has a painful back injury from being kicked by a horse.
• Curley's wife - The only female character in the story who is not given a name. This shows how she is seen mostly as Curley's property rather than an individual. She is very lonely and tries to get attention from the ranch hands.
• Carlson - A ranch worker who seems to have become unkind over time. He convinces Candy to let him kill Candy's old dog, which is an important event that helps us understand the story's ending.

Main Ideas

Of Mice and Men is a story about the strong bond of friendship and the feeling of loneliness. It also explores the idea of the American Dream. This was a popular belief that in America, anyone could become successful or rich if they worked hard enough. The characters in the book often dream of a better life and owning their own land.

Movies and Adaptations

Of Mice and Men has been made into a movie several times.

• The first movie version came out in 1939, just two years after the book was published. It starred Lon Chaney Jr. as Lennie and Burgess Meredith as George. Lewis Milestone directed it, and it was nominated for four Oscars.
• In 1981, it was made into a TV movie. This version featured Randy Quaid as Lennie and Robert Blake as George. Reza Badiyi was the director.
• The most recent movie version was in 1992. It was directed by Gary Sinise, who also played the part of George. He was nominated for an award at the Cannes Film Festival. John Malkovich played Lennie. Both actors had played these roles on stage in the 1980 Steppenwolf Theatre Company play.

See also

In Spanish: De ratones y hombres para niños