Of Mice and Men

Analysis of Detail

The Salinas River "runs deep and green" shows that the river appears to be full of life. The "strong and rocky Galiban Mountains" proves the mountains have lasted the elements and time. "Under the tree the leaves lie" can give the trees a protecting feeling over the leaves on the ground. "A path beaten" shows the path has been used by many people over the years who needed the path to go to the river. "The limb is worn smooth" gives detail that the limb has been a resting place for others walking along the path of the river.

Analysis of Point of View

The third person objective point of view solidifies the solitary these men lead. Crooks "on raising his eyes...a scowl came across his face." when Lennie came into the door. Crooks seems to be a loner from his scowl. Crooks actuallly merely values his privacy on the ranch. As Lennie caught the attention of Crooks, Lennie "smiled helplessly" wanting to be friends. The contradiction of a helpless smile gives evidence that Lennie yearns for relationships. The first look of Crooks's room shows a room "swept and fairly neat." Crooks appears protecting of his few possessions on the ranch with his clean and tidy room. Lennie appears in Crooks's room only to find the man not desiring his company. Lennie attempts to get close but, as "he advanced a step into the room, he remembered and backed" up. With the entrance and exit of Lennie in Crooks's room causes Lennie to be respecting of Crooks's space. The third person objective point of view solidifies the solitary the men in Of Mice and Men live in.

Analysis of Tone



The frank and optimistic tones in Of Mice and Men reflect the thoughts of the ranch workers that Steinbeck wrote the novel on. The word frank can be used for the tone of the novel. Every problem with a character never hides within the words as the characters interacted with others. The tone of the novel can possibly called optimistic. The author placed hope for change of their lives in the characters placed in the world where every man wanted a piece of land for himself to call his own.