Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2010.

1. Copy notes on Conjunctions and Interjections Please ask for handout when you return from your absence.

2. Of Mice and Men NOTES: Copy/discuss these notes.

- Setting is the Salinas Valley area in California- Between 1920-1935 approx.

- Each chapter in the novel begins with a description of the setting.

- Novel contains six chapters: Can be easily adapted to a play

- Themes related to friendship, isolation, loneliness, alienation, death as a release from pain

- Prejudice against people who are disadvantaged or handicapped.

- Racism against the African American (separate living quarters)

- Vernacular (everyday speech) includes poor usage: Use of double negatives, cursing, foul language, slang, and idioms.

- Use of the "N" word common in this time period to denote race. Not meant as a derogatory term.

- Characters uneducated. Ironically, the Black character in the story reads sophisticated books.

- Narrator displays a high degree of sympathy toward characters who belong to a minority, are handicapped, crippled, or lonely.

Make a chart to jot down notes on foreshadowing, and Characterization: direct and indirect.

3. Begin reading Of Mice and Men Chapter 2

REMINDER: DON'T FORGET to study words 1-33 from Of Mice... Vocabulary handout.
Quiz Friday, 11/5