Research work

“Adaptation of John Steinbeck’s

Scientific director` Ruzanna Suqyasyan

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 Introduction

“Of mice and Men” is a novella written by American author John Steinbeck and published in
1937. The story takes place during the Great Depression era in California and follows the
friendship of two migrant workers George Milton and Lennie Small, who travel together and
dream of owning their own farm. However, their plans are complicated by Lennie’s mental
disability, which causes him to unintentionally harm those around him.
The novella explores themes of loneliness, the pursuit of the American Dream, types of human
relationships, and the harsh realities of life during the Great Depression.
In my personal opinion this is a great book to read and I strongly recommend it, if you want to
change your mindset and start to appreciate every moment that you spend with somebody,
who means a lot to you.

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 CHAPTER I
“About novella”

John Steinbeck was an American author born on February 27, 1902, in Salinas, California. He
grew up in a rural setting and was influenced by the agricultural and working-class communities
around him. After graduating from high school, Steinbeck attended Stanford University but
dropped out after a few years.
In the 1920’s, Steinbeck worked as a manual laborer and journalist, and in the 1930’s, he
gained recognition as a writer with the publication of his first novel, "Cup of Gold" in 1929. He
gained widespread acclaim for his 1935 novel "Tortilla Flat," which earned him a Pulitzer Prize
in 1940.
During World War II, Steinbeck worked as a war correspondent, and his experiences inspired
his 1945 novel "Cannery Row." He went on to write several other acclaimed works, including
"East of Eden" in 1952, "The Winter of Our Discontent" in 1961, and the non-fiction book
"Travels with Charles: In Search of America" in 1962.
Throughout his career, Steinbeck was known for his vivid and realistic depictions of the lives of
working-class Americans, particularly those who worked in California. He often explored
themes of social injustice, the struggles of the working class, and the conditions where human
used to live.
As well Steinbeck received lot of prizes trough his career, including the Nobel Prize in
Literature in 1962.
He died on December 20, 1968, in New York City, but his works continue to be widely read and
celebrated today, because of their modernity.
“Of mice and Men” published in 1937, is widely considered to be one of Steinbeck's greatest
works and has been adapted into numerous stage plays, films, and TV series. “Of Mice and
Men” was Steinbeck's first attempt at writing in the form of novel-play termed a "play-
novelette" by one critic so as a "playable novel", it was performed by the Theater Union of San
Francisco as written.
The novella has been banned from various US public and school libraries or curricula for
allegedly "promoting euthanasia", "condoning racial slurs" and generally containing "vulgar,"
"offensive language.” Many of the bans and restrictions have been lifted and it remains
required reading in many other American, Australian, Irish, British, New Zealand and Canadian
high schools. “Of Mice and Men” has been proposed for censorship 54 times since it was
published in 1937. And now days, it appears on the American Library Association's list of
the “Most Challenged Books of the 21st Century”.
Did you know that “Of Mice and Men” was originally called “Something That Happened.”
When Steinbeck first thought of the idea for the book he intended it to be for children.
Steinbeck told a friend that he was experimenting with a new “dramatic form.”

"It is an experiment and I don't know how successful."

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 As well an early draft of “Of Mice and Men” was eaten by Steinbeck's dog. As he explained in
1936 by a letter:

“My setter pup [Toby], left alone one night, made confetti of about half of my [manuscript]
book. Two months [sic] work to do over again. It sets me back. There was no other draft. I was
pretty mad,
but the poor little fellow may have been acting critically.”

The title of the novella comes from a poem by the Scottish poet Robert Burns (1759 - 1796).
The best laid schemes of mice and men often go wrong- referring to a little mouse who had so
carefully built her burrow in a field to protect herself and her little mice babies – and the
burrow is turned over and destroyed by the man plowing.
In the introduction of the book, which was edited in 1994, Susan Shillinglaw writes that
Steinbeck, after dropping out of Stanford University, spent almost two years roaming California,
finding work on ranches for “Spreckels Sugar” where he harvested wheat and sugar beets. But
before this, Steinbeck told “The New York Times” in 1937:

“I was a bindle stiff myself for quite a spell. I worked in the same country that the
story is laid in. The characters are composites to a certain extent. Lennie was a real person. He's
in an insane asylum in California right now. I worked alongside him for many weeks. He didn't
kill a girl. He killed a ranch foreman. Got sore because the boss had fired his pal and stuck a
pitchfork right through his stomach. I hate to tell you how many times. I saw him do it. We
couldn't stop him until it was too late.”

The novella explores themes of loneliness, the pursuit of the American Dream, the fragility of
human relationships, and the harsh realities of life during the Great Depression.
The novella's powerful portrayal of human struggles and the complexities of human
relationships continues to captivate readers and audiences today.
But the most common theme is The American Dream. The American Dream is the idea that
through hard work, determination, and perseverance, anyone can achieve success and
prosperity in the United States.
The novella is set in the farmland of the Salinas valley, where John Steinbeck was born. The
ranch in the novel is near Soledad, which is south-east of Salinas on the Salinas river. The
countryside described at the beginning of the novel, and the ranch itself is based on Steinbeck’s
own experiences. He uses nature and symbolism to convey its themes and ideas. The natural
world is a constant presence in the novel, and it serves as a backdrop for the characters'
struggles and dreams.
One example of this is the recurring image of rabbits, which symbolize the characters hope for
a better future. The rabbits represent the innocence and purity that the characters long for, but
they also remind them of the harsh realities of life and the death.

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 Before technology created farm machinery, humans had to do a lot of the farm work by hand.
Between the 1880’s and the 1930’s, thousands of men would travel the countryside in search of
work. Such work included the harvesting of wheat and barley. These workers would earn $2.50
or $3.00 a day, plus food and shelter. During the 1930’s, the unemployment rate was high in
the U.S., and with so many men searching for work, agencies were set up to send farm workers
to where they were needed. And that’s how two main characters, George and Lennie, are
migrant workers who dream of one day owning their own land and rabbits, which was Lennie’s
biggest dream. They believe that by working hard and saving their money, they can achieve this
dream.
However, their dream is constantly impossible to become true in the world they live in.
Ultimately, their dream is shattered when Lennie accidentally kills Curley's wife and is forced to
die, leaving George to face the harsh reality that their dream will never be realized.
The novella presents the American Dream as an elusive and unattainable goal for many people,
particularly those who are marginalized and disadvantaged. It highlights the struggles and
challenges that individuals have during their whole life. From the 17th Century onwards,
immigrants have dreamed of a better life in America. Many people immigrated to America in
search of a new life for themselves or their families. Many others immigrated to escape
persecution or poverty in their homeland.
The idea of an American Dream for many was broken when in 1929, the Wall Street crashed,
marking the beginning of the Great Depression. This era affected the whole world during the
1930s, but even in the midst of hardship, some people’s dreams survived. Thousands of people
made their way west towards California to escape from their farmlands in the Midwest that
were failing due to drought.
“Of Mice and Men” also explores the dynamics of power and oppression in society. The
characters in the novella are divided into different social classes based on their race, gender,
and occupation, and this creates conflicts among them.
One example of this is the character of Crooks, who is the only black worker on the ranch and
is treated with suspicion and hostility by the other characters. He is forced to live in a separate
room and is not allowed to socialize with the other workers, which reinforces his sense of
isolation and powerlessness.
Another major theme in “Of Mice and Men” is loneliness and isolation. Most of the characters
in the novel are lonely and disconnected from others, even though they live and work together
on the same ranch. This is particularly true for the character of Curley's wife, who is the only
female on the ranch and is constantly ignored or belittled by the men.
The novella also explores the relationship between George and Lennie, who are bound
together by their shared dream but also by their mutual dependence on each other. Their
friendship is both intimate and fragile, and it is ultimately shattered by the tragic events of the
story.
Despite its bleak themes and tragic ending, Of Mice and Men is ultimately a novella about
humanity and empathy. The characters in the novella are flawed and imperfect, but they are
also capable of great kindness and compassion towards each other.
This is particularly evident in the relationship between George and Lennie, who care for each
other deeply despite their differences and difficulties. The novella suggests that even in the face
of adversity and hardship, there is always the possibility for connection and understanding

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between people and that’s how the novella starts with introduction of George, who is a small,
wiry man with a sharp mind, and Lennie, who is a huge, strong man with a childlike mentality.
Lennie is devoted to George and looks up to him. The two friends dream of one day owning
their own farm and living off the land.
As the story progresses, George and Lennie find work at a ranch and meet other workers,
including Candy, an old swamped with a disabled dog, and Curley, the boss's aggressive and
jealous son. Lennie's strength attracts the attention of Curley's wife, who is bored and unhappy
in her marriage with Curley. As well Slim who then becomes close with George.
One day, while the other workers are out, Lennie accidentally kills Curley's wife while trying to
touch her soft hair. When George discovers what has happened, he realizes that Lennie is in
danger and decides to take matters into his own hands. George finds Lennie and tells him their
dream of owning a farm will never come true. George then shoots Lennie to spare him from a
painful and inevitable death at the hands of the ranch workers.
Sure, at the end by a snap judgment you release that he made a right decision, by killing
Lennie himself and letting him die with the dream, a dream which would’ve never came true for
him.

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 CHAPTER II
“The process”

“Of mice and Men” is written in the form of novella, which is fictional and shorter than a novel
but longer than a short story. Once Steinbeck said that he decided to write the story in the
similar way to a play. Steinbeck includes a lot of dialogue in the book, and this is all written in
colloquial language. This reflects the way that people would really have spoken, which shows
Steinbeck's focus on trying to show the hardship of life for itinerant workers during the Great
Depression and their main characteristics. As well the realism, Steinbeck once noted, is the
surface form for his interest in psychology and philosophy.
John Steinbeck's writing style is known for its simplicity, directness, and use of descriptive
language. He often writes in a naturalistic and realistic style, portraying characters and
situations in a way that is true to life. Some of the key features of Steinbeck's writing style are:
Vivid descriptions: Steinbeck's writing is known for its rich and evocative descriptions of
people, places, and things. He often uses lot details to create a strong sense of place and
atmosphere.
Dialogue: Steinbeck's dialogue is naturalistic and realistic, capturing the rhythms and patterns
of everyday speech. He uses dialogue to reveal character, advance the plot, and explore
themes.
Symbolism: Steinbeck often uses symbolism to convey deeper meanings and themes in his
writing. For example, in "The Grapes of Wrath," the dust that blankets the land is a symbol of
the economic hardship and no equality between people who lived during the Great Depression.
Social commentary: Steinbeck's writing often addresses social and political issues of his time,
such as poverty, inequality, and discrimination. He uses his characters and stories to offer
critiques of these issues and to advocate for change.
Simple language: Despite tackling complex and weighty topics, Steinbeck's writing is
characterized by its simplicity and directness. He uses clear and everyday useful language to
convey his message to the reader.
In my work of adaptation, the book, my biggest goal was to try my best to save his style during
the process of adaptation. As well very important part was to try and convey the feelings that a

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reader experienced during the reading process, the way reader worries about poor Lennie and
the way reader gets on the edge of their sit during the plot twist, which personally me got into
shock.
So my point of doing this work included two main parts. First of all, I strongly recommend the
book and as well, I want others to experience the same as I did.
Second of all, the problem was that not everybody would’ve got the language, mostly the
vocabulary part. So a very important point was to make it easy for students of B! level read and
understand the book, but at the same time don’t change the style and the aura of the book.
So adapting a book to level B1 requires a careful selection of the text and an understanding of
the language level of your target audience. So I made for myself some steps to follow during
the work:
Choose a book, which at this case recommended my scientific director that is appropriate for
B1 level readers. Look for books with simple sentence structures, straightforward vocabulary,
and a clear narrative.
Simplify the language as needed. Paraphrase complex sentences, replace difficult words with
simpler ones, and break down long paragraphs into shorter, trying to replace hard descriptions
with easier ones, but at the same time with saving the real meaning.
As well I tried to add exercises, activities and glossary at the end of the book, to help learning.
These include comprehension questions and vocabulary quizzes. I’d like to mention that by
adding everyday use, but unknown words for audience, is also very important, of course by
giving their meaning.
And last but not the least, have B1 level readers review your work. Get feedback from
someone who is at the B1 level to ensure that your book is appropriate and understandable. So
I hope that students will get interested in this work, will read and tell their hones opinion about
my work.
During the process I remembered that adapting a book to a specific level is a complex process
that requires careful attention to language and content. However, with the right tools and
resources, I created a good version and wish you’ll enjoy reading!

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 Conclusion

To sum up I really enjoyed the work, learned lot of things during it, as well revised some
vocabulary, payed attention to very small details and understood the way how to make daily
speech more colloquial and easy as nowadays native speakers do. I can say that I accepted a
challenge and completed it with success hopefully.
In my opinion It’ll be useful for younger students at our school to get to know the problems,
ideas, which the author brought up and learn the language, vocabulary which is more up-to-
date, of course in easier way for them to be more interested in it and do the work in their own
will.