Secondly, to add to the description he uses lists, shown in the quote above. This gives a more precise and intense description of the nature and environment. Steinbeck also uses personification, this gives the reader a precise description of something which they can relate to. “mottled, white, recumbent limbs” this gives the limbs human features, therefore the reader can make the connection to the limbs.
Steinbeck also uses violent language to add a negative impact. “a path beaten hard”, this could add some tension as the reader will immediately wonder what has caused the beaten path, and why. The use of senses is also a main part of Steinbeck’s choice of language. ‘Skittering’, ‘noiselessly’ and ‘damp flats’ are three of a numerous amount of sense words used. This makes it a lot easier to relate to something, so even if the reader doesn’t totally understand the words used, they could then refer to a sense.
In addition to his description of Nature, the author details the physical appearance of the characters that enter the scene. He makes use of some similar techniques to reveal them clearly to the reader. He firstly uses the contrast of men, how one is small and the other large, one slim, the other wide. They are completely opposite. He introduces the character by them walking onto a quite and lifeless scene. He then goes on to explain there walking pattern, “even in the open one stayed behind the other.”. The reader can infer that one of the characters is shy and is a minor figure compared to the other, who comes across more dominant. Steinbeck then goes on to describe there appearance, starting off with the clothes of the two characters. They both wear exactly the same clothes, like some sort of uniform. The reader can the infer that they may be walking home from work, or just walking through the countryside. The larger figure goes on to be described as bear like. “he walked heavily, dragging his feet a little, the way a beer drags his paws.” Again, this can help the reader gather enough information about the character to draw themselves an image.
Steinbeck structures this passage thoughtfully: he begins by describing the nature and environment and then moves on to give detail about the characters. He sets the scene before introducing the two main characters, Lennie and George. Although the names aren’t told in the passage.
Through his use of language and structure I therefore believe that Steinbeck creates a definite atmosphere to begin the story. It is an atmosphere is light as there is rabbits and such hopping around and lizards skittering around, so everything seems fine but as soon as the characters appear, the nature disappears and it is the characters who will have the main impact in the novel.
