Of Mice and Men Essay; To what extent can Steinbeck be said to have a ‘dramatic’ style in ‘Of Mice and Men’
From this question, the main word is ‘dramatic’ style. Also we have to decipher what ‘dramatic style’ means. Dramatic in the dictionary has a few definitions for the word, “with force and vividness, striking, tense, and exciting”. Style in the dictionary means “manner of writing”, so basically in the book “Of Mice and Men” I have to evidence of Steinbeck using, a striking manner of writing, or an exciting manner or writing.
The actual is set in North California, where two workers, George Milton and Lennie Small, set off from their old job, in search of a new job on a ranch, as ranch hands. The characters of George and Lennie, are completely opposite, George, is a short, intelligent, self confident man, where as Lennie is a very tall man, very strong, has a mind of a child and has the tendency of having too much strength for his own good. The story is set over a time period of a weekend, from this you can get to know each character, as you can see how each character reacts to different situations, and they cope in situations.
The first instances that Steinbeck uses a dramatic style of writing are in the images he portrays, and the use of sound and light to put across the images, which is shown all throughout the book. These two ways of creating and image for the reader are the two main ways of creating atmosphere in the book, so that the reader carries on reading the book, and doesn’t put it down. “On the sandy bank under the trees the leaves lie deep and so crisp that a lizard makes a great skittering if he runs among them” This quote shows the use of sounds, “skittering” to give the reader a clear image of what the shape of the leaves are, and what they look like, and their texture. Also from this you can also picture the other surroundings around the leaves and of the sandy bank. Also in the first another use of light comes across in the description, to give the reader, a clearer image of the surrounding area, “Only the tops of the Gabilan mountains flamed with the light of the sun that had gone from the valley” this again shows how the valley is “alight” because of the sun, and how it lights of the features of the surrounding area and, it maybe a very early warning sign, that a situation, may become heated, and may catch alight. Another quote is used to help the reader’s imagination, as Steinbeck’s dramatic style of writing, is again used “A water-snake slipped along the pool, its head held up like a periscope” Another feature of Steinbeck’s dramatic style of writing is that he uses metaphors, and also uses personification, and implies things in his description. From that quote, sound is used to describe the snake’s movements; “slipped” this builds a mental image of what the snake is actually moving and how it is actually moving. Also this maybe another sign of impending danger, or what’s about to come, “…held up like a periscope” periscopes are found on submarines, which are used as they are dangerous, and cause damage to the enemy, this may imply that George, or Lennie, will encounter an enemy and they may have to use force, or hurt the enemy to sort out the squabble/argument.
