Damien Lopez

2/11/2014
Period 3
Of Mice and Men Passage Analysis
Companionship is something people mostly take for granted. In the book, Of

Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, companionship is a reoccurring theme

throughout the novella. Steinbeck uses language to create a specific idea about

companionship by using imagery, diction, and syntax to reveal the benefits of

friendly behavior. The reason that having a friend is important in this book is

because its what makes the two main characters, George and Lennie, unique and

different from everybody else. George and Lennie travel together when most people

travel alone. Many details of this theme and language that Steinbeck uses appears

in a short passage of the book.

The first detail Steinbeck includes, uses imagery that the reader is able to

picture in their head the way the character moves, reacts, expresses body

language. A part of a that passage shows a good example of how Steinbeck uses

imagery, Lennie, who had been following the conversation back and forth with his

eyes, smiled complacently at the compliment. Slim looked approvingly at George for

having given the compliment.(34). Telling from this, the reader can infer that Slim

is a character who somewhat appreciates Georges friendly behavior towards

someone else like Lennie and can tell that he cares for him.

A second detail Steinbeck includes, uses diction. From the same passage, he

describes Slims tone of voice and how it affects the George talks back to him as,

His tone was friendly. It invited confidence without demanding it.(34). This shows
that speaking in a friendly tone makes people comfortable around them to talk

about what they want.

Finally, the third detail from the passage, uses syntax where Slim comments

on the subject of people traveling alone and why they dont travel with a partner, by

saying, Aint many guys travel around together, he mused. I dont know why.

Maybe everbody in the whole damn world is scared of each other. This tells us

that nobody looks out for each other and refuse to befriend society. Summing up all

these details, Steinbeck sends a message to readers that companionship is a thing

appreciated by some, but rejected by most.