Connection+to+novel

Of MIce and Men had it's own "music to it". Sure actual words are not music but rather instead the music is in your mind. It still is actual sound but it is in your mind. For example when Lennie is shot you can hear the noise of the bullet but then in your own mind you hear the sound of a dirge, and perhaps the rhythm of the lonesome sound of taps.

(Sarah)

Jazz music became very popular during the 1930's. It allowed people to express their sadness, but also their hope for the future. This relates to Lennie, George, and even some of the other characters in multiple ways. Despite their low situations and their nomad type lives, they still manage to have hope in their dream farm. Both the characters in Steinbeck's book, and the people who wrote and listened to these songs, showed us that despite destitute situations, humans still have the strength and motivation to move forward and hope for the future. (Monique)

An important part of jazz and swing music is syncopation. Syncopation is where you accent the off beat. In most music, the first and third beat are accented, but in jazz, the second and fourth are accented. In this book, George and Lennie are the syncopation. Most men who work at these ranches travel alone and don't have anybody to watch their back. They are going against the norm society has placed just like jazz musicians accented the opposite beat of other musicians. Despite the ending of their relationship, George and Lennie were happier than the other men on the ranch.(Monique)

I believe that Lennie and George's dream is the music. They sing a song of friendship and a song of love, but in the end it is harsh and hard to over come. The great depression was a huge part of history and something everyone had to come over. Through music, they were able to forget the bad and focus on the good, much like the dream they have together. Lennie and George played their music loud and it was obvious. They were a team and they could over come these harsh times through their dream, through music. (Matthew)