How Does Steinbeck Create Tension In Of Mice And Men

1. What effect does the opening of Of Mice and Men achieve? Review definitions for tone, diction, and setting, and then apply these concepts to the opening paragraphs of the story.
The opening of Of Mice and Men Steinbeck describes the setting in which George and Lennie enter as a beautiful, natural place. His description of the setting creates a calm peaceful mood because of the way he uses words and figurative language. He makes this place serene and human less and then George and Lennie come in and make it their “home”. We can sense the tone of the novel even from the very beginning, when we learn that the setting of the story is the town of Soledad. Already you can set the tone: doomed, sad, tragic, and helpless. Being that the novel's characters are field workers, we will not expect the language to be complex. George's use of insults to call Lennie show a very simple sentence structure filled with often mispronounced or incomplete words. Lennie's character uses language that would fit a man who is mentally challenged, and is constantly

In regard to the internal conflict, George feels responsible for Lennie. He made a promise to Lennie's aunt, which forces George to care for Lennie. This conflict is highlighted through Lennie's, inevitable, getting into trouble. The problems that Lennie cause force George to feel held back and unable to move on for him. In the end, George must come to terms with what is best for Lennie. “...If I was alone I could live so easy. I could go get a job an' work, an' no trouble. No mess at all, and the end of the month come I could take my fifty bucks and go into town and get whatever I want....” This, contrasts with the fact that because he is "stuck" with Lennie he has to suffer the consequences of Lennie's incapabilities, and this led ultimately to the end of it Lennie. George wanted more; a place to call his own but in the book it does not