Steinbeck, John: 1902-1968
Of Mice and Men, 1937 - Language/Style
- English Language Level: Intermediate
- Vocabulary – Mostly simple, with some unfamiliar ranch and 1930s terms.
Grammar – Straightforward sentence structures, rarely complex.
Dialect – Heavy use of regional slang and non-standard speech increases difficulty (e.g. “I ain’t got no people” or “We was gonna bunk together” — grammatically non-standard but common in 1930s American speech).
Themes – Mature but clearly presented, easy to follow conceptually.
- Vocabulary – Mostly simple, with some unfamiliar ranch and 1930s terms.
- Readers must understand non-standard dialect, implied meaning, and historical context beyond basic everyday English.