Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

Chapter One: Allusions Gabilan Mountains: a small mountain range situated east of the Salinas River

Howard Street: There is a Howard Street in San Francisco, north of Salinas. On their travel south from Weed, the two men may have stopped in San Francisco to look for work.

Sacramento: The capital of California, Sacramento is located about eighty miles northeast of San Francisco.

Salinas River: a river that flows north through Soledad and empties into Monterey Bay.

Soledad: A city near the coast of California, approximately 130 miles south of San Francisco.

Watchin’ that blackboard: During this era (the early 1900’s), employment agencies would post available jobs on a blackboard in front of their offices. Prospective employees would wait in front of the offices, watching the blackboard for any new jobs.

Weed: A mining town in Northern California, near Mt. Shasta.

Work cards: A job assignment from an employment agency would be written on a work card to be presented by the worker to the employer.

Chapter One: Idioms blow their stake: Lose or spend all their money blowin’ in our jack: Losing, spending, or gambling away all our money bustin’ a gut: To bust a gut is to engage in very hard physical labor. in hot water: To be in hot water is to be in trouble. jungle-up: During the early 1900’s and into the Great Depression, many wanderers (hoboes and tramps) would settle for the night in groups. These areas would be known as hobo jungles. To “jungle-up” is to camp out for the evening with other companions of the road. live off the fatta the lan’: To “live off the fat of the land” is an expression that refers to having the best of everything. In the case of Lennie and George and their dream for a place of their own, it also means that they believe they will be able to survive and prosper by simply relying on what they can grow and raise – that the land is so “fat” they will need nothing else to be happy.