WHAT'S IN A NAME?

Objectives: To have students understand how Steinbeck (and authors in general) may have selected names for the characters in Of Mice and Men that have metaphorical significance to the themes and events in the text. They will understand that these metaphorical meanings are also not always cut and dry (i.e. Lennie means “lion,” and the character is big and scary and brave like a lion), but can be rather complicated and ambiguous, especially in Of Mice and Men. Students will also understand more about the linguistic origins of names and the varied cultural traditions certain names come from. Finally, students will apply this knowledge to their own practice by creating a story in which the characters’ names are chosen for specific, metaphorical meanings.

Prior Knowledge: Coming into this lesson, students will have looked up the linguistic and cultural origins of their first names on www.behindthename.com, and they will have asked a family member why they were named as they were. They will also have looked up the meanings of the names “George” and “Lennie” on this website.

Activities:

-Going around the classroom, students will share the stories of why they were named their names. They will also share the linguistic origins of their name from the website. For example, the name “Nicholas” means victory of the people, coming from nike (victory) and laos (the people).

-The instructor will then ask students if there are any particular commonalities and trends among reasons for being named. The instructor will also ask whether or not students felt their name meanings (according to the website) corresponded to their personalities.

-We will then look at the names “George” and “Lennie” on the board. The instructor will ask students what some of the name meanings they found were. Some things to point out if they don’t reach them by themselves:

George means “farmer” or “earthworker,” it’s a very common name, and it also is a name that many powerful male figures in history have.

Lennie is a diminutive form of Leonard, it means “brave lion,” and is the name of the patron of peasants.

-Discussion questions: Do any of the meanings of George’s name seem to describe him as a person (physically and mentally)? Do all of them? Do any of the meanings of Lennie’s name seem to describe him as a person (physically and mentally)? Do all of them? What do we think about the fact that Lennie is never called Leonard, but rather always by his nickname? Do any of the various meanings of the name George contradict one another? How about for Leonard?

-Now let’s look at the last names of each character: Lennie Small and George Milton; Does Lennie’s last name characterize his personality or physical appearance at all? Does anyone know what the name Milton means? If not, here’s a tiny bit of information: John Milton, a famous poet, wrote an epic poem called Paradise Lost; Now, just knowing the title of this piece and the fact that it was likely that Steinbeck read the poem, why might he have made George’s last name Milton? Does the theme of “paradise lost” exist in Of Mice and Men? (following this the instructor will explain what an allusion is for students who do not know)

Follow-up:

-For Homework, students must write a story at least one and a half pages in length in which the characters’ and/or settings’ names have metaphorical significance. It might be that the names contradict the nature of the character or place or that it reiterates the nature.