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What inspired John Steinbeck to use imagery in his writings, almost making the reader feel as if they are at that specific scene?

Growing up in a stereotypical southern part of California**,** and then growing older proceeding to travel all over, John Steinbeck used these images that he had seen to help create a certain style.Not only did the way he used imagery have to do with where he grew up, it could have to do with what he did as he grew up. Steinbeck's Childhood. He worked on a farm at one point when he was younger, and from there he would explore the nature surrounding him( Perkins, Barbara M ,1). The way he uses imagery helps to create the scene, making you feel like you are literally standing right there watching. Imagery helps to create a tone for the passage, letting you go deeper and deeper into the book.

Opening to the first page in “Of Mice and Men,” and it almost seems like it is coming to life. They are walking down the path way to the big opening of a riverbed in rural California, Steinbeck describes it to be this gorgeous area that’s wooded, and just goes into detail more and more as the book comes to life. The place John Steinbeck grew up could have been a huge impact on how he developed his writing skills (Perkins, Barbara M). He talks about the scenery which is very similar to the things that he saw growing up. He used to work on a ranch, and would sometimes explore different things around it such as the woods and the nature that surrounded his lifestyle. This helped him get an idea to create the book that comes to life before your eyes. There are only a couple different scenes through out the story, when George and Lennie get to the the farm. Steinbeck goes into detail about how their room looks, and when George and Lennie are in the woods talking you almost feel as if you are standing there, when George shoots him in the back of the head. When Steinbeck used to explore in the woods this may have helped him make the scene. The end of the book is created with two different tones by using the type of imagery the way Steinbeck did. He created a darker tone to build up for when Lennie dies. Though there is a softer tone for when after Lennie dies**,** it seems like the scene gets better for the future George has**,** and it does not involve Lennie.The story uses imagery in a really great way depicting the scenes and how they come to life."Of Mice and Men," was also made into a play version. The imagery in the book was so well done they decided to take the information and turn it into a play(Bryon Cahill 1).

Getting into the beginning of the book, and putting your self into each scene of "In Dubious Battle," you will not be able to get your self out of it. The story captures you in**,** and you are almost in the book watching everyone of the characters through the book. The book focuses on the life of these men that go around for work, and then go on strikes. This portrays what life was like for John Steinbeck when he was growing up in California. [|Portrays life in California]All throughout his time there was strikes going on**,** and everyone was looking for work ( Unger, Leonard 1). The book could have been from that time**,** and he wanted to write about it, or it just influenced him to write something similar.

John Steinbeck grew up in Salinas, California trying to make his way up in the world with his novels. The way he used imagery set the tone for his books, if it was good, or if it was bad. He also used a lot of description from the ranch he used to work on, and he also studied marine biology which is why it is used a lot of description of characters relating to animals, or simply just the way that the animals look, and act. inspirtation John Steinbeck He was a great writer who used imagery to create such great books. Both "Of Mice and Men," and "In Dubious Battle," were both excellent examples of how well John Steinbeck used imagery. They are just two of his many novels that are very popular today.

Work Cited :

1.) Plot Summary: Of Mice and Men." //DISCovering Authors//. Online ed. Detroit: Gale, 2003. //Student Resource Center - Junior//. Gale. Boyertown Jr. High School West. 4 June 2010 .

2.) Perkins, Barbara M. "Steinbeck, John." //World Book Student.// World Book, 2010. Web. 4 June 2010.

3.)Cahill, Bryon. "Of Mice and Men." //SIRS Discoverer Login//. SIRS Discoverer on the Web, 25 Aug. 2006. Web. 04 June 2010.  . 4.)"John Steinbeck." //Welcome to The National Steinbeck Center in Salinas, CA. Rabobank Agriculture Museum. Web. 04 June 2010. .

5.) // Unger, Leonard, ed. //American Writers//. Vol. IV. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1974. Print.