Steinbeck's+Inspiration

Steinbeck's Novel Inspiration

 John Steinbeck , a name we will all remember due to the genius of his writing. But there is one question we all want answered. What inspired John Steinbeck to write such marvelous stories? There are a couple of things I have found through research that help me to answer this question. It was at an  early age  that Steinbeck started writing. He was the associate editor for his high school’s newspaper, //El Gabilan //  a laborer in a sugar factory in Salinas, a laborer in mills, and a ranch hand. He also traveled throughout the Salinas Valley and studied marine life in Monterey Bay. In 1937, John Steinbeck published // Of Mice and Men , //  which was actually an attempt at a play that could be read, or a "play-novelette". //Of Mice and Men //  involved two people, working on farms and ranches just like Steinbeck did. The scene of the story takes place in Salinas Valley, where Steinbeck lived. there are several similarities between the book //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Of Mice and Men // <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">and John Steinbeck's life. Steinbeck was what we would consider to be a very restless man. Always moving and traveling the world. He used the stories and experiences he gained to write <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">// Sea of Cortez // (1942), <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">// Travels with Charley in Search of America // (1962), and <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">// A Russian Journal // (1948). Another trip Steinbeck took was down Highway 66 with his wife. His wife said that Steinbeck enjoyed himself thoroughly and took no notes. However this trip, along with a 4 week journey from Bakersfield to Needles, inspired John Steinbeck’s novel, <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">// The Grapes of Wrath // (1939) which he received a Pulitzer Prize for. During World War II, Steinbeck was a correspondent for the // New York H erald Tribune. // During this era, John Steinbeck wrote one of his most powerful books, // Cannery Row.

John Steinbeck will always be remembered by the work that he did and all that he accomplished. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Teaching others <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;"> to take the experiences they have had, and make something of them.

- Jake H //

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;"> Works Cited:
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">1937, April. "Of Mice and Men Summary & Study Guide - John Steinbeck - ENotes.com." //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">ENotes - Literature Study Guides, Lesson Plans, and More. //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;"> Web. 03 June 2010. <http://www.enotes.com/of-mice-and-men/>.


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Steinbeck, John. //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Of Mice and Men //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">. New York: Penguin, 1993. Print.


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">French, Warren G. //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">John Steinbeck, //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">. Boston: Twayne, 1975. Print.


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">"John Steinbeck (1902-1968): A Brief Literary Biography." //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">California // //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">State University ////<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;"> Stanislaus | Home //<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">. Web. 03 June 2010. <http://www.csustan.edu/english/reuben/pal/append/steinbeck_bio_s99.html>.