Sunday, January 23, 2011

Getting to Know the Author

As we get ready to start reading the novella Of Mice and Men, which is one of the most widely read books in the English language, it is important to have a sense of the author as well. What I would like you to do is investigate some of the links that I have included so that you get to know exactly who John Steinbeck is.

John Steinbeck received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1962, and you can find out more information about him at nobelprize.org.

The National Steinbeck Center located in Steinbeck's hometown of Salinas, California serves as another resource for learning about the author.

Finally, JohnSteinbeck.com is yet another site that honors the author and provides another glimpse into his life and works.

What I would like you to do for this post is to list three things that you did not know about the author prior to investigating the various sites. Please number your responses. Challenge yourself to truly read the information rather than simply copying and pasting (not that any of you would even consider doing so)!

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT IF YOU WANT CREDIT FOR YOUR RESPONSE, YOU NEED TO PUT YOUR FIRST INITIAL AND LAST NAME AND YOUR CLASS PERIOD BEFORE YOU START TO RESPOND. PLEASE DO NOT INCLUDE YOUR FULL NAME WHEN RESPONDING.

30 comments:

Anonymous said...

J. Shizz Period 1 - This is the format your comment must be in so that you receive credit for your response.

Anonymous said...

H. Cerna Period 1 - John Steinbeck was an american author who was born in Salinas, California. Like many young up and coming authors, Steinbeck's first works were declined. He also took on many other on the side jobs before becoming well known for his writing. Another thing I noticed and learned was that much of his work was based upon other cultures rather than the typical American life. :)

Anonymous said...

L. Giboyeaux Period 1 -
1.) Steinbeck didn't really seem like he ever made up his mind. He started to study marine biology but stopped to work as a journalist. Then he went on to other unrelated jobs as well until he finally started writing novels.
2.) He was born in California and married three times.
3.) He wrote Of Mice and Men in 1937 and won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1962.

Anonymous said...

D.Sampson Period 1- He won a Nobel Prize in 1962 for literature. His hometown was in Salinas, California. He went to Standford University to study marine biology.

Anonymous said...

CM Period 1 - The creator of Mice and Men was at first, in the start of his career a free-lanced journalist who favored the work of art. I think that his long term ambitions to writing short stories had made a tremendous impact on his writing and had established a serious amount of attention. John Steinbeck suffered major criticism from the American people but was very charismatic among Europe.

Anonymous said...

S. Slaughter Period 1

- I did not know that this author was so famous for his writing. He has a website and museum that is all about him.

- I did not know that many people inspired his writing. Many middle school kids are in programs that teach them how to write like him, and also lets them adventure into his life.

- I did not know that the author had such a good background, he went to college his mother was a teacher. And his father was a county treasurer. Most authors that i know had a down fall in life that made them want to write out their life stories. He wrote so many books that many know about.

Anonymous said...

N. Grover Period 1 - By looking at the sites I learned a few things about Steinbeck. I personally did not know anything about the author beyond his name, and was surprised to see that he was a Nobel Prize winner, as well as the author of the famous book "The Grapes of Wrath". It also surprised me how heavily studied Steinbeck is. There are entire courses even up to the college level dedicated to single works of Steinbeck.

Anonymous said...

J.Splawn Period 1- I really admire his work in literature. He took part in creating famous books such as East of Eden, Of Mice and Men, and The Grapes of Wrath. In 1962 he obtained the Nobel Prize of Literature which is a major accomplishment for most writers. But before all that could happen he started out small finishing college and working small part time jobs such as fruitpicker and hod carrier. I admire him because he is an accomplished writer and role model for me, for one day I too will become a writer

Anonymous said...

M.Brown Period 1- After reading about John Steinbeck i have learned that he was a legendary Nobel and Pulitzer prize-winning American writer. John Steinbeck was born in Salinas, the center of the Californian lettuce industry in 1902. He also part of the German- Irish ancestry.

Anonymous said...

B. Bang Period 1 - The first thing that I found out about John Steinbeck was that he was German/Irish.
The second thing I found out about him is that he married three times. Third and final is that he was awarded with the Nobel prize in 1962.

Anonymous said...

C. Lay Period 1 - By clicking on the links listed, I have learned several pieces of information on John Steinbeck.
1. One of the first things I've learned about John Steinbeck is that he went to Salinas High School and studied marine biology at Standford but he never took his degree.
2. Second, Steinbeck's books can all be classified as social novels dealing with the economic problems of rural labor.
3. Last but not least, I learned that he made a tour of 40 states in the USA with his poodle.

Anonymous said...

B.Mack Period 2 - I learned that Steinbeck did not graduate from college and did not take his degree. He had various jobs while he was writing and married three times. John Steinbeck had to take adverse criticism in America; however, was very popular in Europe. Steinbeck was a very strong writer that had gone through tough struggles to become one of the greatest writer of all time.

Anonymous said...

M. Bohn Period 1:

1. He went to Stanford University to study marine biology, but never got his degree.

2. All of his novels can be considered social novels, dealing with the economic problems of the time.

3. He had tried to be a free-lance writer, but it didn't work out.

Anonymous said...

L. Isom-Riley Period 1

The things I did not know about Mr. Steinbeck were:

1. All of his novels can be classified as social novels.
2. He was born in the centre of the California lettuce industry.
3. He married twice.

Anonymous said...

M. Ramirez Period 1- 1)I found out that John Steinbeck was of the German-Irish background.
2)I also found out that he attended Salinas High School.
3)I just discovered that there is a "National Steinbeck Center" located in Juan Cruz, Mexico City, based on him to help out young writers today.

Anonymous said...

T. Pham Period 1
1. I found out that John Steinbeck was born in Salinas, California. He went to Standford U, but never graduated from there.

2. He is a Pulitzer prize winning American writer, he works really hard though out his life.

3. His novels are about dealing with social economic problems, and to more serious fiction.

Anonymous said...

A. Ortiz Period 1-

1. John Steinbeck wrote serious fiction, which was often aggressive in social criticism in his book In Dubious Battle (1936).
2.During World War Two John Steinbeck became a war corespondent.
3.John Steinbeck died in New York City in 1968.

Anonymous said...

T. Banks Period 2-

1. John Steinbeck was born in Salinas California in 1902.
2. He went to Stanford University to study marine biology.
3. His first novel was Cup of Gold which came out in 1929.

Anonymous said...

H.Le Period 2-

1)The first thing I learned about the Author, John Steinbeck is he attended Standford University but did not graduate.

2)Second thing I have learned was he moved to New York and worked as a reporter for a time period, and then got fired.

3)Lastly, His books usually are about the economy.

Anonymous said...

J.Diaz Period 2 -
1. John Steinbeck went to Stanford, but he never graduated.
2. John was married three times.
3. John went to New York to become a reporter, but then got fired and he eventually moved back to California.

Anonymous said...

S.Proctor Period 2-
1.)His novel "Grapes of Wrath" was a Pulitzer prize winner, and it was made into a film.
2.) John Steinbeck suffered criticism for a long time in America, but he stayed popular in Europe.
3.)In the 1960s he traveled to 40 states in the U.S. with his poodle. In the same year he won a Nobel Prize.

Anonymous said...

C. Malave period 2 - 1.) I've learned that John Steinbeck went to college at Standford but did not graduate, and he moved to New York to become a free-lance writer, but it did not work so he moved back to California.

2.) he published his best work called "The Grapes of Wrath" in 1939.

3.) during a time, he was criticized by America but still very popular in Europe. He was also a war correspondent in World War Two.

Anonymous said...

J. Metz Period 2
1.) During his 3 month tour, he wrote a book about his dog called "Travels with charlie". This tour led him through 40 American states.
2.) His novel "Tortilla Flat" is what brought him all his attention. '
3.) During world war 2, he became a war correspondent then he started to get special assignments.

Anonymous said...

C.Britton period 2-The three things I learned while looking through the sites:

1.He was born in California, he attended college at Standford but he never graduated.

2.He has his own building called the national Steinbeck center. This center is used for school groups,adult tours and a good venue for special events.

3.He was a legendary Nobel and Pulitzer prize-winning American writer. He died December 20,1968.

Anonymous said...

M. Bellamy Period 2- These are 3 Things I didn't know about John Steinbeck:

1. I felt it was amazing that I didn't know that after graduating from high school he went on to study marine biology at Stanford; even though he never took his degree.

2. Also, I didn't know that in the 1960's he made a tour of over 40 states publishing a very famous book called Travels with Charley in search of America (1962) as a result of his journey.

3. Lastly and rest assured amazing, I did not know that his novels can all be classified as social novels dealing with the economic problems of rural labor.

Anonymous said...

K.Gooding Period2 -
Fact #1: John Steinback never received his degree
Fact #2: In 1939 his novel The Grapes of Wrath won Pulitzer prize winner
Fact #3:He traveled to 40 states with his poodle:)

Anonymous said...

A.Ortiz Pd: 2
Fact # 1: John Steinbeck was born in Salinas, California, came from a family of moderate means.

Fact # 2: He attended Standford University, but never graduated.

Fact # 3: It was with his 1935 novel Tortilla Flat that Steinbeck won popular attention.

Anonymous said...

H. Thompson Period 2

I did not know the author was from California.

I did not know he was German I thought he was just American.

I did not know he went to college but did not graduate.

I did not know he tried to be a free-lance write but failed even though he is a good writer.

Anonymous said...

S.Banks.Pd: 2

Fact#1: John Steinbeck attended Standford University, but did not graduate.

Fact#2: In 1939 his novel "The Grapes of Wrath" won the Pulitzer prize winner.

Fact#3: He died December 20, 1968.

Anonymous said...

N. Pharris Pd.2
Fact#1 He was married three times

Fact #2 went to college at Standford but did not graduate.

Fact #3 In the 1960's he won the Nobel Prize and traveled 40 states with his poodle