Compare and contrast the imagery on pages 1 and 2 to
the imagery on pages 99 and 100. Make symbolic connections between the imagery
and the events in the story. Discuss how both the imagery and the story might
be reflective of the paradise (loss-quest) cycle.
The imagery on pages 1 & 2 describe how the "Salinas River drops in close to the hillside bank and runs deep and green " (1). This seems to described as a tranquil area. The plants (like the willows) seem to be vibrant and "fresh and green with every spring..." (1). There were lots of animals such as rabbits and birds that were moving alongside the river. Then Lennie and George came. Lennie had become thirsty, so he bent down and drank from the river before dunking his whole head into it. On pages 99 & 100, the river is still green,but now there is a water snake that is being killed by a bird for feeding (might be signifying the death of a weaker person perhaps) and the sycamore trees have brown, dead and wilted leaves where there were green ones. Lennie then appeared and started to drink from the river, mirroring what he had done in the first pages of the book. These pages could be represented as a paradise cycle because in the beginning it was spring feeling, with lots of harmless animals (rabbits) green leaves and growing plants everywhere. Then near the end of the book, the plants have dead leaves and there are more dangerous animals around (snake). This could signify that the tranquility of the river has ended and will be more dangerous.
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