what is ‘Of Mice and Men’ means?

The full quote is “The best laid plans of mice and men oft go awry”. The quote is adapted from a line in the poem “To a Mouse” by Scottish poet Robert Burns: “The best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men Gang aft agley”

The phrase means that the best plans can’t always be followed due to unforeseen complications or events that change the course of one’s path through life. Basically it is a poetic way of saying “sh** happens.”

The title is a quote from a Robert Burns poem – To A Mouse, about a fieldmouse he disturbs in ploughing a field. He says to the mouse, not to worry, he won’t bash his head in with a shovel!

The poem contains the famous quote:

The best laid schemes o’ Mice an’ Men, Gang aft agley

a translation would be –

The best laid plans of mice and men, always go wrong.

In other words, George and Lennie’s plans in the book never come to anything – remember their dream of “living off the fat of the land”? The book is set in Depression-era America, where they have little or no chance of settling down or even getting a stable job. I think Steinbeck is saying that workers in general are but mice, always preyed upon by greedy bosses.

George is an especially tragic figure – he is a gentle giant, who does not realise his own strength or the consequences of his actions.

I won’t spoil the book for you by telling you the plot – but this is one of the finest books ever written and it has a stunning ending.

it is a quote from Robert Burne’s poem “To a mouse”

The best laid schemes o’ Mice an’ Men, Gang aft agley

http://www.electricscotland.com/burns/mouse.html

Which is about how even the most well thought out plans often go wrong, due to unexpected circumstances

a translation would be –

In other words, George and Lennie’s plans in the book never come to anything – remember their dream of “living off the fat of the land”? The book is set in Depression-era America, where they have little or no chance of settling down or even getting a stable job. I think Steinbeck is saying that workers in general are but mice, always preyed upon by greedy bosses.

there is also information on BBC bitesize

🙂

The title is taken from Robert Burns’s poem, To a Mouse, which read: “The best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men / Gang aft agley.”

That translates as The best laid plans of Mice and Men go often wrong

Check Wikipedia under Robert Burns’ “To a Mouse,” the origin of this phrase.

It’s from a Robert Burns poem.

“The best laid schemes of mice and men

Go often askew,”

Source(s): http://www.worldburnsclub.com/poems/translations/…

have you read the book? that would probably help you understand