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1. 
   dneshan Teacher
   High School - 11th Grade

   eNotes Editor

   The title of John Steinbeck’s novel “Of Mice and Men” comes from a Robert Burns poem entitled “To A Mouse”.  The poem’s speaker is talking to a mouse, basically explaining to him why he is afraid of the speaker and why he is so small and weak – this could definitely relate to the character of Lennie or could represent George talking to Lennie as the speaker talks to the mouse.  The actual title comes from Burns’ stanza which states,

   “But Mouse, you are not alone,
   In proving foresight may be vain:
   The best laid schemes of mice and men
   Go often askew,
   And leaves us nothing but grief and pain,
   For promised joy!

   This stanza directly relates to the situation that the two men are in throughout the novel.

   They have a plan to buy their own farm and “live off the fatta the land.”  And even though they dream of this every day of their lives and make attempts to make this dream come true, the events that take place which are out of their hands do not allow this dream to happen – therefore, bringing true the last four lines of this stanza.

   Sources:

   http://www.enotes.com/ofmice/

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   Posted by dneshan on Saturday March 28, 2009 at 7:24 AM
   
   

2. 
   blair-enchanted Student
   High School - 11th Grade

   Well i don't know if you've heard of the poem 'to a mouse' by robert burns.

   But that poem has a famous line 'the best laid schemes o' mice and men gang aft a-gley'which basically means the more you plan the more you have to lose plus it suggests that the dreams of mice and men are equal therefore relating to the novel.

   The poem coinsides with the novel and that's where i think the title comes from.

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   Posted by blair-enchanted on Saturday March 28, 2009 at 7:26 AM