The title of the novel is taken from Robert Burns’ poem “To a Mouse.” The poem deals with a plowman’s accidental destruction of a mouse’s nest shortly before the onset of winter. Burns summarizes the predicament of the homeless animal in the lines: “The best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men / Gang aft agley.”
Translation: The best laid plans of mice and men often go astray...leaving us grief and pain instead of promised joy.
(Discuss the importance and significance of the title of the novel.)

Read this excerpt from act ii, scene iv, of william shakespeare's romeo and juliet: nurse: now, afore god, i am so vexed, that every part about me quivers. scurvy knave! pray you, sir, a word: and as i told you, my young lady bade me inquire you out; what she bade me say, i will keep to myself: but first let me tell ye, if ye should lead her into a fool's paradise, as they say, it were a very gross kind of behavior, as they say: for the gentlewoman is young; and, therefore, if you should deal double with her, truly it were an ill thing to be offered to any gentlewoman, and very weak dealing. romeo: nurse, commend me to thy lady and mistress. i protest unto thee— nurse: good heart, and, i' faith, i will tell her as much: lord, lord, she will be a joyful woman. what does the excerpt reveal about the character of the nurse? a. the nurse is loyal to the capulet family and therefore discourages romeo and juliet from falling in love. b. the nurse is loyal to the montague family and therefore the young lovers get together. c. the nurse wants to mend the feud between the two families by encouraging the love between romeo and juliet. d. the nurse believes that romeo and juliet are too young to understand the obstacles they will face in the future. e. the nurse feels protective of juliet and therefore questions romeo about his intentions toward her.