What is the meaning of the novellas tirle? how is the title appropriate for the characters, plot, and themes in the novel?

John Steinbeck takes the title of his little novel or novella from the poem "To a Mouse (on turning her up in her nest with the plough)." It was written by Scottish poet Robert Burns in 1785. The idea of the poem ( and the book) is that despite all our crazy plans, men and all animals (yes mice included) are subject to the harsh realities of life, including death.