Transcript Slide 1

1. Which sound is used
throughout the novel to suggest
something bad may happen?
2. What happens to the light
when things start to go wrong?
3. In which decade is the
novel set?
4. What is the name of the
nearest town to the ranch which
in Spanish means ‘lonely’?
5. In which American state is
the novel set?
6. Which famous Scottish poet
wrote a poem after which the
novel is named?
7. What is the name of the belief
that any US citizen can become
successful is they work hard
enough?
8. What is the name of
Lennie’s aunt?
9. Which character wanted to
be in the pictures?
10 Which character owns a
luger?
11. Which character kills
Candy’s dog?
12. Which character crushes
Curley’s hand?
13. How many characters know
about George and Lennie’s
dream, other than George and
Lennie?
14. Which character could
have been a boxer?
15. From what town do Lennie
and George have to run away?
16. What colour are Curley’s
wife’s shoes?
17. Which character is the
‘prince of the ranch’?
18. Which character says ‘guys
like us, that work on the ranches,
are the loneliest guys in the
world’?
1. Which sound is used
throughout the novel to suggest
something bad may happen?
Horses’ harnesses and halter
chains
2. What happens to the light
when things start to go wrong?
It darkens.
3. In which decade is the
novel set?
1930s
4. What is the name of the
nearest town to the ranch which
in Spanish means ‘lonely’?
Soledad
5. In which American state is
the novel set?
California
6. Which famous Scottish poet
wrote a poem after which the
novel is named?
Robert Burns
7. What is the name of the belief
that any US citizen can become
successful is they work hard
enough?
American Dream
8. What is the name of
Lennie’s aunt?
Aunt Clara
9. Which character wanted to
be in the pictures?
Curley’s wife
10. Which character owns a
luger?
Carlson
11. Which character kills
Candy’s dog?
Carlson
12. Which character crushes
Curley’s hand?
Lennie
13. How many characters know
about George and Lennie’s
dream, other than George and
Lennie?
3: Crooks, Candy, Curley’s wife
14. Which character could
have been a boxer?
Curley
15. From what town do Lennie
and George have to run away?
Weed
16. What colour are Curley’s
wife’s shoes?
red
17. Which character is the
‘prince of the ranch’?
Slim
18. Which character says ‘guys
like us, that work on the ranches,
are the loneliest guys in the
world’?
George
STRUCTURE
In timed essays:
• Words count
• There’s no time to waste
• Impress the examiner early and leave her with a powerful sense that
you know what you are talking about
• Signal where you are going using connectives
• Book-end the essay with a clear intro and strong conclusion
• Use PEE in the middle paragraphs with an emphasis on the last ‘e’
– explanation
• Don’t waffle
• Don’t repeat
• Don’t PANIC
STRUCTURE
Introductions:
• Clever but general
• Have a stock phrase
or point that can be
applied to any essay
about the novel
• Draw attention to your
key points
STRUCTURE
Introduction
Steinbeck’s novel about friendship and loneliness
in the 1930s Great Depression builds up to a
tense and tragic ending. In chapter two, the
author uses symbolism and recurring imagery to
give clues about the growing conflict on the
ranch. This can also be seen in the way that he
introduces the characters and how they interact
with each other.
STRUCTURE
Conclusion:
• Link it back to the essay
title
• Refer to a key theme in
the novel
• End with a cleverly
worked quotation
• Don’t summarise what
you’ve said
• Don’t waffle – save
yourself time to check
your essay
STRUCTURE
Conclusion
In conclusion, Steinbeck’s tense chapter two
helps to grip the reader’s interest to find
out whether the growing conflict will lead
to tragedy or triumph of human will and
friendship. We are intrigued to discover
why, as Lennie instinctively asserts, ‘this
ain’t no good place.’
I’ve used
the
author’s
name.
I’ve given
some
context for
the
quotation
I’ve
explained
the key
word.
I’ve added
technical
terms
Steinbeck uses metaphorical verbs at
the end of the chapter to create a
sense of growing tension. For
example, Curley realises that George
is a threat to him and ‘his eyes flashed
over George’ as he assessed his
physical size. Here, the word ‘flashed’
has the connotation of speed and
anger. We get a sense that Curley is a
character of quick, sudden emotions,
someone who cannot control his
temper. Steinbeck establishes conflict
between them which is only like to get
worse as George will need to protect
Lennie.
I’ve added detail as to
why there might be a
fight
I’ve put the
quotation in
single inverted
commas.
I’ve
explained
more about
Curley.
I’ve referred to a key
reason for tension in
stories.
The opening pages
On one side of the river
the golden foothill slopes
curve up to the strong
and rocky Gabilan
mountains
The pool setting –
Chapter 1
Sycamores with
mottled limbs and
branches arch over
the pool
Rabbits sit on the
On the valley side the
water is lined with willow
trees
In the lower branches is
the debris of winter
flooding
There is an ash pile of old
fires and a log worn smooth
by men who have sat on it.
sand
The flats are covered
with tracks of racoons,
dogs and deer
There is a path
through the willows
Animals
How many different types of animal and bird
are mentioned on pages 3-9?
a) 6
b) 10
c) 12
Animal
Lizard
Possible significance?
Rabbits
Racoons
What do we learn about Lennie?
Dogs
The ranch dogs are familiar with this place. Wild animals are in
danger from animals controlled by men.
Deer
Heron
Bear
Horse
Mouse
The small lizard makes a noise among the leaves; small prey are
vulnerable because there is no hiding place.
The racoons come out of night but they leave traces – footprints
are evidence of their existence. We all leave our mark!
What does the deer need here?
What scares it away?
What do we learn about Lennie?
What do we learn about Lennie?
What do we learn about life and
death?
Water snake What’s the snake looking for?
Characters - appearance
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
George
‘small and quick’
‘dark of face’
‘restless eyes’
‘sharp, strong
features’
‘defined’
‘small, strong hands’
‘slender arms’
Lennie
Characters – adverbs (pages 4-7)
Adverb
G or L?
What does it or might is show?
Significance?
Nervously
(stepped)
G
George is uncertain about things. He is anxious that
things might go wrong. He’s unsure about the new
surroundings and doesn’t want to be seen.
Sharply (said)
Hopelessly (said)
Exactly (imitated)
Morosely (stared)
Angrily (said)
Timidly (looked)
Softly (said)
Cleverly (said)
ADVERBS
Words describing how
something is done,
usually end in -ly
Who said it? (pages 5-10)
hell with the
rabbits’
‘The
‘I like
beans
with
ketchup.’
‘I ain’t takin’ it away
jus’ for meanness.’
Adverbs in the opening chapter
of ‘Of Mice and Men’
To explore the significance of the
use of adverbs in the opening
chapter.
Of Mice and Men
Steinbeck originally wrote Of Mice and Men
as a play.
In plays, writers often include speech
directions to indicate how something
should be said. These are usually written
as adverbs in brackets, e.g.
Lennie (softly): I forgot. I tried not to forget.
What does each adverb on pages 12-18 tell us
about the two main characters or the story?
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Mysteriously
Patiently
Furiously
Suddenly
Ashamedly
Slowly and cautiously
Very softly
Morosely
Quickly and searchingly
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Craftily
Rhythmically
Delightedly
Hardly
Mightily
‘specially
Slowly
Sleepily
Example 1 - story
• ‘A big carp…sank mysteriously into the
dark water again.’
• This adverb creates a sense of the
unknown and unexplained. It seems as if
something can exist and then suddenly
disappear without trace, leaving only
uncertainty. Perhaps something will
happen in the story that leaves us feeling
uncertain.
Example 2 - character
‘He said patiently, “I like ‘em with ketchup”.
This adverb shows us that Lennie knows George
is cross with him. He understands that he needs
to wait for George’s anger to subside but he also
has to say what he feels. He seems to know that
there is no ketchup and George may get
annoyed again but he can’t stop himself saying
it. It shows that George holds the power in the
relationship.
Of Mice and Men
Essay 1 – How does Steinbeck
establish the relationship between
George and Lennie in the opening
chapter?
‘D’ grade paragraph
George and Lennie are different and this is
shown by adverbs. George is ‘ashamedly’
and Lennie is ‘craftily’. I think that this
shows they are different. George doesn’t
want to hurt Lennie so feels bad and
Lennie can be crafty sometimes. There
are other adverbs like ‘rhythmically’ and
‘slowly and cautiously’ which show they
are different.
‘C’ grade paragraph
Steinbeck uses a range of adverbs to show the
reader the relationship between George and
Lennie. For example, he describes how George
reacts ‘ashamedly’ and tells about the dream
‘rhythmically’ whilst Lennie reacts ‘slowly and
cautiously’ as well as ‘craftily’. George is
ashamed because he makes Lennie feel bad.
Lennie is sometimes careful around George
because he does not want to upset him.
‘B’ grade paragraph
One way Steinbeck establishes the characters’ relationship is through a
range of adverbs to describe their interactions. For example, after
shouting at Lennie, the author describes how George reacts
‘ashamedly’. This shows his sense of guilt for becoming angry with
Lennie as he knows his friend does not truly understand. George
also recounts the dream ‘rhythmically’ which shows that he is
always having to reassure Lennie by repeating the dream over and
over. Generally, Lennie reacts ‘slowly and cautiously’. This suggests
that he is careful not to upset George and realises that what he says
can sometimes cause George to react negatively to him. He does
not like this. Interestingly, at one point Lennie behaves ‘craftily’.
Steinbeck does not want us to see Lennie as someone without
understanding. Lennie does sometimes know how to get what he
wants from George.
‘A’ grade paragraph
As Steinbeck originally wrote the story as a play, there are lots of adverbs that
help us to imagine how the characters act and react, which quickly helps to
establish their relationship in the opening chapter. We can imagine that
many of these adverbs were originally written as speech directions. For
example, after shouting at Lennie, the author describes how George reacts
‘ashamedly’. This shows his sense of guilt for becoming angry with Lennie
as he knows his friend does not truly understand. George is keen to protect
Lennie and feels ‘ashamed’ when he is the one putting him in a state of fear
or anxiety. George also recounts the dream ‘rhythmically’ which shows that
he is always having to reassure Lennie by repeating the dream over and
over. It almost sounds like a lullaby, suggesting a paternal relationship
between George and Lennie. Generally, Lennie reacts ‘slowly and
cautiously’. This suggests that he is careful not to upset George and
realises that what he says can sometimes cause George to react negatively
to him. He does not like this. Interestingly, at one point Lennie behaves
‘craftily’. Steinbeck does not want us to see Lennie as someone without
understanding; Lennie is capable of simple manipulation strategies. Overall,
the adverbs are evocative and chosen wisely to show the complexity of the
relationship; it would be too easy to dismiss the pair as one simple and one
clever.
What to have included?
Animal imagery
• Who is compared to animals
and why?
Adverbs –actions and
reactions
Dream
• Pick out the key adverbs that
help us to imagine how G&L
react to each other.
• What does each of them
dream? Why do they have this
dream?
Speech
• How do they speak to each
other?
Of Mice and Men – Chapter 2
How does Steinbeck create
tension in Chapter 2?
Tension
Suspense
Increased sense of
drama
Potential conflict
Awkwardness
Unease
Impending danger
Ominous
foreboding
• Symbolism
• Characters’ reactions
to each other
• Dialogue
• Pathetic fallacy
• Imagery
Symbolism
An object or thing is
used to represent
something else. The
object or thing is the
symbol, it signifies
something.
• A clue
• A hidden meaning
• An idea of what is to
come
• A way of giving
something
significance
Imagery
•
•
•
•
Metaphor
Simile
Personification
Painting an image in
the reader’s mind
• Drawing comparisons
with the familiar
• Helping us to use our
imagination
Pathetic Fallacy
The weather reflects the emotions of the
characters or story.
The author uses pathetic fallacy to give a
sense of …
This use of pathetic fallacy allows the reader
to recognise…
The bunkouse (p.19)
‘the sun threw a bright
dust-laden bar
through one of the
side windows’
Candy (p.19/20)
• ‘out of the sleeve
came a round sticklike wrist’
• ‘stoop-shouldered old
man’
Candy’s Dog (1) (p.25)
• ‘a drag-footed sheep
dog, grey of muzzle,
and with pale, blind
old eyes.’
• ‘struggled lamely’
• ‘grunting softly to
himself’
• ‘moth-eaten coat’
The boots (p.26)
• ‘high- heeled boots
with spurs’
Curley (p.26)
• ‘head of tightly curled
hair’
• ‘his arms gradually
bent at the elbows
and his hands closed
into a fists. He
stiffened and went
into a slight crouch.’
Curley’s entrance (p.27)
“Let the big guy talk.”
Lennie twisted with
embarrassment.
George said, “S’pose he
don’t want to talk?”
Curley lashed his body
around. “By Christ. He’s
gotta talk when he’s
spoke to.What the hell
are you getting’ into it
for?”
“We travel together,” said
George coldly.
“Oh, so it’s that way.”
George was tense and
motionless. “Yeah, it’s
that way.”
Reactions to Curley (p.28)
• “You seen little guys
like that, ain’t you?
Always scrappy?”
(Candy)
• “…this Curley punk is
gonna get hurt if he
messes around with
Lennie.” (George)
• He said ominously,
“Well he better watch
out for Lennie…”
Patience/Solitaire (p.28/9)
• ‘George cut the cards
and began turning
them over, looking at
each one and
throwing it down on
the pile.’
• ‘George…put out a
solitaire lay, slowly
and deliberately.’
The Glove (p.29)
‘That glove’s fulla
vaseline’
‘Curley says he’s
keeping that hand soft
for his wife.’
The Horses (p.30-1)
• ‘a sound of jingling
harness’
• ‘the jingle of trace
chains’
Curley’s wife (p.32-4)
• No name
• ‘She had full rouged lips and
wide spaced eyes, heavily
made up.’
• ‘Her fingernails were red’
• Red ostrich feathers, red
mules.
• ‘And though she did not seem
to be looking at Lennie, she
bridled a little.’
• ‘I never seen no piece of jailbait worse than her.’ (George)
• ‘she’s a rattrap’ (George)
‘Ain’t no good place’ (p.34)
• Lennie cried out
suddenly – ‘I don’t like
this place, George.
This ain’t no good
place. I wanna get
outta here.’
Slim (p.34/5)
• ‘He moved with a
majesty only achieved
by royalty and master
craftsmen’
• ‘the prince of the
ranch’
• ‘His authority was so
great, that his word
was taken on any
subject.’
Names (p.36)
George Milton
Paradise Lost
• Lennie Small
Candy’s dog(2) (p.37)
• ‘Whyn’t you get
Candy to shoot his
old dog and give him
one of the pups to
raise up?’ (Carlson)
The ending (1) – George and
Curley (p.38)
Curley seemed to see
George for the first time.
His eyes flashed over
George, took in his
height, measured his
reach, looked at his trim
middle.
…Curley scowled at him
and, turning, hurried out
of the door.
…”Lennie, I’m scared I’m
gonna tangle with that
bastard myself.”
The ending (2) – sunlight (p.38)
• The sunshine lay in a
thin line under the
window.
The ending (3) – noise (p.38)
• ‘From the distance,
there could be heard
a rattle of dishes.’
The ending (4) – Candy’s dog
(p.38)
‘After a moment the
ancient dog walked
lamely in through the
open door. …the dog
raised his head but
when Curley jerked
out, the grizzled head
sank to the floor
again.’
Of Mice and Men – timed
essay 3
How does Steinbeck present hopes
and dreams in chapter 3 and the
likelihood of them being fulfilled?
Objective
To explore the significance of dreams in the
novel.
How does Steinbeck create a sense of hope
that dreams can be fulfilled but also
prepare us for their inevitable failure?
Darkening
• ‘Although there was
evening
brightnessshowing
through the windows of
the bunkhouse, inside it
was dusk.’ (39)
• …’the darkening bunk
house’ (39)
• ‘It was almost dark
outside now’ (44)
• ‘Darker’n hell in here’ (44)
Silencing
• ‘The silence came into
the room. And the silence
lasted’ (49)
• ‘It came out of the night
and invaded the room’
(49)
• ‘The silence fell on the
room’ (49)
• ‘The silence was in the
room again’ (50)
• ‘He …lay silent’ (50)
Puppy
• ‘Lennie said
breathlessly, “He’s
brown and white just
like I wanted.”’ (43)
• ‘You want to kill him?
Just born last night
an’ you take him out
of the nest.’ (43)
Old age
• ‘I wisht somebody’d
shoot me if I got old
an’ a cripple.’
(Carlson, 46)
Magazine
• ‘Whit closed the
magazine
impressively.’ (47)
• ‘Yours for success,
William Tenner.’ (47)
• ‘I wonder if Bill seen
it.’ (Whit, 47)
Dream
• ‘live off the fatta the lan’’
(56)
• ‘His voice was growing
warmer.’ (57)
• ‘We’d just live there. We’d
belong there.’ (58)
• George sat entranced
with his own picture. (59)
• Pages 56-59
Candy joins the dream
• ‘S’pose I went in with you
guys?’ (59)
• ‘Maybe we could do it
right now?’ (60)
• ‘They’ll can me purty
soon.’ (60)
• ‘Jesus Christ! I bet we
could swing her!’
(George, 60)
• ‘We wouldn’t ask nobody
if we could.’ (George, 60)
The end (of the dream?)
“I can still tend the rabbits, George?”
“Sure. You ain’t done nothing wrong.” (65)
Of Mice and Men
Of Mice and Men
The
bestlaid
laid
schemes
This is taken from a
The best
plans
o’ mice and men
poem by Robert
of mice and men
Burns so it’s not
Gang aft agley
often go wrong
original. Therefore we
And leave us nought but
should analyse it in its
grief
and
painnothing but
and
leave
us with
original form.
For
grief promised
and pain joy.
However, we should
also ask why did
instead of promised joy.
Steinbeck choose to
use this particular
line.
Steinbeck named his novel after a line in a Robert Burns’ poem. It
is a good title because on the surface it is ambiguous and intriguing. The
reader would not necessarily know what it means but might guess that the
novel is about something that affects all living creatures from the most
dominant species, man, to one of the smallest, mice. Once we finish
reading the novel, we understand the significance more: we must take care
of each other from the strong to the vulnerable – a moral message about
not being selfish and valuing all forms of life.
The poem helps us to consider the themes of the novel even more.
Burns suggests that ‘the best laid plans of mice and men often go wrong’.
This is just like George and Lennie’s dream which not only does not come
true but ends in tragedy. George is left with ‘grief and pain instead of
promised joy’. He has to live with the terrible truth that he killed his friend to
save him from an even worse fate. His is the ultimate act of kindness. The
novel’s title, ‘Of Mice and Men’, helps me to reflect on how I treat other
people: do I value some people more than others for the wrong reasons?
Also, it helps me to realise that it is important to have dreams and aspire to
be better but I must be prepared for whatever life throws at me and be
ready to make hard decisions and difficult choices.
Possible questions
• ‘Soledad’
means
loneliness –
why is this
relevant to the
novel?
• Loneliness is a
recurrent theme in
the novel. Select
three characters
and describe how
loneliness impacts
of their lives and
action.
Loneliness
• George and Lennie have each
other; unusual for migrant
workers (lack of trust during
Great Depression)
• George, however, wants more.
Is he a little lonely for similar
company? He leaves with
Slim.
• Lennie is not lonely because
he has George (and the
creatures to pet) but he does
understand George’s needs
(rabbit and Aunt Clara).
• Curley’s wife is lonely. She
had dreams about being in the
movies. She has married a
bully and paranoid, controlling
man. She flirts with others.
• Candy is lonely. He is old and
feels useless. His dog is his
companion but it is shot. He
sees the dream as a way out.
• Crooks is lonely. He is black
and isolated because of his
colour. He sees the dream as
a way out.
‘Why can’t I talk to you? I never get to talk to nobody. I get awful Lonely.’
(CW)
‘Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world.
They got no family. They don’t belong no place.’ (G)
‘S’pose you didn’t have nobody?...a guy needs somebody – to be near
him.’ (Cr)
‘When they can me here I wish’t somebody’d shoot me.’ (C)
• Examine the
• Discuss the
relationship
theme of
between
George
friendship and
and Lennie.
its relevance to
What is it that
the novel.
sets them apart
from the other
characters?
Friendship
• George looks after
Lennie, protects, feels a
sense of duty, moral,
selfless but he is
frustrated. He likes
Lennie’s innocence,
gentleness.
• Lennie needs George. He
sees him as his friend. He
understands his
frustrations subconsciously (rabbit, Aunt
Clara)
• Slim and George become
friends – understanding,
appreciation, respect.
• Candy is friends with his
dog.
• Curley’s wife has no
friends: not allowed.
• Curley is friendless.
• Crooks is not seen as
equal.
• Carlson doesn’t
understand closeness.
• Both Candy’s dog
and Lennie are
shot with Carlson’s
luger. Discuss the
significance of the
deaths and
similarities
between them.
• Discuss how
George’s
murder of
Lennie could
be described
as a ‘supreme
act of love’.
Death
• Candy’s dog = friend and
companion
• Symbol of friendship and
loneliness
• Seen by some as old and
useless, no longer
needed
• Unless perfect no longer
required
• G kills best friend
• Saves him from lynch,
prison (wouldn’t
understand or cope)
• Achieves dream in
heaven
• Water snake
• Ominous sense of
foreboding
• World is too cruel for
Lennie (or is George just
selfish?)
• ‘somebody’d shoot you for a coyote if you
was by yourself.’ (G)
• ‘I’ve never seen no
piece of jailbait
worse than her’.
Discuss the
significance of
what George says
and explore the
view of women in
this novel.
• The characters of
Curley’s wife and
Crooks seem very
different on the
surface but in what
ways are they
comparable?
Outsiders/Difference
• Women, old, learning
difficulties, black (anyone
different to the norm)
• 1930s US, Great
Depression, different
attitudes
• Racist, sexist,
homophobic = world was
a smaller place,
suspicious of difference
• Lonely (not through
choice)
• Prejudice
• Misunderstood
• Dreams not fulfilled
(Curley’s wife)
• Crooks = educated,
literate, defined by
disability
• Wife as sexual object
(gloved hand)
• No name
• ‘I think Curley’s married a…tart.’ (G)
• ‘Both men glanced up for the rectangle of
sunshine in the doorway was cut off.’
• ‘Maybe everybody in the whole damn world is
scared of each other.’ (S)
• ‘They’ll tie ya up with a collar, like a dog.’ (Cr)
• ‘Crooks had reduced himself to nothing. There
was no personality, no ego – nothing to arouse
either like or dislike.’
• ‘Crooks was a proud, aloof man.’
• ‘a tall, stoop-shouldered old man’
• Hopes and
dreams are
important in this
novel. Discuss
their relevance in
‘Of Mice and
Men’.
• Is this a
pessimistic
or an
optimistic
novel?
Hopes and dreams
•
•
•
•
American Dream
Ranch
Film star
Joining the dream
(Candy, Crooks)
• Way out
• Not having to worry about
being different
• Success regardless of
colour, sex, ability
• Keeps them going
• Reassures Lennie
• Does George ever
believe it?
• Dog replaced by pups –
possible hope for future?
• The death is tragic,
inevitable, pessimistic?
• The end with Slim gives
hope? Optimistic?
‘Well, it’s ten acres. Got a little windmill…’ (G)
‘You’re nuts…I seen hundreds of men come
by…with the same damn thing in their heads’.
(Cr)
‘Coulda been in the movies’ (CW)
‘What the hell do you suppose is eating those
guys.’ (Car)
‘Everybody wants a little piece of land, not much.
Just something that was his…and nobody could
throw him off it.’ (C)
• Discuss the
kind of
social issues
this novel
explores.
• ‘Steinbeck is
passionately
concerned with the
dispossessed and
the downtrodden in
society.’ Discuss
this in relation to at
least three
characters.
Social Issues/Themes
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Racism
Sexism
Ageism
Disability
Human rights
Dignity
Prejudice
Discrimination
•
•
•
•
•
Loneliness
Freedom
Community
Isolation
Collective
responsibility
• Compassion
• Trust