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‘Of Mice and Men’ - Revision

‘Of Mice and Men’ - Revision. Section 1 (1 st half to Christ you’re a crazy bastard” ). How does Steinbeck create a contrast between the characters in the first paragraph? Find words that are ‘opposites.’ They drink the water differently. What do we learn about their characters?

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‘Of Mice and Men’ - Revision

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  1. ‘Of Mice and Men’ - Revision

  2. Section 1 (1st half toChrist you’re a crazy bastard”) • How does Steinbeck create a contrast between the characters in the first paragraph? Find words that are ‘opposites.’ • They drink the water differently. What do we learn about their characters? • What do G’s first words to L tell us about their relationship? • There’s 3 place L is compared to an animal – what does this tell us about his physical ability? • What other examples of imagery (metaphors & similes) can you find – what do they suggest about the men AND their environment?

  3. Section 1 (2nd half)- Dream • Has the ‘dream’ conversation happened before – find a quote to show and explain it’s significance. • George’s mood changes. HOW does Steinbeck present this (look at adverbs!)? • What do Lennie’s repeated interruptions tell us about his character? • Going back to language – Can you find 2 examples of colloquial itinerant speech from the 1930s? • SOME critics have argued that Seteinbeck portrays the relationship between G and L in an overly-sentimental way. Try to find one example of this viewpoint and explain YOUR view.

  4. Section 2 (1st half) - Bunkhouse • The bunkhouse seems both homely AND bare. List 2 good AND bad features from the description. • Steinbeck lists many personal items – What is the effect of this? • Structure again – Steinbeck’s skill as a writer is demonstrated in this section. Look at his syntax (sentence construction) for length, sentence opening and punctuation. Make a note for exam use!! Do you notice anything in his use of adverbs here?

  5. Section 2 B - Candy • Candy is one of the ‘rejects’ later in the novel. Find 3 quotes that show him as physically weak/old. • Try and find 2 ways that Steinbeck implies Candy has been at the ranch longer than others. • Candy refers to Crooks as ‘stable buck’ and a ‘nice fella’ but what do later comments show about American society? • How/Why does Steinbeck give a more general impression of itinerant workers through the character of Candy?

  6. Section 2 C - Curley • Lennie says little during Curley’s introduction BUT Steinbeck references to his behaviour. Find any references that might foreshadow future events. • Curley is described in physical terms. Can you spot any techniques or word types that Steinbeck uses to convey his character? • Comment on how Candy behaves. Why do you think he’s “reassured” that he’s “drawn a derogatory statement” from George when mentioning the “glove full of vaseline”?

  7. Section 2 D – Curley’s Wife • Look at the description of Curley’s Wife – pick 3 aspects of the description and explain what impression Steinbeck is trying to create – what might be there apart from the ‘tartiness’? • George says of her “Curley’s got his work ahead of him” what does he mean by this and calling her a “rat-trap”? Try and explain his sudden anger at Lennie. • Why do you think she remains un-named?

  8. Section 2 E - Slim • Slim is described as the “prince of the ranch”. How does he behave towards George and Lennie, and how does George in particular respond to this treatment? • You could say Slim is the antithesis(opposite) of Curley. Find 2 contrasting sets of quotes. • Some have said Slim is the least believable character. Do you agree? Why would Steinbeck bother include an inspirational figure?

  9. Section 3 A - Weed • Read George’s description of what happened with the girl in the red dress. What might be significant about that moment? • What is the link between the “red” dress and someone else in the previous chapter? • Slim makes very little comment as George recounts the story. Look at the way he listens. How does this confirm his character?

  10. Section 3 B – Carlson shoots Candy’s dog • Find 5 WAYS that Steinbeck suspends the tension of the moment: quote and this shows… Stalling/pausing the narrative Use of pauses and silence Description of sights and sounds Symbolism – e.g. darkness Use of verbs and adverbs

  11. Section 3 C – The dream farm: a reality?! • Look at Candy’s behaviour – how does he slowly become more involved? • Read carefully the images of the dream farm that George evokes. How does he make it so appealing? • How does this description tie in with the theme of Nature? • Lennie’s responses are worth noting: i.e. “live off the fatta land” and “you let ‘em try to get the rabbits. I’ll break their goddam necks.”

  12. Section 3 D – Curleyconfronts Lennie • A violent episode: Steinbeck describes movement and strong emotions. Find 3 examples of violence. • Is animal imagery again used around Lennie? • Do you think George is ambiguous and sending mixed messages to Lennie i.e. “Get him Lennie” followed by “Leggo his hand Lennie” ?

  13. Section 4 A - Crooks • The harness room reflects the character of Crooks. Find 3 quotes and explain what they say about him • In physical and in status terms, who do you thinks Crooks has a lot in common with? • Crooks cruelly taunts Lennie. Why? What’s interesting about how Lennie resonds? • Through Crooks’ character, Steinbeck says what about the nature of men’s dreams?

  14. Section 4 B – The dream farm • Candy is described as embarrassed when entering Crook’s room. Crooks also says to Curley’s wife “You got no right comin’ on to a coloured man’s room”. What do we learn about the rights of black men at the time? • What is Curley’s wife threatening to Crooks, and why does he react the way he does? • There are some descriptions which suggest ‘disturbance’. These create a certain mood for the final events. What are these ‘disturbance’ descriptions?

  15. Section 5 A – The Barn beginning to Curley’s wife ent. Read the first 4 paragraphs. List the different signs of life Steinbeck depicts and his words to do so. Use this table to describe the opening atmosphere in 1 sentence! What two emotional states does Lennie go through – how does Steinbeck’s language reflect this?

  16. Death of Curley’s wife- wife entrance to “voices became louder” • List 5 things that foreshadow the death of Curley’s wife from early chapters….. • What do we find out about Curley’s wife in this extract? What do you reckon Steinbeck wants us to feel about her? • Look at the language used during the killing- How would you describe it? THEN LEAVE A SMALL GAP TO COMPARE WITH LANG THAT FOLLOWS NEXT.

  17. Curley’s wife: the aftermath “time awakened”…end of chp • When G first sees Curley’s wife’s body he says “I should have knew…I guess ..I did.” What does he mean by this – were there any clues earlier in the novel? • After reading the conversation “G watched Candy’s lips” why do you think they try to help L escape? • Can you explain Candy’s reaction to Curley’s wife once George has left………..? Do you feel the same? • Describe the different reactions of the characters as they enter the barn, especially Curley’s reaction.

  18. Lennie hides in the BrushStart of chp.. To..”G came quietly out of bush” • What is the significance of book closing where it started? Any key images here….? • The first 6 paragraphs contain many key images of nature: Copy and fill the table….. • What do Lennie’s ‘conversations’ with Aunt Clara and the rabbit reveal about his state of mind?

  19. The ending – “George came quietly” ..to end • “Ain’t you gonna give me hell?” Why does L want G to do this? Look at hoe Steinbeck G when he agrees. • “The wind waves flowed up the green pool” Comment on Steinbeck’s choice of image, as men get nearer to G and L. • Why does G talk about the farm as he shoots. Does this conclude the theme of dreams? • Is Slim’s reaction consistent with his character(Candy’s dog example..) • The last lines are famous – Why might Steinbeck choose to end this way?

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