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How to get a band 4 / 5!. Model paragraph. This is a model of 2 paragraphs analysing Curley’s wife.
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Model paragraph This is a model of 2 paragraphs analysing Curley’s wife. Steinbeck portrays Curley’s wife, not as a villain, but rather as a victim. She is desperately lonely and has broken dreams. She is the only female in the novel and purposefully is not set with a name. She is only referred to as ‘Curley’s wife’. This shows that she is objectified and not thought of as a human, due to her gender. Adding to that, this reflects the sexism in 1930s America: ‘that’s what Curley picks for a wife’. The active verb ‘picks’ proposes that she is thought of as an item, that belongs to Curley. ‘She had fully roughed lips and wide-spaced eyes, heavily made up. Her fingernails were red.’ This connotes that Curley’s wife is desperate and wears the colour red to represent the temptation for female sexuality in a male-dominated world. This is because the colour red is a symbol for passion and lust. On the other hand the colour red also indicates spitefulness and cruelty. This could show that Curley’s wife doesn’t show her true side and is “two-faced”. The phrase ‘heavily made up’ could also show that she hides behind a façade.
Model paragraph Analyse Curley's wife • Steinbeck introduces Curley's wife for the first time as “girl”. This immediately communicates to the reader that she is someone who is fairly young, therefore someone who is susceptible to misuse and someone who could be exploited and manipulated easily. He also overtly shows her as somebody who is enticing and is willing to flirt with workers, as this is highlighted in the quote "leaned against the door frame so that her body was thrown forward”. This also tells us she is presenting herself to other men which may be a sign of her unhappiness. She wants to stand out from the crowd and attempts to be seductive as she was wearing “red mules and red ostrich feathers.” Her wearing lavish clothes is a stark contrast compared to the poverty on the ranch. The fact that Steinbeck continually repeats “red” connotes the possibility that there may be some conflict or violent interaction with other characters.
Model paragraph on Curley’s wife “Both men glanced up, for the rectangle of sunshine was cut off.” The manner in which both male characters have to look “up” to her indicates that Steinbeck is portraying her as a character who considers herself superior. Steinbeck encourages her personality to be perceived as dominant over all the other males on the ranch, contrasting with what woman were thought of in the 1930s. Furthermore, it immediately shows her status in the hierarchy of the ranch, showing that she is more controlling and powerful then most of the men. The “rectangle” symbolically shows that she might have an ‘edgy’ personality, therefore might also be angered easily. It could similarly show that, like a “rectangle”, she has 4 sides to herself…4 faces. However, this could mean that she might not be who readers think she is, and she might be hiding what she truly feels inside, which could be a vulnerable woman who is actually feeling miserable, but has to create this false persona so she doesn’t feel hurt. The way the doorway of sunshine is cut of could show that she is like an entity of darkness that is removing all light in a situation. This could be foreshadowing how she might ruin a perfectly good situation by just being there, making the novella take a dark turn towards the end.
A model paragraph example analysing one character in detail • Steinbeck has encouraged readers to feel that Curley’s wife is a callous character. This is shown through the following quote: ”her hair is hung up in little rolled clusters like sausages”. The verb “hung” provides a sense of maliciousness towards Curley’s wife, as it connotes death and someone ‘hanging by a thread’. This could relate to George and Lennie as they are chasing the ‘American Dream’, and that plan could collapse or a fatality may occur further on in the story. In addition the word “sausages” provides various meanings such as Curley’s wife being objectified ; as a wife she has no power and this is shown through that era in the 1930s and this is backed up by the quote "little” to show that she is a minor character. Sausages come from the animal-pig so it is portraying her character as she is not very likeable and as she is referred to an animal, and this is shown through an anthropomorphic way and it is what many characters think. In addition sausages symbolise hot dogs and this could foreshadow a dog dying further on in the story. Furthermore the word “cur” part of Curley’s wife's name is defined as to growl and as an inferior dog, again this is portrayed as her being a minor character. In addition analysing the structure I can conclude that the word “hair” is before the word “sausages” this shows Curley’s wife caring more about her appearance rather than what is inside. This is constantly fed throughout the story as Curley’s wife had “rouged red lips” this is shows she is covering up with her make up. In addition rouged is a french word and this shows that she is trying to act like a more superior person that she already is.
What you should include when analysing a quote Clear analysis Discusses specific points Details are relevant, effective and clear Writer uses his/her own (effective) vocabulary There is a clear emphasis on the main point Sophisticated analysis of language and structure Something about which you can speculate How the setting and characters are portrayed (if in keeping with the focus of the question!) The techniques used and maybe the effect it has on the audience or how it makes the reader feel. Any connotations or hidden meaning? Structure of the text/quote
How to analyse structure, language and form When looking at structure you could analyse: • Paragraph length • The amount of paragraphs • Different type of sentences • Sentences (simple, complex and compound) and the effect on the reader. • Sentence openers and endings • Connectives • What the structure could symbolise When looking at language you could analyse: • The vocabulary • Punctuation • Nouns,verbs,adverbs,adjectives • Sibilance • Techniques like: Pathetic fallacy, foreshadowing, etc. • Meaning between the words. • First letters in words (eg. C, S, K) • Punctuation (… , , , ! ,?) • What the writer wants to portray through the language • The forms of the words (eg. “Nothin’ ”) e.g. character’s colloquial or formal pronunciation. When looking at form you could analyse: • Is it a narration or dialogue • What is significant about the form of the text • Is it 1st person or 3rd person
Model analysis for structure How you should go about analysing a quote for structure: The use of a comma paces the sentence when you read it Starts of as quite generic … “A few miles south of Soledad, the Salinas River drops in close to the hillside bank and runs deep and green” The novella starts of with a compound sentence But ends as describing it vividly
Summary of the criteria in our words • The criteria for band 5 consists of your work being sophisticated and impressive. This is achieved by having a complex and extended analysis within your work. In addition you have understood the writer’s and characters’ attitudes and imaginatively explained how it links in with the text and you have scrutinised the language and structure and you have looked at the purpose of it. • The criteria for band 4 is that you are confident with you work and you have clearly interpreted the texts. You have precisely selected certain quotes with a purpose and you have supported it with a complex analysis and you have done the same with the language and structure and you have written about it in convincing detail showing the assessor that you fully understand the storyline and why certain words had been used.
Slim (favourite character) Slim is portrayed as the best guy on the ranch, he is shown as being able to do anything and is even called “The prince of the ranch”, which immediately shows that he might have some conflict with Curley because Curley thinks he owns that position. It also shows that everyone looks up to him as their guide and follow what he does and says.
My favourite character: Lennie Child-like: Doesn’t understand what is wrong and what is right. Dreams of a better future: To have a house, farm and some rabbits. Physical state opposes mental state: Has a huge body, is physically strong but mentally weak and simple-minded. Attracted to soft things: Touches anything just to feel it e.g. rabbits, mice Physically strong but doesn’t realise his strength. Sometimes uses it for negative reasons without realising.
