Of Mice and Men - Controlled Assessment Preparation

1. Of Mice and Men - Controlled Assessment Preparation LO: What is the context of our novel? How Curleys’s Wife relates to context and theme.

2. Title: Themes Recap and Revision • STARTER: Copy the following, matching the correct vocabulary and definition. gingham Wild with fear emphasis Hostile and aggressive frantic Flat and dull monotonous White checked cotton cloth To answer back sharply, angrily or cheekily belligerent retort Stress placed on a word to show importance

3. VOCAB ANSWERS White checked cotton cloth gingham emphasis Stress placed on a word to show importance frantic Wild with fear monotonous Flat and dull belligerent Hostile and aggressive retort To answer back sharply, angrily or cheekily

4. Title: Of Mice & Men Context… • All: be able to show familiarity with the text and the how the character of Curley’s Wife is presented. • Most: be able to use quotations to display your point of view • Some: be able to show insight into the implications and relevance of the text.

5. Title: Of Mice & MenLO: what is the context of our novel? Name: John Steinbeck Dates: 1902 – 1968 Career: Steinbeck was born in Salinas, California, and many of his novels are set in this part of America. Before his career as a writer began, Steinbeck worked as a construction labourer and a caretaker. His first novel Cup of Gold was published in 1929. Of Mice and Men was published in 1937. His most famous novel, The Grapes of Wrath came out in 1939. Many of his books, such as East of Eden also became films. In 1962 John Steinbeck was awarded the prestigious Nobel Prize for Literature.

6. Title: Of Mice & MenLO: what is the context of our novel? The Grapes of Wrath deals with a group of people known as the ‘Okies’. These were migrant workers who left the dust bowl of Oklahoma when their crops failed. They travelled to California, in search of work and ‘the American Dream’, the hope of a bright new future in the West. The Okies were badly treated, and many of them died on the journey, or starved to death after arriving in California, the ‘land of plenty’. John Steinbeck was deeply affected by their plight. Much of his work deals with the poor treatment of such workers, and the way that society mistreats its poorest people.

7. Title: Of Mice & MenLO: what is the context of our novel? The Great Depression: Task • Make notes on the context, ready for a quiz. • There will be a prize for the most correct answers!

8. Title: Of Mice & MenLO: what is the context of our novel? The Great Depression Quiz • What years are we talking about? • What happened in 1929 that devastated the US stock market? • How many banks went out of business? • How many savings accounts vanished? • How many businesses went bankrupt? • How many people were unemployed? • How many schools were closed? • Admissions to mental hospitals went up by what percent? • How many men became homeless? 2 • Suicides went up by what percent? • What caused the crops to die? • What storms caused havoc? • What did Americans have to start working as? • “It only became official when …”?

9. Themes in ‘Of Mice and Men’The American Dream The American Dream: Everyone has a dream to strive for. The poor ranch hands wish to be their own bosses, and actually have stability in their lives.

10. What is the American Dream? The term was first used by James Truslow Adams in his book The Epic of America which was written in 1931. He states: "The American Dream is "that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement. It is not a dream of motor cars and high wages, but a dream of social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to achieve the fullest stature of which they are capable of, and be recognized by others for what they are, regardless of the circumstances of birth or position."

11. Of Mice and Men Controlled Assessment Preparation Lesson 2

12. Title:What was the American Dream? • Starter: What do you remember about the Great Depression from yesterday? Draw a spider diagram and write notes. The Great Depression

13. Is the American dream possible in the historical context of the novel?

14. Curley’s Wife • Curley’s Wife appears in Section Four (109 onwards) and Section Five (Page 122 onwards). • How does Curley’s Wife relate to dreams? • Does she stop anyone’s Dream? • What is her Dream? • Complete two PEE chains from each section making personal and critical response to how Curley’s Wife is represented in these sections.

15. Themes in ‘Of Mice and Men’ The American Dream …Read ‘the dream’ section TASK: Draw a table and to show the contrast between the reality of their lives their ‘American dream’

16. "'Well,' said George, 'we'll have a big vegetable patch and a rabbit hutch and chickens. And when it rains in the winter, we'll just say the hell with goin' to work, and we'll build up a fire in the stove and set around it an' listen to the rain comin' down on the roof...'"

17. Themes in ‘Of Mice and Men’ The American Dream Their perfect world is one of independence. Workers like Lennie and George have no family, no home, and very little control over their lives. They have to do what the boss tells them and they have little to show for it. They only own what they can carry.

18. George and Lennie have a dream, even before they arrive at their new job on the ranch, to make enough money to live "off the fat of the land" and be their own bosses. Lennie will be permitted, then, to tend the rabbits. …who else has a dream in the novel?

19. Themes in ‘Of Mice and Men’ The American Dream Candy Crooks Crooks

20. ‘To a Mouse’ By Robert Burns Controlled Assessment Preparation Lesson 3

21. Title: What is the significance of the title Of Mice and Men? Starter List as many similarities and differences between men and mice that you can think of.

22. The poem… • Steinbeck was inspired by this poem and used a line from the poem as his title for the novel. ‘To a Mouse’ By Robert Burns • Listen to the poem being read aloud…

23. The mouse needs to build a new house as the winter is coming and he needs a safe place to hibernate. The narrator comments on the fact that the mouse is not the only living creature that has planned something that has later gone wrong. A mouse is scared of the loud, frightful noises he can hear. The narrator is fearful of what the future holds for him. 5. The narrator apologises for the way he has ‘interrupted’ the mouse’s world. 6. The mouse’s next is destroyed and he has no-where to live during the harsh winter months. 7. The narrator understands that a mouse may have to steal some of the crops in a field, but this is only in order to survive and does not really harm anyone. 8. The mouse was clever to forward plan the building of his new nest as the weather is about to change. Match the summary sentences to the stanzas of the poem… Use the standard English translation to help you!

24. In light of the poem, answer these two questions. • In what ways are the mouse and man similar? • How does the idea in this poem link to the idea of the American Dream explained in last lesson?

25. How does Burns show his view that dreams are worthless? TASK: Using lines 38 and 39, write a PEEL chain in response to the above question.

26. In ‘To a mouse’, Robert Burns views dreams as worthless, for example, ‘The best laid plans o’ mice and men gang aft agley’. This shows that it doesn’t matter how carefully the mouse planned/dreamed for his hibernation he could not prevent the hand of fate from ruining it. This emphasises Burns’ view that dreams are a foolish waste of time. How does Burns show his view that dreams are worthless? Uses key words from the question in the Point. Quotation Explains how the poet shows Burns’ view

27. On your own, think about these questions…. • Are dreams important even if they don’t come true? 2. How do dreams improve our lives?

28. Of Mice and Men- Plot Controlled Assessment Preparation Lesson 4

29. Make notes on Crooks and Curley’s Wife as you watch. • How does Steinbeck comment on American society through these characters?(Think about the work we did on context and the American Dream). Draw the table below to complete as you watch. There will be a ‘no hands up’ quiz after the DVD – 3 strikes and you are out. Title:Of Mice and Men – Plot review and recap STARTER: Turn to the opening pages of your resource book and begin filling in the mind maps considering themes. You will need to add to these mind maps as we watch the DVD

30. Plenary Quiz – Ch.1 Plot summary (Section One) Copy and complete the summary by filling in the blanks. Two men called George and __________ make their way down to a clearing beside the __________ River near the town of __________ in __________. They are heading to a nearby __________ to find work. Lennie has a dead __________, which he likes to stroke, in his __________, but George makes him __________ it away. They warm some __________ on a fire for __________ and Lennie asks __________ to tell him about the house and land they are going to__________ one day. mouse town California Lennie throw hide supper George ranch Oklahoma beans pocket own Soledad soup rat live Salinas

31. Plenary Quiz – Ch.2 Plot summary (Section Two) Complete the summary by filling in the blanks. George and Lennie __________ at the __________ where an old __________ shows them their __________. They meet the __________, who __________George about Lennie. The swamper comes back with his __________. They meet the __________ son, whose name is __________. They also __________ a man called __________, whose dog has just had some __________. Curley's new __________ comes in, looking for her husband. boss rooms beds arrive boss’s puppies meet Slim questions girlfriend Curley dog wife swamper puppy stable buck fight ranch

32. Plenary Quiz – Ch.3 Plot summary (Section Three) Complete the summary by filling in the blanks. George and __________ sit in the bunk house. George tells Slim about his __________ with Lennie and explains __________ they had to leave __________. Lennie arrives, __________ the puppy Slim has given him. __________ makes him take it back to the barn. Candy and Carlson come in. __________ tells Candy he ought to shoot his old dog. __________ Candy agrees. Carlson takes the dog away. Slim goes to __________ an injured mule. The rest of the men start talking about __________. Then Curley appears, looking for his wife. __________ of Slim, he rushes out to the barn. Some of the others __________, leaving George and Lennie __________ with Candy. George and Lennie talk about their __________ of the farm, and Candy offers to __________ his savings if they let him join them. The other men return. _________ and Slim are __________. Curley turns on Lennie, who __________ his hand. Slim tells Carlson to get Curley to a __________. Curley agrees to say he caught his hand in a machine. George Curley Weed Slim Carlson Suspicious doctor tend cuddling pool Eventually Soledad shoot grin arguing alone dream Carlson crushes Crooks women why follow friendship

33. Title – Plot Recap! You are going to be shown a series of images. Tell me what each scene still represents in the plot.

34. Of Mice and Men- Plot Controlled Assessment Preparation Lesson 5

35. Title: Themes Recap and Revision • STARTER: Copy the following, matching the correct vocabulary and definition. gingham Wild with fear emphasis Hostile and aggressive frantic Flat and dull monotonous White checked cotton cloth To answer back sharply, angrily or cheekily belligerent retort Stress placed on a word to show importance

36. VOCAB ANSWERS White checked cotton cloth gingham emphasis Stress placed on a word to show importance frantic Wild with fear monotonous Flat and dull belligerent Hostile and aggressive retort To answer back sharply, angrily or cheekily

37. Group Work • The American Dream • Discrimination • Hardship • Loneliness • Friendship • Segregation

38. Key Themes TASK: Using your grids... • List the characters that are linked to your theme • Quote – find a quote which highlights this theme. E.g: The American Dream – George and Lennie • Discuss the theme and its significance within the novel, adding to the notes/ideas column.

39. Themes TASK: Complete the 3 remaining mind maps in your booklet. • Ensure you add as much detail as possible • Use evidence from your notes and the novel • Show me what you know about each theme!

40. Of Mice and Men- Curley’s Wife Controlled Assessment Preparation Lesson 6

41. Title:Curley’s Wife Claire Luce played Curley’s Wife in 1938 STARTER We know more about Steinbeck’s feelings towards Curley’s wife than we do about any other character. He wrote to the first actress to play her and explained his feelings towards the character. Read the letter – how does this change your view of the character?

42. Learning Objectives • What does the reader learn about Curley’s wife’s character? • How does Steinbeck use Curley’s wife’s attitude and behaviour to reveal her character? • How does Curley’s wife link to the themes of loneliness/segregation/dreams?

43. Curley’s Wife – First Appearance. LO: To locate relevant quotes to support our point of view. To consider how Steinbeck first presents Curley’s Wife.

44. STARTER In your groups take a section each. Section 2 = Hardback (53 – 54) Softback (34-36) Section 4 = H (109 – 115) S ( 87 – 92) Section 5 = H (122 – 128) S (97-103) Find One quote for “The Innocent Victim” and one for “Dangerous Jail Bait”. Then share your answers.

45. What’s in a name? Why does Curley’s Wife have no name? Steinbeck provides no name for Curley’s Wife. This helps create the impression of her as someone with no individual existence. It also gives the impressions she is “owned” by Curley and simply a possession, which is how women were viewed in the 1930s.

46. Look back at the first introduction to Curley’s Wife (Chapter 2) and complete the PEEL chain table in your workbook.

47. What does her appearance reveal about her? Why does she look out of place on a working ranch? (incongruous) What George’s feelings about her? Curley’s wife Chapter 2 What does her appearance suggest about how she would like to live Why is she in the bunkhouse? What does her provocative body language show? How does she talk to the men? Use the questions below to complete the PEEL chain table. 1. 7 2 6 3 4 5

48. For example...

49. Of Mice and Men Controlled Assessment Preparation lesson 8 Tone and Curley’s Wife

50. Title: Presentations of Curley’s Wife How does this quote link to the theme of dreams? Copy and complete the following… “Although there was evening brightness showing through the windows of the bunkhouse, inside it was dusk”. This shows that the light tries to get in but never manages to penetrate the darkness. This is important to the themes of the story because …