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Of Mice and MenBy John Steinbeck

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“Of Mice and Men” Year 9 Year 9

Grabbing the reader: Language, Structure and FormLet’s explore the techniques Steinbeck uses in the novella’s opening pages and to assess their effectiveness.Examine the techniques that Steinbeck uses to grab our attention as readers by completing the table below.

Techniques used by Steinbeck Evidence from the text

Includes description of real places

Describes an interesting, unusual setting

Written in the present tense

Uses vivid, descriptive language

Describes interesting characters that you want to find out more about

Describes the actions of the characters

Describes the personality of the characters

Uses dialogue to portray character

Portrays interesting character relationships

Describes moments of drama and tension

Gives clues about events that have happened before the novel’s opening

Drops hints about might what happen in the future

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“Of Mice and Men” Year 9 Year 9

Chapter 1 Questions

1. Describe where the story begins.

2. Briefly describe Lennie and George.

3. How does the author show that Lennie is dependent on George?

4. What do the incidents with girl’s dress in Weed and the dead mouse in Lennie’s pocket suggest?

5. George has an ambivalent attitude towards Lennie. Why does he stay with him?

6. In what way do George and Lennie feel they are different from other men?

7. What do we learn about the dreams of the two men?

8. Why is the Dream so important to them?

Chapter 2 Questions

1. What information do we learn from Candy about Crooks?

2. The boss says about Lennie “He ain’t much of a talker, is he?” What does the conversation between George and the boss foreshadow?

3. Find three quotes that the author uses when describing Candy’s dog. What clue are we given about their relationship?

4. Candy says “A guy on a ranch don’t never listen nor he don’t ast no questions.” What does this comment tell us about ranch workers?

5. Find and copy three phrases/words used by the author to describe Curley’s personality. What do you think of Curley?

6. How did George react to Curley? Why do you think he behaved this way?

7. What extra information does Candy tell George about Curley’s wife? What might this foreshadow?

8. Find an example of a simile and comment on its effectiveness.

9. What plan does George make to keep Lennie safe?

10. Why does Lennie say “It’s mean here.” What does this suggest about what might follow?

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“Of Mice and Men” Year 9 Year 9

11. Steinbeck calls Slim the “prince of the ranch.” What does this suggest about Slim? Find a quote to support your view.

12. What does Carlson want Candy to do and why?

13. Why is Lennie excited and why is the reader wary?

14. “Curley seemed to really see George for the first time.” What does Steinbeck mean by this?

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“Of Mice and Men” Year 9

Chapter 2 Curley’s wife and her first appearance

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CURLEY’S WIFE

5. George’s feelings

about her and

warnings to Lennie

after she leaves and

4. Why is she here in the men’s

bunkhouse? Look carefully! Clues:

what she claims/what Slim tells

her/how she leaves.

2. Details of her

appearance/make

up/hair/choice of

clothes/shoes.

2a. Why is she incongruous on a

3a. Her provocative body

language with George

and Lennie?

1. Candy’s opinion of her shared

with George before she

enters. Is Steinbeck

preparing and/or prejudicing

the reader?

“Of Mice and Men” Year 9

Complete the grid with five (or more, if necessary for numbers 2 and 3) P.Q.C.s, each one based on the prompts and ideas from the spider diagram. 3a. has been done for you as an example. Notice how it can be done succinctly and fluently in one sentence.

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POINT QUOTATION COMMENT1. “Well – she got the eye.”

2a. She was dressed up and with makeup carefully applied

2b. The ranch workers are all men and many undertake very physical, hard labour

3a. Her body language is deliberately provocative when she leans

3b.

“so that her body was thrown forward…”

“Nobody can’t blame a person for looking…”

This suggestive posture reveals her need to be noticed and admired by the men.

4. She claims she was looking for Curley.

5. She foreshadows trouble for Lennie as he thinks she is pretty and does not understand she could be dangerous, like his reaction to the girl in Weed.

“Of Mice and Men” Year 9

Chapter 3 Questions

1. What did Slim do for Lennie?

2. List the two positive comments made by both George and Slim regarding Lennie.

3. What opposite descriptions does Slim give of George and Lennie?

4. What do we learn of George and Lennie’s past?

5. What observations does George make about ranch workers?

6. What happened in Weed? What link can you make between the red dress and a character in Chapter 2? What might this foreshadow?

7. What course of action does Carlson propose to Candy? How does he justify it?

8. How does George’s telling of “the dream” differ from previous tellings?

9. How does Candy become involved in the dream?

10. Why does Candy feel guilty?

11. How does the disagreement begin between Curley and Slim? How does Candy become involved? Why does Curley turn on Lennie?

12. There is a lot of physical action during the disagreement. Copy three descriptions used by Steinbeck to describe movement/emotion.

13. What does Lennie do to Curley? Copy the simile that describes this. How does Lennie feel about what has happened?

14. George both supports and opposes Lennie’s behaviour. Why?

15. What does Slim suggest to Curley as a cover up for what Lennie has done? Why does he suggest this?

ACTIVITY: Draw the vision of the dream farm. (A4, landscape, colour, labels) Make a list of all the things on the farm before you begin. Give your drawing the title “Live offa the fatta the lan.”

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“Of Mice and Men” Year 9

Chapter 3 The Creation of Tension

Tension in writing is created in a number of ways. In the scene concerning the killing of Candy’s dog, Steinbeck uses the following techniques to create a tense atmosphere.

1. The repetition of the word “silent” The use of the words silent/silence in the same section emphasises the tense atmosphere, the sense of waiting which is felt by the men in the room. The repetition of similar sentences reinforces this effect. Find and copy the seven sentences that mention silence.

2. Find an example of personification of the silence. Why is this such an effective technique?

3. Candy’s reactions are described carefully so that we know how he feels and are aware of the tension he feels as he waits for the gunshot. Find and copy out two quotes that are examples of how he felt.

4. We are also told how the others react to the situation. Find two quotes as supporting evidence.

Chapter 4 Questions

1. Steinbeck uses the description of Crooks’ harness room to reflect the character of Crooks. List three objects in the room and say what each one tells us about Crooks. e.g. a long bunk filled with straw = a bed fit for animals and shows the low status of African Americans at this time

2. Why is Crooks so unfriendly to Lennie? Why do you think his attitude changes?

3. What does Steinbeck mean when he writes “Crooks saw the danger as it approached him”?

4. What is Crooks’ biggest regret in life?

5. Through the character of Crooks, Steinbeck says many things about the nature of dreams. Find two quotes to illustrate his views.

6. How does Crooks suggest that he might be involved in George and Lennie’s dream of a farm?

7. Is Curley’s wife happy? Explain.

Chapter 5 Questions

1. Looking back, how have previous events built up to the episode of Lennie and the pup? What two emotions does Lennie experience?

2. What do we find out about Curley’s wife? What does Steinbeck want us to feel about her?

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“Of Mice and Men” Year 9

3. What language contributes to the atmosphere in this chapter? Choose three examples and explain their effect.

4. Read the final description of Curley’s wife. How does this contrast with previous descriptions? (use quotes)

5. What does George mean when he says “I should of knew…I guess maybe way back in my head I did.”

6. Study the conversation between Candy and George on page 93. What are their concerns and why do they decide to help Lennie get away?

7. Describe Candy’s reaction to Curley’s wife once George has left. How do you feel about her?

8. Describe the reactions of the following characters as they enter the barn: Slim, Curley, Carlson.

Chapter 6 Questions

1. Why does Steinbeck decide to end the novel at the same place it begins? Find three images that are repeated.

2. Steinbeck describes how a heron kills a water snake. What is the significance of this image (what does it represent?) and what does it foreshadow?

3. What do Lennie’s conversations with Aunt Clara and the rabbit reveal about Lennie’s state of mind? Hint: Think about what the rabbit represents in the beginning, and throughout the novella.

4. Why does George tell Lennie about the farm? How does this conclude the theme of dreams?

5. What is Slim’s reaction to what George has done? How is this consistent with his character throughout? Link this to the shooting of Candy’s dog.

6. Was George’s decision an act of love or selfishness?

7. What is the overall message of the book?

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“Of Mice and Men” Year 9

Quotes from Chapter 6 Analysis

‘All the time he coulda had such a good time if it wasn’t for you…But he had to take care of you’.

‘Ill find a cave an’ I’ll live there so I won’t be no more trouble to George.’

‘You’re always saying that, an’ you know sonofabitching well you ain’t never gonna do it.’

‘He’s sick of you,’ said the rabbit. ‘He’s gonna beat hell outta you an’ then go away an’ leave you.’

‘I done another bad thing.’

‘It don’t make no difference,’ George said.

‘He said woodenly, ‘If I was alone I could live so easy.’ His voice was monotonous.’

‘An’ I got you. We got each other, that’s what, that gives a hoot in hell about us.’

‘You…an’ me. Ever’body gonna be nice to you. Ain’t gonna be no more trouble.

‘No, Lennie. I ain’t mad. I never been mad, an’ I ain’t now. That’s a thing I want ya to know.’

‘You hadda, George I swear you hadda.’

‘Now what the hell ya suppose is eatin’ them two guys?’

Analyse each of the following quotes. What do they tell the reader?

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“Of Mice and Men” Year 9

Chapter Summaries “Of Mice and Men” is a circular novella – that is, it begins and ends in the

same place and symbolises that life will never change for these characters.

Complete the following as brief chapter summaries.

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Circular Novella

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

“Of Mice and Men” Year 9

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“Of Mice and Men” Year 9

Character Chart

CHARACTER PHYSICAL APPEARANCE PERSONALITY and BEHAVIOURGeorge Milton

Lennie Small

Slim

Candy

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“Of Mice and Men” Year 9

Crooks

Carlson

Curley

Curley’s wife

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“Of Mice and Men” Year 9

Character Tree

Your task is to mind map the following characters from the ranch:

George Lennie Curley Curley’s wife Crooks Candy

Draw a large tree at the centre of your page.

Add 6 branches – one for each character.

Write each character’s name on the inside of the branch.

From each branch, add 3 signs/symbols to represent the character.

Link them to a theme in the novel. Write the theme above the branch.

Then add a quote to represent the character.

e.g. Lennie

Mouse (likes touching soft things) Rabbit (a big part of his and George’s dream) Weights (for strength) Theme: Friendship “…live of the fatta the lan’”

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“Of Mice and Men” Year 9

The Ending

Read from: 'George came quietly out of the brush …’ to the end of the novel.

The pool by the river is the place where Lennie and George’s story begins and ends. It is a safe sanctuary and a place free from the prejudices of the rest of the world where Lennie and George can be themselves. This is where the story was born and also where the dream farm and Lennie meet their end. Although the first chapter and the last chapter share the same setting, there are some obvious differences between the two chapters.

Fill out the Venn diagram below to illustrate these differences and similarities.

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Chapter 6Chapter 1

“Of Mice and Men” Year 9

Symbolism

Identify what each of the following characters/places/animals symbolise by connecting the matching pairs.

1. Lennie “The everyman" –found everywhere and whose feelings and actions are neither exceptional nor terrible.

2. Curley’s wife Loneliness

3. Curley Hero, king, or leader - represents those few who, in their wisdom and strength, seem larger than life

4. Crooks American ideal/ideal life

5. Candy and his dog Predatory nature of the world

6. George George wanting to be alone

7. Slim Garden of Eden

8. The pool by the river "small" people who may feel inferior and overcompensate by inflating or flaunting their power

9. Dream farm Source of comfort for Lennie

10. Rabbits Danger

11. Mice Wise fool – someone mentally inferior but who can reveal the best and worst of others

12. Snake and heron Symbol of Lennie’s dream

13. Horses and their rattling halter chains Freedom for George

14. Solitaire Harshness of society

15. Barn Eve - the female character who, in the Biblical story, brings sin and death to the world,She is also symbolic of women everywhere who are repressed by male-centered societies.

16. Bullet Racial inequality

17. Gun Shelter, warmth and safety

18. Crooks’ room What happens to people when they are deemed to not be useful anymore

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“Of Mice and Men” Year 9

Theme Mind Map

Your task is to mind map the themes from the novel:

Friendship Inequality (racism, power, old age) Violence Loneliness Dreams

At the centre of your page, place a picture of the American flag.

Add 5 lines radiating out from the flag– one for each theme.

Write each theme on the line.

Link the following characters to the above themes by listing their names under the theme line. They may be linked to more than one theme.

Lennie George Curley Curley’s wife Candy Crooks

Then add an example of how the character is linked to them theme/s you have chosen.

e.g. Loneliness

George playing solitaire and saying he “could live alone so easy” Soledad the setting of the novel. Soledad means lonely place in Spanish. The loneliness of the ranch workers and their lives because they are always travelling, looking for a

job. This links to the Great Depression. Candy….. Curley’s wife….

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“Of Mice and Men” Year 9

Consider the Title

Read the following extract from the poem ‘To a Mouse’ by the 18th century Scottish poet, Robert Burns:

The best laid schemes o' mice an' menGang aft a-gley, An' lea'e us nought but grief an' pain, For promised joy!

Translation:

The best laid schemes of mice and menOften go wrong And leave us nothing but grief and pain, Instead of promised joy!

The poem is about a mouse which carefully builds a winter nest in a wheat field, only for it to be destroyed by a ploughman. The mouse had dreamed of a safe, warm winter and is now faced with the harsh reality of cold, loneliness and possible death.

There is a parallel with George and Lennie's dream of a farm of their own and its destruction at the end of the story. Perhaps this also suggests how unpredictable our lives are and how vulnerable we are to tragedy.

QUESTION:

Do you think John Steinbeck’s choice of the title ‘Of Mice and Men’ is effective? Explain why in a detailed paragraph.

Consider:

The context of title gives a clue about pessimism – relate to the tragedy of the dream The struggle for survival is the subject of poem – vulnerability of the innocent who are helpless

against stronger force – relate to the novel Lennie and the dead mouse – foreshadowing of events to come

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“Of Mice and Men” Year 9

Boulevard of Broken Dreams

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Here is a painting called Nighthawks by Edward Hopper.

Study the image below called Boulevard of Broken Dreams (watercolour, 1984) by Gottfried Helnwein. Gottfried Helnwein‘s painting replaces the three customers with American pop culture icons Humphrey Bogart, Marilyn Monroe and James Dean, and the attendant with Elvis Presley.

Helnwein connected the bleak mood of the original painting with 1950s American cinema and with the tragic fate of the decade's best-loved celebrities.

You are to create your own “Boulevard of Broken Dreams”.

The setting can be your choice but it needs to evoke feelings of sadness, isolation, loneliness.You need to include 6 people in your setting: 3 must be from the novel Of Mice and Men and 3 from real life.All 6 people need to have had their dreams “broken” in some way.

Once you have produced your visual (A4, can be computer generated, colourful, labelled), you then need to compose a written piece that explains your choices.

Word count: one A4 page