Aim: Who are George and Lennie in John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men?

Reading Comprehension 1. Which animal comes out to sit on the sand in the evening? a. rabbits b. deer c. lizards d. dogs 2. Which literary element is employed in the first paragraph? a. personification c. metaphor b. imagery d. conflict 3. Based on the description given in the first paragraph, the animals a. try to avoid each other b. are desperate for water c. come out at night d. have been hurt by the winter’s flooding 4. The line, “The shade climbed up the hills toward the top,” is an example of 5. The paragraph beginning with, “They had walked…” serves largely to provide a. characterization c. conflict b. setting d. theme 6. George seems to be a. the one in control b. looking out for Lennie c. smarter than Lennie d. all of the above 7. The line, “They run us outta Weed,” tells the reader a. Lennie did a bad thing in Weed b. Lennie found the dead mouse in Weed c. George and Lennie first met in Weed d. all of the above 8. How does Lennie kill the mice? a. He doesn’t pay enough attention to them b. He doesn’t; he always find them dead c. He squeezes them too hard

Novella : longer than a short story and shorter than a novel Setting : Salinas Valley, California Characters : George & Lennie Point of view : ? The Basics

Deeper Understanding Irony: Friendship Irony: Lennie is physically a giant but emotionally & mentally a little child Theme: What theme is set up in the first section of the novella?

Aim: How do we practice our reading comprehension with Of Mice and Men?

1. How can the bunk house be best described?

a. warm and cozy b. hinting of a woman’s touch c a. warm and cozy b. hinting of a woman’s touch c. fulfilling basic needs d. cold and bare

2. What does George find that makes him so upset?

a. a red splotch on an egg b. a yellow can of roach spray c a. a red splotch on an egg b. a yellow can of roach spray c. a spot on his boil potato d. a burlap sack of straw that was a mattress

3. What does the boss mean when he asks George, “Say – what you sellin’?”

a. he believes George is trying to sell Lennie b a. he believes George is trying to sell Lennie b. he believes George may be trying to take advantage of Lennie c. he believes George is selling off Lennie’s pay d. all of the above

Aim: How do Curley and his wife pose a threat to George and Lennie? Do Now: Complete the following sentence: George and Lennie are…

Curley Slim Compare and Contrast “There was a gravity in his manner…” “He looked kindly at the two in the bunk house.” “His authority was so great that his word was taken on any subject…” “Never did seem right to me.” “He glanced coldly at George and then at Lennie.” A foil is another character in a story who contrasts with the main character, usually to highlight one of their attributes How do these two charactersserve as foils for George and Lennie?

How would you characterize the secondary characters in Of Mice and Men? George & Lennie Candy Curley Curley’s Wife Slim Old Man… Respected… Pugnacious… Flirtacious…

Do Now: Complete the following sentence: Curley is… Aim: How can we characterize the secondary characters in Of Mice and Men? Do Now: Complete the following sentence: Curley is…

Subject-verb agreement Vocabulary & Grammar Pugnacious Belligerent Solitude Timid Glance Authority Manner Contemplate Anguish Emerge Commas Subject-verb agreement Tense

Literary Elements Characterization Plot Conflict Theme Setting Point of View

Literary Techniques Irony Personification Foreshadow Imagery

Aim: How is Candy’s dog an extension of himself? Do Now: How is each character disabled in some way? George, Lennie, Candy, Curley

Which conflict is being depicted here? Candy’s dog “This ol’dog jus’ suffers hisself all the time. If you was to take him out and shoot him right in the bak of the head – right there, why he’d never know what hit him.” What statement is being made about those who are seen as old and useless? Carlson “I been around him so much I never notice how he stinks.” Candy “I had him so long. Had him since he was a pup. I herded sheep with him. You wouldn’t think it to look at him now, but he was the best damn sheep dog I ever seen.” Which conflict is being depicted here?

Why did Candy allow his dog to be put down? Did Carlson do the humane thing by putting down Candy’s dog? Should Candy have let his dog live out his years? Should the weaker members of society be cast away? What should be done with them? What should happen to Candy once he can no longer work?

Aim: How does Candy join George and Lennie’s dream for the future and how is that dream immediately threatened? Do Now:

“We could live offa the fatta the lan’.” How could Candy help George and Lennie achieve their dream? What could it also offer Candy?

What role does Slim play in the fight? How does Curley’s fight with Lennie threaten the future of George, Lennie and Candy? “The next minute Curley was flopping like a fish on a line, and his closed fist was lost in Lennie’s big hand.” What role does Slim play in the fight?

Aim: How is the theme of loneliness and isolation explored in Of Mice and Men? Do Now: Read p. 66-68 Who is Crooks? How is he characterized? Please provide your response in your best, complete sentences.

How does Crooks compare to Lennie and Candy?

Define each character’s weakness and strength. Strong Curley Carlson George Slim Lennie Candy Crooks Define each character’s weakness and strength.

Aim: How do we use Of Mice and Men for a Critical Lens essay?

Critical Lens Study Guide – Of Mice and Men Title & Genre Author/Playwright Characters Setting & Major Events Literary Elements Of Mice and Men Novella John Steinbeck Author George Lennie Slim Curley Curley’s Wife Candy Crooks Carlson Salinas, California Foreshadow Theme Characterization Irony

Critical Lens “No two persons regard the world in exactly the same way.” - J.W. Van Goethe “Loyalty to a person or cause may be an admirable trait, but it could also bring about difficult choices.” - Anonymous “It is our choices…that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.” - J. K. Rowling

Provide Quote Interpret Quote Agree or Disagree Titles of 2 Works Thesis Statement

Thesis Statement For your thesis statement, try to mention the characters you’ll be discussing from each work. In addition, mention the literary elements that you will be discussing as well. Ex: Using characterization and theme, both works depict pairs, George and Lennie and Amir and Hassan, who did not perceive their worlds in the same way. Ex: Using characterization and conflict, the works, The Glass Menagerie and Of Mice and Men, demonstrate that no two people have the same perspective concerning the world.

Introduction Paragraph – Period 2 Provide Quote “Loyalty to a person or cause may be an admirable trait, but it could also bring about difficult choices.” This quote means that loyalty is a great trait to have, but sometimes that loyalty puts us in difficult positions where we are forced to make unimaginable choices. This quote is valid and seen through the works, the novella, Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, and the novel, Lord of the Flies by William Golding. Using characterization and theme, both works depict the characters George and Ralph as having the trait of loyalty put them in difficult positions with unimaginable choices. Provide Interpretation Agree & Title of Works Thesis Statement

Introduction Paragraph – Period 3 Provide Quote “Loyalty to a person or cause may be an admirable trait, but it could also bring about difficult choices.” This quote means that loyalty is usually considered a great value and characteristic, but it can put someone in a difficult position, which may present unimaginable choices. This quote is valid and seen through the works, the novella, Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, and the novel, The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. Using characterization and conflict, both works depict George and Ponyboy who are loyal characters put in difficult positions and faced with unimaginable choices. Provide Interpretation Agree & Title of Works Thesis Statement

Body Paragraph Topic Sentence Provide Example Explain Example Connect to Quote

Body Paragraph Topic Sentence Provide Example Explain Example Introduce and provide a short (1-2 sentence) summary of Work 1 Topic Sentence Provide and mention the moment from Work 1 that agrees with the quote. Provide Example Explain the moment/example to the fullest – provide all the necessary details. Explain Example Specifically explain how your example helps to prove the quote. Connect to Quote