Welcome back 11Y1a STARTER: TOTAL RECALL Sum up what happened in chapter 5 in six bullet points. Consider characters, plot and themes.

Task 1: Curley’s Wife – Final Description Look closely at the extract and make links with the annotations around the side of it. Complete the task on the sheet. Challenge: Explain the differences between how Curley’s Wife is seen here to how she is seen in the rest of the novella. What is Steinbeck's message? Is he misogynistic?

Curley’s wife: The aftermath Reactions to the Death Explain Candy’s reaction to Curley’s wife once George has left. Do you feel the same way towards her as a reader? Describe the differing reactions of the other characters as they enter the barn. Copy and complete this table to help you. Consider, for example, Curley’s feelings towards his wife at this point.

Candy and the American Dream Let’s look more closely at the reactions of Candy to death of Curley’s Wife. Identify the main things he says and does. Choose two or three things and explain how they tie in with the theme of dreams and Steinbeck’s portrayal of itinerant workers at this time?

Chapter 6 – The End … You all think you know the end but how it ends is somewhat surprising. We will now read the end. As we read, complete your doodle pad.

Of Mice and Men is a tragedy… Why do you think ‘Of Mice and Men’ has been called a tragic story? What could be the cause of all the tragedy? What could happen at the end of the story?

Who are the tragic characters? What is a ‘tragedy’ in literature? How does the tragedy reach a climax? Who are the tragic characters? What is a ‘tragedy’ in literature? Tragedy Triangle!

Chapter 6 is just like chapter 1 … We revisit the pool where we first met George and Lennie in Chapter 1. This gives us a sense of having come full circle. It is late afternoon, as at the start of the book. Day is drawing to a close which heralds the end of the novel and foreshadows a further tragic death still to come. A water snake, perhaps the same one mentioned in the opening chapter, swims in the pool –but this time it is stabbed by a heron. If this is a symbolic Garden of Eden, it has now been visited by death. Whereas in Chapter 1 both George and Lennie arrived on the scene this time it is only Lennie that enters. In contrast with how he has been presented so far, ‘he came silently as a creeping beer moves’ showing that he can be stealthy (secretive). After killing Curley’s wife, Lennie arrives at the pool, remember that this is where he is supposed to meet George if anything goes wrong. In his confusion and distress Lennie talks to imaginary characters (first Aunt Clara and then a giant rabbit) who are reprimanding him for what he has done.

Why do you think Steinbeck chose to include Lennie’s hallucinations? p.99 When he says “I di’n’t forget, you bet, God damn. Hide in the brush an’ wait for George.” what is he doing? (Hint - does he mention Curley’s wife at all? What is his main concern? p.99 Then he says “George gonna give me hell.” How does his emotion switch here and what to? p.99 Then a figure of Aunt Clara appears; a split – off fragment of Lennie’s mind (the part that feels guilty) –is her focus on how wrong it was to kill Curley’s wife? Why? What is she focusing on? P.100 The hallucinatory image of the gigantic rabbit also reprimands Lennie. Its threats of the punishments that George will inflict on him and its taunting, coupled with Lennie’s attempts to argue with it – at first ‘belligerent’ (hostile, aggressive) and then frantic, show what? It is just at this point when Lennie seems on the verge of complete madness that George appears, as if summoned by Lennie’s desperate cries. Key words to help you: Confused Angry Reassuring George Distressed Lennie’s hallucinations are interesting from a psychological point of view - this is the first time that Steinbeck gives us a real insight into the workings of Lennie’s mind. He is reassuring himself that he has at least remembered to come to this place, as George told him to He is thinking how angry George will be She isn’t focusing on how wrong it was to kill Curley’s wife but how badly he has let George down How confused and distressed Lennie is becoming

Looking at language - zooming in Let’s focus on this extract from page 100 And Lennie answered her, “I tried, Aunt Clara, ma’am. I tried and tried. I couldn’ help it.” “You never give a thought to George,” she went on in Lennie’s voice. “He been doin’ nice things for you alla time. When he got a piece of pie you always got half or more’n half. An’ if they was any ketchup, why he’d give it all to you.” “I know,” said Lennie miserably. “I tried, Aunt Clara, ma’am. I tried and tried.”

How do the details in this passage add to your understanding of Lennie? And Lennie answered her, “I tried, Aunt Clara, ma’am. I tried and tried. I couldn’ help it.” “You never give a thought to George,” she went on in Lennie’s voice. “He been doin’ nice things for you alla time. When he got a piece of pie you always got half or more’n half. An’ if they was any ketchup, why he’d give it all to you.” “I know,” said Lennie miserably. “I tried, Aunt Clara, ma’am. I tried and tried.” Annotate the extract trying to identify at least three techniques and their effect

Repetition of pronouns ‘he’ and ‘you’ imply that George has supported Lennie. Lennie seems fully aware of this which adds to his guilt when he realises how much he has let George down repetition of the verb ‘tried’ in past tense. Perhaps on a subconscious level, Lennie knows it’s too late? And Lennie answered her, “I tried, Aunt Clara, ma’am. I tried and tried. I couldn’ help it.” “You never give a thought to George,” she went on in Lennie’s voice. “He been doin’ nice things for you alla time. When he got a piece of pie you always got half or more’n half. An’ if they was any ketchup, why he’d give it all to you.” “I know,” said Lennie miserably. “I tried, Aunt Clara, ma’am. I tried and tried.” The reprimands that he repeats through Aunt Clara suggests that he has learnt them off by heart as well as the dream of living of the fat of the land Short declaration. Suggests that Lennie is aware enough of his actions to have a conscience that is embodied in the image of Aunt Clara Adverb highlights Lennie’s remorse and guilt, not at killing Curley’s wife but of disappointing George

Part a: How do the details in this passage add to your understanding of Lennie? Remember: Steinbeck’s intentions What has just happened and is about to happen Try to make perceptive comments Point Evidence Technique Explanation Reader Response 15 minutes of writing End

Context How does Steinbeck use Lennie’s experience to convey ideas about America in the 1930s? Bullet point at least 2 points about context linking to this question Extension - Try to find another extract you can link this extract to 1. American Dream 2. Euthanasia - how society treats the old, the weak and the vulnerable (The death of Candy’s dog foreshadows the death of Lennie and raises questions about how society treats the old, the weak and the vulnerable. This theme provides opportunities for debates on the morality of mercy killing. Is it right to destroy the dog? Surely no one has the right to take human life; therefore is George wrong to kill Lennie?) 3. Robert Burns’ poem – ‘the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry’ 1. American Dream 2. Euthanasia -how society treats the old, the weak and the vulnerable (The death of Candy’s dog foreshadows the death of Lennie and raises questions about how society treats the old, the weak and the vulnerable. This theme provides opportunities for debates on the morality of mercy killing. Is it right to destroy the dog? Surely no one has the right to take human life; therefore is George wrong to kill Lennie?) 3. Robert Burns’ poem – ‘the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry’ 14

Euthanasia - mercy killing (assisted suicide) How does this link to Of Mice and Men? 15

Euthanasia - mercy killing (assisted suicide) How does this link to Of Mice and Men? Of Mice and Men explores how society treats the old, the weak and the vulnerable. The death of Candy’s dog foreshadows the death of Lennie and raises questions about how society treats the old, the weak and the vulnerable. This theme provides opportunities for debates on the morality of mercy killing. Is it right to destroy the dog? Surely no one has the right to take human life; therefore is George wrong to kill Lennie? 16

Homework Due - Wednesday How does Steinbeck use Lennie’s experience to convey ideas about America in the 1930s? Write one paragraph answering this question focusing on one point of context and linking to another extract Time yourself - 20 minutes of writing max 17