1. How do these images make you feel?
LO: Can I explore the ways American society is presented in the opening of ‘Of Mice and Men’?
How do these images make you feel?

2. Read the first passage of the novel.
LO: Can I explore the ways American society is presented in the opening of ‘Of Mice and Men’?
A few miles south of Soledad, the Salinas River drops in close to the hillside bank and runs deep green. The water is warm too, for it has slipped twinkling over the yellow sands in the sunlight before reaching the narrow pool. On one side of the river the golden foothills slopes curve up to the strong and rocky Gabilan mountains, but on the valley side the water is lined with trees – willows fresh and green with every spring, carrying in their lower leaf junctures the debris of the winter’s flooding; and sycamores with mottled, white recumbent limbs and branches that arch over the pool. On the sandy bank under the trees the leaves lie deep and so crisp that a lizard makes a great skittering if he runs among them. Rabbits come out of the brush t sit on the sand in the evening, and the damp flats are covered with the night tracks of ‘coons, and with the split-wedge tracks of deer that come to drink in the dark.
Read the first passage of the novel.
What impression do you get of the place being described?

3. “the debris of the winter’s flooding”
LO: Can I explore the ways American society is presented in the opening of ‘Of Mice and Men’?
Why does Steinbeck describe the nature and surroundings in so much detail?
“the debris of the winter’s flooding”
“debris” suggests winter is over so it is clearly spring time – spring represents new beginnings. How does this relate to ideas about America?
“the golden foothills slopes curve up to the strong and rocky”
What do the adjectives “strong” and “golden” suggest to you, the reader? How might they represent American society?

4. Steinbeck opens the novel… The use of the adjectives “strong”/ “golden” suggests to the reader that… Steinbeck has described the Soledad valley in this way because… (explain effect on reader – you)

5. LO: Can I explore the ways American society is presented in the opening of ‘Of Mice and Men’?

6. Point, Evidence, Analysis and Link to question.
LO: Can I explore the ways American society is presented in the opening of ‘Of Mice and Men’?
Steinbeck opens the novel with an idyllic description of the Salinas valley: “golden foothill slopes curve up to the strong and rocky Gabilan mountains”. The use of the adjectives “ golden” and “strong” depict the landscape as beautiful and majestic to the reader. Steinbeck’s description of the land could be seen as a metaphor for America as a country; the land is “strong” and thus can look after it’s citizens and the adjective “golden” may imply wealth and opportunity. Alternatively, “strong” can also imply that the land is tough and relentless, not giving the citizens what they need. The idyllic setting sets a positive and hopeful mood much like that of the people’s upon their first arrival in America.
Print out paragraphs
Read the example paragraph.
In pairs identify the:
Point, Evidence, Analysis and Link to question.

7. LO: Can I explore the ways American society is presented in the opening of ‘Of Mice and Men’?
Steinbeck opens the novel with an idyllic description of the Salinas valley: “golden foothill slopes curve up to the strong and rocky Gabilan mountains”. The use of the adjectives “golden” and “strong” depict the landscape as beautiful and majestic to the reader. Steinbeck’s description of the land could be seen as a metaphor for America as a country; the land is “strong” and thus can look after it’s citizens and the adjective “golden” may imply wealth and opportunity. Alternatively, “strong” can also imply that the land is tough and relentless, not giving the citizens what they need. The idyllic setting sets a positive and hopeful mood much like that of the people’s upon their first arrival in America.
Print out paragraphs
The dark blue shows you what parts are evidence and analysis. The pruple ia an A* skill. How could this paragraph be improved? .

8. Consider two interpretations of your chosen quote.
LO: Can I explore the ways American society is presented in the opening of ‘Of Mice and Men’?
Choose a quote from the opening passage in pairs.
You need to pick out words or language devices like the examples.
Remember to consider why Steinbeck has done this?
A-A* Challenge:
Consider two interpretations of your chosen quote.
If you are stuck choose one of these quotes:
“a path beaten hard by boys…and beaten hard by tramps”
“the limb is worn smooth by the men who have sat on it”
“an ash pile made by many fires”

9. LO: Can I explore the ways American society is presented in the opening of ‘Of Mice and Men’?
Point: In the opening chapter Steinbeck creates an idyllic setting… Evidence: Steinbeck describes the “[insert quote]” Analysis: The use of “[pick a word or language technique]” suggests that… Link to question: Steinbeck describes the scene in this way to suggests that America is a land of hope and promise. The reader feels…
Challenge: Can you give two different interpretations for one quote? An alternative interpretation is needed for A-A*
Use these sentence starters and your quote from earlier to write your own paragraph.

10. Swap paragraphs with your partner. Identify the: Point Evidence
LO: Can I explore the ways American society is presented in the opening of ‘Of Mice and Men’?
Success Criteria:
There is a strong/definite point being made.
A quote has been used.
Words or language techniques have been picked out of the quote.
There is a link to Steinbeck’s message about America.
Challenge: An alternative interpretation has been offered.
Swap paragraphs with your partner.
Identify the:
Point
Evidence
Analysis
Link to question Look at the success criteria – WWW and EBI.