1. Of Mice and Men
John Steinbeck

2. Key dates Discovered in 1492 by Christopher Columbus
First settlers in 1513
first towns and cities built
New York ‘built’
1770 – population of 2.6million
1860 – civil war ends slavery
1900’s – ‘boom’ years
1930’s – the depression
1940/50s – industry deveops
1960’s – World super power

4. H/W for next lesson (Tuesday 17/5)
Research ‘The Depression’
Create a general fact sheet on this topic and era of U.S. history (1920’s/1930’s.)

5. Page 18 to 19
Using at least 3 quotes from the text, describe the setting at the opening of the novel.

6. First looks…what might they suggest?
The first man
(George)

7. The second man
(Lennie)

9. Quote Hunt + ‘this shows’….
3 Quotes about George:
“Lennie for God’ sakes don’t drink so much.” This shows George is the one in charge.
3 Quotes about Lennie:

15. The Dream…
Using a variety of quotes from the text, explaining what they show about the character, in a paragraph explain:
What is George’s dream?
What is Lennie’s Dream?

16. Character Analysis
Explore the presentation of Lennie at the start of the novel. Use full sentences, a variety of quotes and explain what the quotes show (C).
If you can, refer to specific language (words) that has been used to present Lennie (B).
Have any similes or metaphors been used?
Based on the opening, can you guess what will happen later in the novel? (A).

17. Does George like Lennie?
Quick final question…
Using quotes…
Does George like Lennie?

18. On Post Its… Based on the events in the opening, I think…..
I think this because it says “…….”.

19. H/W for Wednesday 8/6
Complete worksheet.
Complete writing task.

22. Using the worksheet, complete the following task:
Explore the ways Steinbeck presents the setting in the opening of Of Mice and Men.

23. Chapter 1: Answer the following questions using quotations where you feel necessary:
Where is the story set?
Film versions of the novel have focused on the beauty of the landscape; describe the environment that provides the setting for the start of the novel (pages 3-5 and 12-13)
Who are the main characters?
What do they look like?
What do they do?
What do we know about them?
Why is George angry with the bus driver? (page 6)
What is in Lennie’s pocket? (pages 7, 10 and 11)
How does George react?
What does this tell us about Lennie and his relationship with George?
Where are they going and what are they going to do?
Why are they on the move? (page 9)
Why is George complaining? (page 13)
What is their dream? (pages 16 and 17)

24. Chapter Two - Synopsis George and Lennie arrive at the ranch.
They move into the ‘bunkhouse’ where they meet a number of other characters.

28. Setting in Chapter 2
Steinbeck uses his settings to reinforce his themes, particularly the theme of loneliness.
Reread the opening description of the bunkhouse in chapter 2 of the novel up to “The wooden latch raised.”
Read each of the following quotations and write what it suggests to you about the men’s living conditions and lifestyle.
A few words have been highlighted in bold, so think carefully about what is suggested by them.

29. Assessment Criteria What do these quotes show? (C+)
What themes or ideas are suggested by the language? (B+)
Why is this description at the start of the chapter? (A)

30. “The bunkhouse was a long, rectangular building.”

31. “Inside the walls were whitewashed and the floor unpainted.”

32. “Over each bunk there was nailed an apple box with the opening forward so that it made two shelves for the personal belongings of the occupant of the bunk.”

33. “And these shelves were loaded with little articles, soap and talcum powder, razors…and those Western magazines ranch men love to read and scoff at and secretly believe.”

34. “In the middle of the room stood a big, square table littered with playing cards”

35. Explore the ways Steinbeck presents the bunkhouse.
Use Quotes (C)
Analyse Language (B)
As this is early in the text, what does this suggest about ‘the future’ of plot? (A)

36. Explore the ways Steinbeck presents ‘Insert name here’
Use quotes and say what they show. (C)
Analyse any specific words (language). (B)
If this is how they are presented at the start what do you think might happen? (A)

39. Page
Curley

42. Page
Curley’s Wife

43. Explore the ways Steinbeck presents ‘Insert name here’
Use quotes and say what they show. (C)
Analyse any specific words (language). (B)
If this is how they are presented at the start what do you think might happen? (A)

44. The perfect A grade paragraph…
Curley is an aggressive character, “Curley lashed his body around”. This shows how Curley spins around angrily to shout at George. The word ‘lashed’ suggests he is quick and angry.
The way Steinbeck introduces Curley as an aggressive character at such an early stage of the novel suggests to the reader he will be a trouble maker.

45. The perfect A grade paragraph…
Curley is an aggressive character, “Curley lashed his body around”. This shows how Curley spins around angrily to shout at George. (C)
The word ‘lashed’ suggests he is quick and angry. (B)
The way Steinbeck introduces Curley as an aggressive character at such an early stage of the novel suggests to the reader he will be a trouble maker. (A)

46. Your A grade paragraph…
X is a very W character, “QUOTE”.
The word Y suggests Z.
The way Steinbeck introduces X as a W character at such an early stage in the novel suggests V.

47. H/W for Tuesday 21/6
Complete ‘setting’ worksheet.

49. Characters in The Bunkhouse:

50. Slim

51. Candy

52. Carlson

53. Explore the ways Steinbeck presents ‘Insert name here’
Use quotes and say what they show. (C)
Analyse any specific words (language). (B)
If this is how they are presented at the start what do you think might happen? (A)

54. Write a perfect paragraph about Slim
X is a very W character, “QUOTE”.
The word Y suggests Z.
The way Steinbeck introduces X as a W character at such an early stage in the novel suggests V.

55. Of Mice and Men – Chapter 2 Several men sleep and live in the bunkhouse on the ranch. The following questions are designed to build up a picture of what each of the men are like.
George and Lennie enter the bunkhouse with a “tall stoop-shouldered old man.” What is he wearing and what is he carrying?
When had George and Lennie been expected to arrive at the ranch?
The old man shows George and Lennie their bunks. What is George worried about?
What items does George put on his shelf?
According to the ‘old swamper’, what kind of a reputation does the “boss” have?
Describe the boss’s appearance.
Why does the boss wear high-heeled boots and spurs?
What is different about the stable buck?
How does George describe Lennie to the boss?
Why is the boss suspicious of George’s attitude to Lennie?
Who is Slim?
Why does George get angry with Lennie?

56. Chapter 3 A key chapter in the text. We see what ‘happened in Weed’.
Slim seems to understand George and Lennie.
The issue of Candy’s dog is concluded.
Candy overhears George and Lennie’s dream and wants in.
Curley starts an argument…

59. Studying the Hierarchy …the death of Candy’s Dog.
For:
Against:

60. Why does George thank Slim?
Why is Slim impressed with Lennie?
What did Lennie actually do in Weed, according to George?
What was Lennie accused of by the girl in Weed?
What does Lennie bring into the bunkhouse?
What does George warn Lennie to do?
What does Carlson want Candy to do with his old dog?

61. ____________________________________________________
Candy’s Dog
The shooting of Candy’s dog is a very important, symbolic moment in the text.
If something is old and perceived as useless it is disposed of.
This raises various moral and ethical questions
____________________________________________________
Try and answer the following moral points to help you structure your ideas and opinions.
Remember there are no wrong answers here; it is what you think…

62. Carlson says that Candy’s dog should be shot because “He aint no good to himself”. What do you think he means by this?

63. What are Candy’s reasons for not wanting to shoot his dog?

64. Slim says “I wisht somebody’d shoot me if I got old an’ a cripple”
Slim says “I wisht somebody’d shoot me if I got old an’ a cripple”. Why do you think he feels that way?

65. What do you think of the way the Carlson, George and Slim behave during this incident?

66. Do you think it was cruel or kind to shoot Candy’s dog? Why?

67. Later in the chapter Candy says “I ought to of shot that dog myself, George. I shouldn’t of let no stranger shoot my dog”. What do you think he means by this?

68. Do you think Steinbeck sympathises with Candy and his dog?

69. What do you think John Steinbeck might be trying to help us understand about migrant workers’ lives in this episode?

70. …Candy’s dog. The only truly loyal companion in the text?
Reflection point…
…Candy’s dog. The only truly loyal companion in the text?

71. Answer all of these questions in full sentences, with quotes.
What happened in Weed?
What does Whit discover in his magazine?
Why does Carlson want the dog killed?
What is the atmosphere like in the bunkhouse at the moment Candy’s dog is killed?
When does ‘the dream’ start to look like it could come reality?
How does Slim react after Lennie attacks Curley?

72. Chapter 4 – The outcasts…
This chapter is set in Crooks’ separate room, the ‘Harness Room’.
There are only four characters in this Chapter: Crooks, Lennie, Candy and Curley’s Wife – though George does arrive at the end to remove Lennie.
This is widely known as the ‘outsiders’ chapter; all of the people in this chapter are characters that are isolated for different reasons.

76. “Crooks, the black stable-hand, gets his name from his crooked back
“Crooks, the black stable-hand, gets his name from his crooked back. Proud, bitter, and caustically funny, he is isolated from the other men because of the colour of his skin.
Despite himself, Crooks becomes fond of Lennie, and though he derisively claims to have seen countless men following empty dreams of buying their own land, he asks Lennie if he can go with them and hoe in the garden.”

77. Why are these characters lonely?
Crooks:
Curley’s Wife:
Lennie:
Candy:
In what way is it symbolic that George comes to remove Lennie from this group at the end of the chapter?

78. What do we learn about these characters in Chapter 4
What do we learn about these characters in Chapter 4? Use a quote in your answer.
Curley’s Wife:
Lennie:
Candy:

79. Do we need Chapter 4? Some would argue that Chapter 4 is irrelevant.
The plot does not really move forward in any way and little ‘action’ takes place.
Why do you think Steinbeck has included Chapter 4 in the novel?

80. Of Mice and Men
Key Revision Points

81. Key pages: George and Lennie intro = P.19 The ‘dream’ = P.31
Curley’s intro = P.46
Curley’s wife intro = P.53
Slim’s intro = P.55
What happened in Weed = P.66
Candy’s dog = P.73
Candy comes in on the dream = P.87
The outcasts = P.99
Curley’s wife and Lennie = P.123
Lennie’s vision and death =P.141

82. (introduce setting and characters) ↓ Problem (what’s going to happen?)
Opening
(introduce setting and characters) ↓
Problem
(what’s going to happen?)
Crisis
(the characters face a new low)
Resolution / Conclusion
(the problem is solved)

83. Opening:
Problem:
Crisis:
Resolution:

84. What’s the point?
What’s the moral?

86. CA – Task:
Explore the way Lennie is presented and developed in Of Mice and Men.

87. Meaning/moral of the novel
Essay Plan
Intro
In one or two paragraphs summarise the text – refer to the problem / crisis etc… ↓
Main
8 quotes from across the text that show what Lennie is like… x8 ‘perfect paragraphs’
Conclusion
Meaning/moral of the novel