1. Copyright 2006 www.englishteaching.co.uk leaves so crisp that a ___makes a skittering This adds sensual description to the opening scene. Use of onomatopoeia

2. Copyright 2006 www.englishteaching.co.uk Of Mice and Men Aim : to recognise the author’s use of animals both literally and metaphorically Prepare material for essay question: How does Steinbeck use animals in the novel?

3. Copyright 2006 www.englishteaching.co.uk _______ like grey sculptures The natural world is disturbed when the two men enter

4. Copyright 2006 www.englishteaching.co.uk “Dragging his feet … the way a ____ drags his paws” This description of ______ conveys the brute force of the man.

5. Copyright 2006 www.englishteaching.co.uk “snorting water like a _____ When lennie drinks it is like an animal answering a basic need.

6. Copyright 2006 www.englishteaching.co.uk “Slowly, like a ____ who doesn’t want to bring a ball back to its master” Steinbeck describes Lennie as a terrier because he is so tenacious, always unwilling to release his hold.

7. Copyright 2006 www.englishteaching.co.uk “I’d pet ‘em and soon they bit my fingers and I’d pinch their heads and then they was dead” Lennie explaining how he unintentionally killed the mice Steinbeck is giving the reader an indication of how Lennie is unable to control his strength

8. Copyright 2006 www.englishteaching.co.uk “Somebody’d shoot you for a ____ if you was by yourself” This shows George’s concern for Lennie - and that Lennie is like a wild animal

9. Copyright 2006 www.englishteaching.co.uk And I get to tend the _____ Lennie longs to pet and protect the rabbits. His child like character is shown by his desire for for different coloured ones.

10. Copyright 2006 www.englishteaching.co.uk “Says ‘positively kills _____ This can shows that the ranchmen still took a pride in themselves and tried to maintain standards of hygiene under difficult circumstances.

11. Copyright 2006 www.englishteaching.co.uk “Strong as a ________” Unfortunately Lennie speaks when he had promised that he would not. This shows how simple minded he is.

12. Copyright 2006 www.englishteaching.co.uk A drag-footed ____ grey of muzzle with pale blind old eyes The fact that the dog is near the end of its useful life suggests the same idea about Candy

13. Copyright 2006 www.englishteaching.co.uk “Slang her ____ last night.. Drowned four of ‘em right off” This shows the practical approach to animals on the ranch as not all the puppies are needed nor can Lulu feed them all

14. Copyright 2006 www.englishteaching.co.uk “seems kinda funny a ____ like him and a smart guy like you” Slim’s assessment of Lennie is that George and Lennie are an odd pairing. Cuckoos lay their eggs in smaller birds’ nests for them to rear. George is loyally defensive of Lennie saying that he isn’t crazy.

15. Copyright 2006 www.englishteaching.co.uk He reached down and picked the tiny ___ from his chest. Slim can see when Lennie tries to sneak the puppy into the bunkhouse that Lennie has a child-like mentality The incident also shows that Lennie cannot help but get into trouble

16. Copyright 2006 www.englishteaching.co.uk “take him out and shoot him right in the back of the head” This shows Carlson, one of the ranchmen, being insensitive here about what Candy might be feeling

17. Copyright 2006 www.englishteaching.co.uk “Had him since he was a ___ … I’m so used to him” Candy’s dog has for many years provided companionship for him. The dog is his one and only friend

18. Copyright 2006 www.englishteaching.co.uk He led the ____ into the darkness. The dog’s mercy killing foreshadows that of Lennie Both are crippled one physically the other mentally Both are shot with the same gun

19. Copyright 2006 www.englishteaching.co.uk “One of my lead ____ got a bad hoof. Got to get some tar on it” When a mule splits its hoof, Crooks and Slim tend to it. This attention is needed for practical reasons as it is a useful working animal on the ranch unlike Candy’s dog.

20. Copyright 2006 www.englishteaching.co.uk “I ought to of shot that ___ myself Candy is upset he allowed a ‘stranger’ to kill his dog. This paves the way for George to find the courage to kill Lennie making certain he dies happy and unafraid.

21. Copyright 2006 www.englishteaching.co.uk “You’re as yella as a ___ belly” This is Carlson standing up to Curley alongside Slim. It shows that the ranchmen are united against Curley. Crooks and Candy later stand up to his wife.

22. Copyright 2006 www.englishteaching.co.uk Lennie covered his face with his huge paws … “The dirty little ___ Steinbeck returns to the bear image but Lennie is only showing an animal sense of self preservation. Curley is the one Slim calls a rat.

23. Copyright 2006 www.englishteaching.co.uk “And a manure pile under the window” Because he is black Crooks is treated on the ranch little better than an animal. He is forced to live in the barn with the horses and the smell of their manure.

24. Copyright 2006 www.englishteaching.co.uk The ____ shifted their feet and rattled their halter chains. Steinbeck emphasises the ranch animal noises in the barn as Curley’s wife’s body is discovered.

25. Copyright 2006 www.englishteaching.co.uk The heron stood in the shallows In the natural world the heron hunts a water snake just like the ranchmen are hunting down Lennie In Nature it is survival of the fittest.

26. Copyright 2006 www.englishteaching.co.uk Ways in which animals are used To describe characters, especially Lennie To show that some animals are past their usefulness and to compare that with Candy To show that in Nature it is survival of the fittest To symbolise a situation e.g Title of novel To create a setting: in the barn, at the pool