Of Mice and Men

Of Mice and Men

John Steinbeck

Monday 22nd October 2012

Objective:

Understand the social context of the novel

Success Criteria:

1. Have completed the dreams cloud

2. Made notes on the depression

Task 1: In the dream cloud, detail the dreams, ambitions and

expectations that you have for your life. You can present this in a timeline OR describe it in a

paragraph.

Social Context: The depression in America 1930-1936

On October 29 1929, millions of dollars were wiped out in an event that became known as the Wall Street Crash. It led to the Depression

in America which crippled the country from 1930 - 1936.

People lost their life savings when firms and banks went bust, and 12 - 15 million men and women - one third of America's population - were unemployed.

There was then no dole to fall back on, so food was short and the unemployed in cities couldn't pay their rent. Some ended up in shanties made from old packing cases and corrugated iron.

The Depression in the 1930’s caused many farmers to lose their farms due to foreclosures by banks and insurance companies

Added to the man-made financial problems were natural ones. A series of droughts in southern mid-western states like Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas led to failed harvests and dried-up land.

Farmers were forced to move off their land: they couldn't repay the bank-loans which had helped buy the farms and had to sell what they owned to pay their debts

Migrant workers moved towards California looking for work. Men, mostly travelling alone, migrated from ranch to ranch on short term, poorly paid contracts.

Agencies were set up, like ‘Murray and Ready’ in the novel, to direct migrant workers like George and Lennie to ranches and farms where work existed.

George and Lennie personify the dream of the migrant worker- the dream to own their own piece of land and have a chance to settle down.

George and Lennie’s Dream…chapter 1

The American Dream

The term American Dream can mean many things. For some, it is the opportunity to achieve more prosperity than they could in their countries of origin; for others, it is the opportunity for their children to grow up with an education and become professionals. It is the opportunity to be an individual without the constraints imposed by caste, race, gender or ethnicity. It sometimes includes the idea of owning a home.

In New York, Concrete jungle where dreams are made of,

There's nothing you can't do, Now you're in New York,

These streets will make you feel brand new, Big lights will inspire you

Those who came to live in America were driven by the hope of a new life.

Steinbeck uses an American example to illustrate a general truth- the need people have to dream of a life that is better and which will combine freedom and personal fulfilment.

DREAMS

• As the sun sets George tells Lennie a story they have obviously been through many times, so many times that Lennie knows it off by heart.

• It is their dream about how they are going to buy a few acres of land, raise their own animals and live an independent and happy existence.

• Comforted about the repetition of their dream, they go to sleep.

What have we learnt from Chapter One

1. ________________________________________

2. ________________________________________

3. ________________________________________

4. _______________________________________

5. ________________________________________

Monday 5th November 2012

Objective:Have understood the characteristics ofGeorge and Lennie and explored the setting

Success Criteria:1.Have completed the character questions2. Have analysed the opening extract

Of Mice and Men

Character

1.Lennie is described as George’s opposite. Explain how the two men are completely different from each other?

2. Whilst the men have a common dream they also have a personal dream, what is George’s personal dream?

3. George appears to be burdened by his relationship with Lennie, explain why you think he stays with him despite this.

4. Why do you think George asks Lennie to familiarise himself with the location in the clearing where they spend the night?

Character

1. Find three quotes or references to the text where we see Lennie behaving as a child?

2. What is the significance of the dead mouse in terms of what it tells us about Lennie?

3. Why does Lennie insist on hearing the dream from George although he knows it by heart?

4. Describe the dream that George and Lennie share?

The Setting

Highlight:

•The animals

•The senses (see, sound, smell, taste, touch)

How has language been used in the opening scene?

In the opening extract Steinbeck uses animals to emphasise the natural, peaceful landscape. He also uses the senses to add to the imagery in the extract. Language is used in the opening to create a sense of foreshadowing and introduce the novel’s main themes.

p.e.e 1: AnimalsIn the opening Steinbeck sets the scene with the description of various animals that ‘come out of the brush to sit on the sand in the evening’. Steinbeck’s use of the phrase…Furthermore, the use of the word…

p.e.e 2: Senses

Wednesday 7th November 2012

Chapter One – Steinbeck’s Technique

Objective:Explore the technique of on dwarfish ego inthe opening chapter of the novel

Success Criteria:Have written three p.e.e paragraphs

ForeshadowingForeshadowing is a technique used by

writers to drop hints or give subtle cluesabout plot ideas in the future.

How does Steinbeck use foreshadowing in the opening chapter of Of Mice and Men?

•What happened in Weed

•George tells Lennie to hide in the brush if he gets in trouble

•Lennie isn’t aware of his own strength and kills things accidently

pee paragraphs

How does Steinbeck use foreshadowing in the opening chapter of Of Mice and Men?

Firstly, Steinbeck tells us that George and Lennie were ‘run…outta Weed’ as Lennie wanted ‘to feel that girl’s dress’. Steinbeck uses a sense of foreshadowing here when George reveals, ‘how the hell did she know you jus’ wanted to feel her dress?’ which suggests that perhaps later he will do something inappropriate but will be unaware that what he is doing is wrong.

Furthermore, the use of the word ‘anguished’ to describe Lennie’s face suggests that Lennie knows George is angry with him because Lennie ‘keep(s) (George) in hot water all the time’.