OF MICE AND MEN

BY JOHN STEINBECK

“LENNIE’S FEAR IS HIS DOWNFALL” IN HIS NOVELLA ‘OF MICE AND MEN’ HOW DOES STEINBECK PRESENT LENNIE WHEN HE IS AFRAID AND WHAT EFFECT DOES THIS HAVE ON THE READER?

HOW TO ACHIEVE A / A*

• GIVE A SOPHISTICATED INTERPRETATION OF THE TEXT

• SHOW A SOPHISTICATED ENGAGEMENT WITH THE WRITER’S IDEAS AND ATTITUDES

• SELECT SOPHISTICATED QUOTATIONS AND EMBED THEM INTO YOUR CREATIVE INTERPRATIONS OF THE TEXT

• INCLUDE A SOPHISTICATED ANALYSIS OF THE LANGUAGE AND STRUCTURE USED BY STEINBECK

LANGUAGE AND STUCTURE

COMMENT ON SOME, MOST OR ALL:

SIMILES, IMAGERY, METAPHORS, DESCRIPTION, ADJECTIVES, VERBS, ADVERBS, DIALOGUE, ANIMALISTIC TERMINOLOGY, SILENCE AND SOUNDS.

SENSE OF FOREBODING, FORESHADOWING, PATHETIC FALLACY, PROPHETIC IRONY, FRAMED PORTRAITS AND TENSION.

SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP, SYMBOLISM AND AUTHORIAL COMMENT.

FRAMING AND CYCLICAL STRUCTURE.

PREPARATION

1) When does Lennie portray fear? (Write down the examples/page numbers chronologically)

2) What language devices does Steinbeck use in these short sections?

3) What effect do these portraits of Lennie have on the reader?

Planning your essay ……..

• INTRODUCTION: Novella/author/setting/Lennie/What?

• MAIN BODY: Focus on fear/explore Lennie’s fear/how

he reacts with fear and creates fear in the novella

You could: Explore each section in turn or select 2/3 parts where his fear is most prevalent and

discuss in detail.

• CONCLUSION: Your own opinion/address the question/ Effect on the reader

Now on your own write three PEE paragraphs in response to the extract you have just read. Remember

to analyse and empathise.

DON’T FORGET TO SHOW SOME APPRECIATION OF WHAT LIFE WAS LIKE THEN – IN THE 1930’S!

EMBEDDING QUOTATIONS

Curley and Lennie have an extremely strained relationship right from the moment they first meet and Lennie’s fear is abundantly clear. Curley takes an instant dislike to Lennie Small as he glances at him ‘calculating’ his measurements. The way Steinbeck describes him is almost animalistic, as Curley ‘crouches’ ready to pounce on the vulnerable, but seemingly powerful, yet fragile character of Lennie. Lennie too is animal like in his body language as he ‘squirmed’ and then ‘shifted his feet nervously’. Not only does the character of Lennie react with fear, but Steinbeck creates an overwhelming sense of foreboding with the reader, who suspects immediately that it will not be long before conflict ensues for these two characters!

Curley is abrupt in his mannerisms, always demanding answers: ‘you the new guys’. Lennie is not only afraid, but also intimidated by this confident character and has to be protected by George. Steinbeck uses violent verbs to describe Curley’s movements emphasizing his aggressive body language: ‘slashed’ ‘stared’ ‘stiffened’ and ‘his hands closed into fists’. Even his facial expressions show a clear disdain for these two new arrivals: ‘He glanced coldly’.The reader is informed that Curley is: ‘pretty handy’ and that ‘he has done a bit in the ring’. It is also obvious that due to Curley’s lack of height he feels the need to fight men who are bigger than him; again we sense that it will not be long before these two ‘tangle’ with each other! It is therefore not just George who is afraid of ‘trouble’ but, moreover, this is true of the reader.

UNIT 2

YOU ARE ABOUT TO ENTER THE WORLD OF DRAMA!

SELECT ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:

IN A GROUP HOTSEAT A VARIETY OF CHARACTERS

IN A PAIR ROLEPLAY A CONVERSATION BETWEEN TWO CHARACTERS

AS AN INDIVIDUAL PERFORM A MONOLOGUE AS ONE OF THE CHARACTERS ENJOY!