Of Mice and Men. By John Steinbeck. Revision Booklet

Transcription

1 Of Mice and Men By John Steinbeck Revision Booklet

2 English Literature Unit 1: Section A Different Cultures Prose The examination This exam is worth 21% of the total GCSE You are expected to spend 1 hour on the Of Mice and Men section. The question has two parts: o Part A (i): You will answer an extract question which is worth 10 marks. You should spend twenty minutes on this question. o Part B (ii) or (iii): You will have to answer a question based on the whole novel. You must choose just ONE question to answer. You should spend forty minutes on this question. Assessment criteria AO1: Respond to texts critically and imaginatively, select and evaluate textual detail to illustrate and support interpretations. AO2: Explain how language, structure and form contribute to writers presentation of ideas, themes and settings. AO4: Relate texts to their social, cultural and historical contexts; explain how texts have been influential and significant to self and other readers in different contexts and at different times. NOTE: WE HAVE STUDIED THIS TEXT ALREADY. BUT YOU MUST READ THE WHOLE NOVEL AGAIN (at least once)! What you need to revise: ALL the characters. You could get asked about any of them; ALL the key settings; ALL the key THEMES ( big ideas ) of the story; You need to know what happens in each chapter; You will need to have learned a number of key quotes that relate to the characters and themes; Use P.E.E. in your extract response; Use quotations in your essay response; Answer only one essay question!

3 Key Character Quotations Use these quotations to practice zooming in on how Steinbeck uses language to influence our view of the character. What does each quotation show us about the character? George 1. The first man was small and quick, dark of face, with restless eyes and sharp, strong features. 2. You never had none you crazy bastard. 3. God a mighty, if I was alone, I could live so easy. 4. His anger left him suddenly. He looked across the fire at Lennie s anguished face, and then he looked ashamedly at the flames. 5. George s voice became deeper. His repeated his words rhythmically, as though he had said them many times before. 6. George spoke proudly, Jus tell Lennie what to do an he ll do it 7. He ain t no cuckoo, said George. He s dumb as hell but he ain t crazy. 8. I used to have a hell of a lot of fun with im. Used to play jokes on im cause he was too dumb to take care of imself. 9. his face was as hard and tight as wood, and his eyes were hard 10. The hand shook violently, but his face set and his hand steadied. Add additional quotations that you think are important to your revision:

4 Lennie 1. a huge man, shapeless of face, with large pale eyes, with wide sloping shoulders; and he walked heavily, dragging his feet a little, the way a bear drags his paws 2. flung himself down and drank from the surface of the green pool; drank with long gulps, snorting into the water like a horse 3. dabbled his big paw into the water and wiggled his fingers 4. imitated George exactly 5. Lennie stared hopelessly at his hands. I forgot, George. 6. Lennie covered his face with his big paws and bleated with terror. 7. Lennie watched in terror the flopping little man he held. 8. George gonna come back, Lennie reassured himself in a frightened voice. 9. Lennie said softly to the puppy, Why do you got to get killed? You ain t so little as mice. I didn't bounce you hard. 10. Lennie said, I thought you was mad at me George. Add additional quotations that you think are important to your revision:

5 Curley 1. He glanced coldly at George and then at Lennie. His arms gradually bent at the elbows and his hands closed into fists. He stiffened and went into a slight crouch. His glance was at once calculating and pugnacious. 2. Curley s like a lot of little guys. He hates big guys. Kind of like he s mad at em because he ain t a big guy. 3. glove fulla vaseline 4. Curley s keepin that hand soft for his wife 5. Curley s pants is just crawlin with ants 6. Curley s handy, God damn handy 7. slashed at Lennie with his left, and then smashed down his nose with his right. 8. He worked himself into a fury. I m gonna get him. I m going for my shotgun. I ll kill the big son-of-a-bitch myself. I ll shoot him in the guts. Add additional quotations that you think are important to your revision:

6 Curley s Wife 1. Well I think Curley s married a tart. 2. She put her hands behind her back and leaned against the door frame so that her body was thrown forward. 3. She ain t concealin nothing. I never seen anybody like her. She got the eye goin all the time on everybody. I bet she even gives the stable buck the eye. 4. They left all the weak ones here, she said finally. Think I don t know where they all went? Even Curley. I know where they all went. 5. Think I don t like to talk to somebody ever once in a while? Think I like to stick in that house alla time? 6. Well you keep your place then Nigger, I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it ain t even funny. 7. Why can t I talk to you? I never get to talk to nobody. I get awful lonely. 8. I don t like Curley. He ain t a nice fella. 9. Coulda been in the movies an had nice clothes 10. the meanness and the plannings and the discontent and the ache for attention were all gone from her face Add additional quotations that you think are important to your revision:

7 Candy 1. a tall, stoop-shouldered old man 2. out of his sleeve came a round, stick-like wrist but no hand. 3. I ain t got the poop no more. 4. at his heels there walked a drag-footed sheepdog, gray of muzzle and with pale blind old eyes. 5. Had him since he was a pup. Herded sheep with him. He said proudly, You wouldn t think it to look at him now, but he was the best damn sheep dog I ever seen. 6. Candy looked for help from face to face. 7. he rolled slowly over and faced the wall and lay silent 8. When they can me here I wish t somebody d shoot me. 9. I ought to of shot that dog myself, George. I shouldn't ought to of let no stranger shoot my dog. 10. Old Candy lay down in the hay and covered his eyes with his arm. Add additional quotations that you think are important to your revision:

8 Crooks 1. They let the nigger come in that night 2. a lean negro head, lined with pain 3. Crooks bed was a long box filled with straw, on which his blankets were flung. 4. being a stable buck and a cripple, he was more permanent than the other men 5. Crooks was a proud, aloof man. 6. his eyes lay deep in his head, and because of their depth seemed to glitter with intensity. 7. I ain t wanted in the bunk house and you ain t wanted in my room. 8. I can t play because I m black. They say I stink. 9. If I say something, why it s just a nigger sayin it. 10. Crooks face lighted with pleasure in his torture. Add additional quotations that you think are important to your revision:

9 Slim 1. moved with a majesty only achieved by royalty and master craftsmen. 2. the prince of the ranch 3. there was a gravity in his manner and a quiet so profound that all talk stopped when he spoke. 4. his slow speech had overtones not of thought, but of understanding beyond thought. 5. His tone was friendly. It invited confidence without demanding it. 6. It was Slim s calm invitation to confidence. 7. Slim neither encouraged nor discouraged him. He just sat back, quiet and receptive. 8. calm Godlike eyes 9. Slim said, You hadda George. I swear you hadda. Add additional quotations that you think are important to your revision:

10 Chapter Summary Chapter 1 The novel opens in a setting that is described as calm and peaceful and full of nature. George Milton and Lennie Small rest in a clearing by the river, on their way to a nearby ranch where they expect to sign for temporary work. They left the last ranch in a hurry following an incident involving Lennie. Lennie pleads with George to tell him over and over again about their dream ranch, where Lennie s main task will be to tend the rabbits. This is the place the novel starts and it is the place George tells Lennie to hide if there is any trouble (which immediately foreshadows events). Additional notes: Chapter 2 The next day George and Lennie arrive at the ranch and go to the bunkhouse where they meet most of the other characters: Candy, the old swamper with one hand; Curley, the boss son; the boss, who is suspicious of Lennie for not speaking for himself; Curley s wife who flirts with the men; Slim, the top ranch hand who is well respected by all the other workers and Carlson, another established worker. Slim is friendly towards George and Lennie. Slim s bitch dog has recently given birth to pups and Lennie begs George to ask for one as a pet. Candy tells the men about Curley s wife and she enters looking for Curley. Additional notes: Chapter 3 Slim realises Lennie is mentally a child. George tells Slim about the supposed rape in Weed. Carlson bullies Candy into allowing him to shoot his dog because it is ageing, smelly and rheumatic. Lennie persuades George to tell him about their dream and Candy is listening and offers his money to become a part of the dream. Curley starts a fight with Lennie and at George s command Lennie uses his strength to crush Curley s hand. Slim persuades Curley to pretend he got it caught in a machine to avoid humiliation. Additional notes:

11 Chapter 4 All the men go into town on Saturday night except Lennie, Candy and Crooks. Lennie goes into Crooks room. Crooks reluctantly allows him in. Crooks taunts Lennie about George not coming back for him and leaving Lennie on his own. Lennie begins to panic. Crooks apologises so Lennie calms down. Candy joins them and he and Lennie let slip to Crooks about their dream and intention to buy a farm. They are interrupted by Curley s wife who is looking for company. Crooks orders her out of his room however she attacks him verbally, using her superior social status as a white woman to threaten death. Additional notes: Chapter 5 Most of the men are outside playing a game of horseshoes. Lennie is in the barn where he has just accidently killed his pup by stroking it too hard. Curley s wife comes in and starts to flirt with Lennie who confesses to her that he likes stroking things. She allows him to stroke her long, soft hair, but his stroking becomes harder, she panics; the harder he strokes the more panicked she becomes. In the end, Lennie accidently breaks her neck. He half buries her body in the hay and runs off. Candy discovers the body and informs the rest of the men. Curley is furious and decides to seek revenge, organising a lynch mob to pursue and kill Lennie (mostly for revenge from getting his hand crushed). Reluctantly, George joins the hunt. Additional notes: Chapter 6 George meets Lennie in the clearing where he told him to go, in chapter 1, if there was any trouble. Lennie is panicking and George attempts to calm him down by telling him about their ranch. George distracts Lennie s attention and shoots him in the back of the head with Carlson s Luger pistol which he had stolen from the bunkhouse (think about how Candy s dog died). Slim understands how George feels, but Carlson and Curley both don t understand how George is feeling or why. Additional notes:

12 Themes Steinbeck explores many themes in his novel. They include: Dreams Many of the characters in the novel have dreams and plans for the future. George, Lennie, Candy, Crooks and Curley s wife all aspire to something. For these characters, it is these dreams which keep them going. The title of the novel is taken from a Robert Burns poem which says; The best laid schemes o mice and men often go wrong. What are the dreams of the various characters? How do they go wrong? Why do you think Steinbeck chose this title? Loneliness / Isolation A number of characters in the novel are lonely or isolated from other one way or another; usually due their lifestyle. Who are the characters who are lonely and why? Power and Vulnerability/Sympathy The novel explores the issue of power through the character of Curley and the influence he has over the ranch hands and his wife. George also wields power over Lennie. Who has power over whom in the novel? What are the effects of this power? Who are vulnerable characters in the novel and why are they? Loyalty /Friendship George and Lennie are unusual because they string along together, even though their friendship is threatened by Lennie s behaviour. What do you think Steinbeck is saying about the importance of friendship in the novel? Animal imagery Which animals are mentioned in the novel? Why are they important?

13 Foundation Tier Summer 2012 Past Exam Questions Answer part (a) and either part (b) or part (c). You are advised to spend about 20 minutes on part (a), and about 40 minutes on part (b) or part (c). (a) Read the extract below. Then answer the following question: What do you think of the way Candy speaks and behaves here? Give reasons for what you say, and remember to support your answer with words and phrases from the extract. [10] Either, (b) Write about why readers may feel sympathy for Lennie at the following points: before Lennie and George arrive at the ranch; during Lennie and George s time at the ranch; at the end of the novel. Remember to give reasons for what you say. [20] Or, (c) In Of Mice and Men characters show different types of strength and weakness. Write about two or three times in the novel where a character or characters show strength or weakness. [20]

14 Higher Tier Summer 2012 Answer part (a) and either part (b) or part (c). You are advised to spend about 20 minutes on part (a), and about 40 minutes on part (b) or part (c). (a) Read the extract below. Then answer the following question: Look closely at how Candy speaks and behaves here. What does it reveal about his character? [10] Either, (b) How does John Steinbeck create sympathy for Lennie in Of Mice and Men? [20] Or, (c) How does John Steinbeck present different types of strength and weakness in Of Mice and Men? [20]

15 Foundation Tier Winter 2013 Answer part (a) and either part (b) or part (c). You are advised to spend about 20 minutes on part (a), and about 40 minutes on part (b) or part (c). (a) Read the extract below. Then answer the following question: What do you think of the way Carlson speaks and behaves here? Give reasons for what you say, and remember to support your answer with words and phrases from the extract. [10] Either, (b) Every character in Of Mice and Men can be thought of as a victim of one sort or another. Write about the character in Of Mice and Men who you think is best described as a victim. Give reasons for what you say. [20] Or, (c) Write about the importance of animals in Of Mice and Men. Think about: the mouse Lennie has at the beginning of the novel; Candy s dog; Slim s puppies; anything else you think important. [20]

16 Higher Tier Winter 2013 Answer part (a) and either part (b) or part (c). You are advised to spend about 20 minutes on part (a), and about 40 minutes on part (b) or part (c). (a) Read the extract on the opposite page. Then answer the following question: Look closely at how Carlson speaks and behaves here. How does it affect your feelings towards him? [10] Either, (b) Every character in Of Mice and Men can be regarded as a victim of one sort or another. For which character do you think this is most true? Show how John Steinbeck presents your chosen character as a victim. [20] Or, (c) How are animals important in Of Mice and Men? [20]

17 Foundation Tier Summer 2014 Answer part (a) and either part (b) or part (c). You are advised to spend about 20 minutes on part (a), and about 40 minutes on part (b) or part (c). (a) Read the extract below. Then answer the following question: What do you think of the way Curley s wife speaks and behaves here? Give reasons for what you say, and remember to support your answer with words and phrases from the extract. [10] Either, (b) What do you think of Crooks? Write about: his job on the ranch; the way he speaks and behaves with Lennie; the way he speaks and behaves with other characters; anything else you think important. [20] Or, (c) Dreams do the characters more harm than good in Of Mice and Men. Write about some of the dreams the characters have and whether you think these dreams do more harm than good. [20]

18 Higher Tier Summer 2014 Answer part (a) and either part (b) or part (c). You are advised to spend about 20 minutes on part (a), and about 40 minutes on part (b) or part (c). (a) Read the extract below. Then answer the following question: Look closely at the way Curley s wife speaks and behaves here. What does it reveal about her character? [10] Either, (b) How is the character of Crooks important to the novel as a whole? [20] Or, (c) Dreams do the characters more harm than good in Of Mice and Men. To what extent do you agree with this statement? [20]

19 How else can I revise? Re-read the novel and look carefully at the notes you have made in lessons; Look carefully at the example answers that your teacher has given you. What did they do well? What could they do better? Look back over the marked work that your teacher has given back to you. How can you improve your own writing? Use the following websites: - BBC Bitesize Of Mice and Men - Spark Notes Of Mice and Men Ask your teacher for extra help and advice; Complete the practice exam questions and hand them to your teacher to mark. The text of Of Mice and Men : visit the following website to gain access to a copy of the text that you can read on screen, or ask your teacher for an electronic copy of it that you can put onto a memory stick and read at home. english/steinbeck,%20john%20- %20Of%20Mice%20and%20Men.pdf

20 Additional Notes for Revision: