Aim: How do we use Of Mice and
Men for a Critical Lens essay?
Critical Lens Study Guide – Of Mice and Men
Title & Genre
Author/Playwrig
ht
Characters
Of Mice and Men
John Steinbeck
Novella
Author
George
Lennie
Slim
Curley
Curley’s Wife
Candy
Crooks
Carlson
Setting & Major
Events
Literary
Elements
Salinas, California Foreshadow
Theme
Characterization
Irony
Critical Lens
“No two persons regard the world in exactly the same way.”
- J.W. Van Goethe
“Loyalty to a person or cause may be an admirable trait, but it could also
bring about difficult choices.”
- Anonymous
“It is our choices…that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.”
- J. K. Rowling
Provide Quote
Interpret Quote
Agree or Disagree
Titles of 2
Works
Thesis
Statement
Thesis Statement
For your thesis statement, try to mention the characters you’ll be
discussing from each work.
In addition, mention the literary elements that you will be
discussing as well.
Ex: Using characterization and theme, both works depict pairs,
George and Lennie and Amir and Hassan, who did not perceive
their worlds in the same way.
Ex: Using characterization and conflict, the works, The Glass
Menagerie and Of Mice and Men, demonstrate that no two people
have the same perspective concerning the world.
Introduction Paragraph – Period 2
“Loyalty to a person or cause may be an admirable
trait, but it could also bring about difficult choices.” This
quote means that loyalty is a great trait to have, but
Provide
sometimes that loyalty puts us in difficult positions Interpretation
where we are forced to make unimaginable choices.
Agree & This quote is valid and seen through the works, the
Title of novella, Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, and the
Works novel, Lord of the Flies by William Golding. Using
characterization and theme, both works depict the
characters George and Ralph as having the trait of
loyalty put them in difficult positions with unimaginable
choices.
Thesis Statement
Provide
Quote
Introduction Paragraph – Period 3
“Loyalty to a person or cause may be an admirable
trait, but it could also bring about difficult choices.” This
quote means that loyalty is usually considered a great
value and characteristic, but it can put someone in a Provide
difficult position, which may present unimaginable Interpretation
Agree & choices. This quote is valid and seen through the works,
Title of the novella, Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, and
Works the novel, The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. Using
characterization and conflict, both works depict George
and Ponyboy who are loyal characters put in difficult
positions and faced with unimaginable choices.
Provide
Quote
Thesis Statement