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
Of Mice and Men
John Steinbeck
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.
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.
It led to the Depression
in America which
crippled the country
from 1930 - 1936.
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.
Farmers were forced to
move off their land: they
couldn't repay the bankloans which had helped
buy the farms and had to
sell what they owned to
pay their debts
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.
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 workerthe 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
In New York,
their countries
of origin;
others,
it isof,the
Concrete jungle
where for
dreams
are made
opportunity for
theirnothing
children
to grow
There's
you can't
do, up with an
education andNow
become
professionals.
It is the
you're in
New York,
These to
streets
will make
you feelwithout
brand new,
opportunity
be an
individual
the
Big lightsby
willcaste,
inspire you
constraints imposed
race, gender or
ethnicity. It sometimes includes the idea of
owning a home.
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 of
George and Lennie and explored the setting
Success Criteria:
1.Have completed the character questions
2. 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: Animals
In 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 in
the opening chapter of the novel
Success Criteria:
Have written three p.e.e paragraphs
Foreshadowing
Foreshadowing is a technique used by
writers to drop hints or give subtle clues
about 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’.