Of Mice and Men

1. Of Mice and Men Style of Writing Figures of Speech

2. In order to bring their writing more to life, writers use a whole range of devices. • They often use what we call ‘figures of speech’. These are ways of making language have a greater impact on the reader. • Two figures of speech which Steinbeck uses in the novel are METAPHORS and SIMILES. • Both of these figures of speech are COMPARISONS. A simile is called a direct comparison because it uses the word “as” or “like”. A metaphor is called an indirect comparison and does not use the words “as” or “like”.

3. Figures of speech bring an added dimension, as they appeal to the imagination of the reader. • “On the sand banks the rabbits sat as quietly as little gray, sculptured stones.” • is an example of a simile. • The comparison of the rabbits to stones stresses the idea of stillness: George and Lennie are in an environment where everything is lifeless, and this reflects their own lives.

4. “… he walked heavily, dragging his feet a little, the way a bear drags his paws.” • “Lennie dabbled his big paw in the water …” • are examples of metaphors. • The comparison of Lennie to a bear shows that he is not refined or sophisticated, although he is strong, unpredictable and perhaps dangerous.

5. “ … drank with long gulps, snorting into the water like a horse.” • is an example of a simile • The comparison of Lennie to a horse stresses his lack of manners, the animal behaviour latent within him and his sense of obedience to George, just as a horse is controlled by its rider.

6. “Slowly, like a terrier who doesn’t want to bring a ball to its master, Lennie approached …” • is an example of a simile. • The comparison stresses George’s dominance over Lennie and shows a childlike quality about Lennie.. It also stresses the animal-like aspect to Lennie.