GSCE LITERATURE

1. GSCE LITERATURE “Of Mice and Men” Thoughts on the ending

2. The ending… • Returns to the beginning – suggests cyclical nature of life. • Repetition of ideas of stillness – the calm of nature contrasts with the activity (pointless?) of men. • Sudden break of violence into the scene “Lanced” “plucked” “frantically”. Foreshadows Lennie’s imminent death and reflects Curley’s wife’s. A change from the opening. • Also links to the title. • The wind disturbs the pool but then everything returns to as it was  reflects the theme of hopelessness in the novel.

3. Lennie still drinks like an animal, but more tentatively. • Lennie’s mood – “quietly”, “softly”, “sadly”, “Miserably”. • Childlike repetition. • Shows us truly what Lennie is like for the first time. Helps to justify George’s decision. • Builds tension because we see Lennie getting more agitated, driven more mad by his own imagination “loudly”, “retorted belligerently”, “cried frantically”. • Even Lennie recognises (as Aunt Clara) George “coulda had such a good time if it wasn’t for you.” • Lennie’s defense of George is also ironic because George has already put wheels in motion to “leave” Lennie.

4. Tension builds up to Lennie’s desperate cry of “Oh! George – George – George!”. • Tension dips as “George came quietly out of the brush” • The quietness (repeated) contrasts with the Lennie’s agitation but use of words like “stiffly” and George’s pauses make the silence awkward and tense. • George seems defeated “It don’t make no difference”. Even Lennie recognises this isn’t George’s normal reaction “Ain’t you gonna give me hell?” • The sounds of the men adds added tension. • Light fades through the scene. Melancholy mood. • Steinbeck makes it clear how difficult George finds what he has to do. He has to shake himself to pretend for Lennie’s sake.

5. There’s a terrible irony of the words Lennie has George repeat “But not us,” because of what’s about to happen. • Note the contrast between Lennie’s “happily” – he can still believe in the dream – and George’s “was quiet for a minute”. • The way the whole thing is draw out. With the references to the breeze, the sounds of the men and the removal of Lennie’s hat draws out the tension. • George’s lack of anger through the whole scene completely contrasts with his earlier moods. • Lennie follows George’s instructions “dutifully” and he “obeyed” him – helping George to kill him in one sense but making it more difficult in another.

6. Shorter sentences as approach the moment. • George’s reaction is shown through the adverbs used to describe him “sat stiffly”, “said softly” “said tiredly” and the final description “George’s voice was almost a whisper.” • Also for the first time someone else has to take charge of George. Slim “sat very close to him.” and “twitched George’s elbow” and finally “George let himself be helped to his feet.”. • Slim completes his role as judge. • Curley / Carlson continue their insensitive, blind attitude. • The final line reaffirms the isolation throughout the novel.

7. So how effective is the ending? Alternative ending 1: • George and Slim go into town, drink heavily, return to the ranch, get fired and leave to find new jobs. Alternative ending 2: • Curley regrets his behaviour and apologises to George for all that has happened. He gives him money towards getting a place of his own.

8. Alternative ending 3: Slim and George sit in a bar discussing Lennie. They decide that it is important to keep the dream alive and will keep working at the ranch until they can raise enough money to buy a place of their own.