Of Mice and Men

1. Of Mice and Men B y John Steinbeck

2. Steinbeck’s style and language • To explore Steinbeck’s style and language

3. Descriptive style - close observation lyrical poetic biblical metaphors Similes Symbolism and foreshadowing - use of light and dark - animal imagery the killing of candy’s dog solitaire the dead mouse the death of curley’s wife the heron killing the snake Animal Imagery Colloquial dialogue non-standard American vernacular dialect Narrative structure Sound Simplicity Humour Pathos Steinbeck’s craft – style and language

4. Steinbeck’s style – 10mins • Foreshadowing and symbolism • Detailed descriptive style and colloquial language and dialogue • Animal Imagery • Narrative structure and the ending

5. Animal Imagery Discuss Steinbeck’s use of animal imagery in the novel. How is animal imagery used and what does it symbolise?

6. Detailed descriptive style In which parts of the novella does Steinbeck use a poetic lyrical style? Explore where and why.

7. Foreshadowing and symbolism Which events foreshadow the action in the story? - use of light and dark - animal imagery • the killing of candy’s dog • solitaire • the dead mouse • the death of curley’s wife • the heron killing the snake

8. Colloquial language and dialogue How and why does Steinbeck use colloquial language and dialogue in ‘Of Mice and Men’?

9. Narrative structure and the ending How is the novel structured? Why is the novel structured in this way?

10. Social historical context • Attitudes to people marginalised in society • Portrayal of women in the 1930s (sexism) • Attitudes to black people in the 1930s (racial prejudice) • Attitudes towards older people (ageism) • Life for migrant workers • American Dream

11. Characters George Lennie Candy Crooks Curely Curley’s wife Slim Carlson and Whit Themes Friendship Loneliness The lives of the men on the ranch Cruelty and kindness Hopes and dreams Power and control – violence Status Fate and Destiny Brain vs Brawn

12. Themes in the novel • Friendship • Loneliness • The lives of the men on the ranch • Cruelty and kindness • Hopes and dreams • Power and authority • Status • Fate and Destiny • Brain vs Brawn

13. Read the passage and then answer part (a) and part (b) The old man was reassured. He had drawn a derogatory statement from George. He felt safe now, and he spoke more confidently. ‘Wait’ll you see Curley’s wife.’ George cut the cards again and put out a solitaire lay, slowly and deliberately. ‘Purty?’ he asked casually. ‘Yeah. Purty ... but ––’ George studied his cards. ‘But what?’ ‘Well – she got the eye.’ ‘Yeah? Married two weeks and got the eye? Maybe that’s why Curley’s pants is full of ants.’ ‘I seen her give Slim the eye. Slim’s a jerkline skinner. Hell of a nice fella. Slim don’t need to wear no high-heeled boots on a grain team. I seen her give Slim the eye. Curley never seen it. An’ I seen her give Carlson the eye.’ George pretended a lack of interest. ‘Looks like we was gonna have fun.’ The swamper stood up from his box. ‘Know what I think?’ George did not answer. ‘Well, I think Curley’s married ... a tart.’ ‘He ain’t the first,’ said George. ‘There’s plenty done that.’ The old man moved toward the door, and his ancient dog lifted his head and peered about, and then got painfully to his feet to follow. ‘I gotta be settin’ out the wash basins for the guys. The teams’ll be in before long. You guys gonna buck barley?’ ‘Yeah.’ ‘You won’t tell Curley nothing I said?’ ‘Hell no.’ ‘Well, you look her over, mister. You see if she ain’t a tart.’ He stepped out the door into the brilliant sunshine.

14. a) What methods does Steinbeck use in this passage to present Candy? In this passage Candy gradually opens up to George and tells him what he thinks about Curely’s wife. Candy seems to lack confidence and this is why he hesitates frequently when talking to George. He is a warm and welcoming character to George and Lennie and this suggests he is desperate to please others and this will secure him a friendship. Once Candy has drawn a derogatory statement from George about Curley ‘showin’ off for his wife’, he senses he can be more open with him. ‘He felt safe now, and he spoke more confidently’. Steinbeck uses the ‘safe’ and the adverb ‘confidently’ to remind the reader that Candy only opens up and shares his feelings when he feels he can trust the person he is speaking to. Ranch workers like Candy were fearful of others and often guarded their true feelings from those around them. Although Candy is more confident sharing his opinions with George, he hesitates before his says ‘Purty...but she got the eye’. Steinbeck uses an ellipsis in the line ‘Yeah. Purty...but – ‘ Well – she got the eye’. This creates a pause, reminding the reader that Candy is reluctant to cast aspersions about Curley’s wife as he is fearful of the consequences. Candy goes on to warn George of Curley’s wife. Steinbeckrepeats the phrase ‘I seen her give ... the eye’ to remind George that he should stay away from her as she is dangerous. The repetition highlights that Candy is using lots of examples to emphasise that Curley’s wife is a threat. This repetition leads to a climax when he calls Curley’s wife a ‘tart’. He hesitates when he says ‘Well, I think Curely’s married a ...tart’. Steinbeck uses the word ‘tart’ to show he does not think highly of Curley’s wife.

15. Candy uses many colloquial expressions such as ‘Slim don’t need to wear no high-heeled boots on a grain team’. Candy is alluding to the fact that unlike Curley, Slim does not need to assert his authority by acting as though he is above the other men. Steinbeck uses other colloquial phrases to recreate an authentic dialogue between the men, such as ‘Hell of a nice fella’ , ‘got the eye’ , ‘gonna buck barley’. This shows that Candy is comfortable speaking to George and can express himself in his own dialect. After opening up to George, Candy needs to check that George will not repeat what he has said about Curley. He says ‘You won’t tell Curley nothing I said?’ Steinbeck uses this question to remind the reader that despite the fact that Candy has opened up to George, he still needs reassurance, implying that Candy struggles to trust people. At the end of the passage, Candy addresses George as ‘mister’. This reminds the reader Candy respects George and recognises, as a swamper, he is subservient to George. In this passage Steinbeck refers to Candy as the ‘the old man’. The use of the adjective ‘old’ Steinbeck reminds the reader of Candy’s age and creates sympathy for him. The final line says ‘ He stepped out the door into the brilliant sunshine’. Steinbeck could be using bright sunshine to symbolically remind the reader that Candy is a good character on the ranch and one who should be listened to. Alternatively, it could have been used to highlight that the men’s conversation was taking place in the darkness of the bunk house and that was whether the gossip about Curley’s wife should remain.

16. How do you think Steinbeck uses the character of Candy in the novel as a whole to convey important ideas about society at that time? - desire to escape their current situation – American Dream- segregation leading to loneliness and - discrimination of older people and those who are disabled- ideas about gender and society- ideas about the role of work and society • Steinbeck uses Candy to show that all men were desperate to escape their current situation. They were motivated by their belief in the American Dream and dreamt owning their own ranch. Candy is quick to offer George and Lennie money to join their dream ‘lean (ing) forward eagerly’. Candy ‘grin (s) with delight’ when he plans the ranch with George and Lennie showing that he is completely revitalised by the promise of an alternative life. • Steinbeck uses Candy to present important ideas about gender and society. Candy does not think highly of women. Candy is fearful of women such as Curley’s wife as he believes they get men into trouble. In his first meeting with George, Candy refers to Curely’s wife as a ‘tart’ and later in the novel, after the death of Curely’s wife he speaks to her directly saying ‘ Ever’body knowed you’d mess things up. You wasn’t no good. You aint no good now, you lousy tart’. This suggests that Candy sees women as a threat and that they are partly responsible for men not achieving their dreams. • Steinbeck also uses the character of Candy to show a different form of segregation on the farm. Candy is not accepted by some of the other men on the ranch because of his age and his disability. Candy is not invited into town with the other men on the ranch. When the men disappear into town on Saturday night, Candy searches for Lennie and ends up in Crook’s stable with Lennie and Curley’s wife. Desperate for some company, Candy remains in the stable, demonstrating that, like many of the men on the ranch, he is desperate to reach out to others and form friendships. • Steinbeck uses Candy to present ideas about the role of work and society. In the 1930s men were valued for their ability to perform manual tasks on the ranch. As Candy is old and disabled, he is unable to buck barley and is therefore given the most menial task on the ranch; the swamper. Candy says ‘I ain’ t much good with on’y on hand’. This shows that he is aware of his own lack of value on the ranch. He is also keenly aware that he may soon be of no use on the ranch. He says to George and Lennie ‘They’ll call me purty soon. Jus’ as soon as I can’t swamp out no bunk houses they’ll put me on the county.’ Steinbeck uses Candy to illustrate that men’ • Steinbeck uses Candy to present the theme of isolation and loneliness. Candy is desperate to open up to others who will listen, yet he is afraid of rejection. There are similarities between Candy’s relationship with his dog and George and Lennie. Candy is devoted to his dog in the same way that George is devoted to Lennie. The death of his dog affects him profoundly and shows that Candy is a human being with all human feelings and emotions, and should not be lightly dismissed. Candy, like his dog, is old and weak • Candy plays a pivotal role in the novella. He introduces all of the characters to George and Lennie. He therefore plays a structural role in the novel.

18. Part (a) • What methods does Steinbeck use in this passage to present Candy? and then part (b) • How do you think Steinbeck uses the character of Candy in the novel as a whole to convey important ideas about society at that time?

19. Part (a) How does Steinbeck use the details in this passage to add to your understanding of......... What methods does Steinbeck use in this passage to present....

20. Read through the passage carefully

21. Highlight interesting uses of language interesting words adjectives adverbs strong verbs figurative language dialogue

22. Part (b) How do you think Steinbeck uses the character/relationship of ....... in the novel as a whole to convey important ideas about society at the time?

23. Write down at least 3 important ideas/themes relating to this extract

24. Important ideas about society at the time • American Dream • Loneliness and Isolation • Racial segregation • Attitudes towards women • Attitudes towards disability

25. Crooks stood up from his bunk and faced her. ‘I had enough,’ he said coldly. ‘You got no rights comin’ in a colored man’s room. You got no rights messing around in here at all. Now you jus’ get out, and get out quick. If you don’t, I’m gonna ast the boss not to ever let you come in the barn no more.’ She turned on him in scorn. ‘Listen, Nigger,’ she said. ‘You know what I can do to you if you open your trap?’ Crooks stared hopelessly at her, and then he sat down on his bunk and drew into himself. She closed on him. ‘You know what I could do?’ Crooks seemed to grow smaller, and he pressed himself against the wall. ‘Yes ma’am.’ ‘Well, you keep your place then, Nigger. I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it ain’t funny.’ Crooks had reduced himself to nothing. There was no personality, no ego – nothing to arouse either like or dislike. He said, ‘Yes, ma’am,’ and his voice was toneless.

26. Crooks stood up from his bunk and faced her. he said coldly You got no rights comin’ in a colored man’s room. You got no rights messing around in here at all. Now you jus’ get out, and get out quick. If you don’t, I’m gonna ast the boss not to ever let you come in the barn no more.’ Crooks stared hopelessly at her, and then he sat down on his bunk and drew into himself. Crooks seemed to grow smaller, and he pressed himself against the wall. ‘Yes ma’am.’ Crooks had reduced himself to nothing. There was no personality, no ego – nothing to arouse either like or dislike. He said, ‘Yes, ma’am,’ and his voice was toneless.

27. Remember to bring your Moon on the Tides Anthology. PLLLLLLEEEEEAAAASSSSE 