Gordonstoun School English Department

Year 10 Exchange Workbook

1

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

You will be studying this novel in preparation for the English Language Unit 2 exam, and probably for English Literature Unit 1.

It is important the you know the story well, can use your close-reading and analysis skills in relation to extracts from the novel, and are able to demonstrate that you understand the ideas or themes that underpin it too.

Week 1: The background to the novel.For English Literature, and to aid your overall understanding of what the book is all about, you need to recognise what was going on at the time the book was written.This novel was published in 1937 by the writer John Steinbeck. 1. Using the internet and the introduction to the book (http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/english_literature/prosemicemen/0prose_mice_men_contrev1.shtml / http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/micemen/context.html ) do some research on the following areas and make detailed notes below.John Steinbeck’s life and experiences:

The title of the novel which comes from Robert Burns’ poem: ‘To a Mouse’ (there is some info about this in the introduction at the beginning of the book: pg.13)

The Depression:

The American Dream:

The ‘movies’ in the 1930s

2

-

Migrant farm workers/ The Dustbowl:

Once you have done some research, you need to start reading the novel. Read through section 1 carefully and then answer the following questions. Be sure to answer in full sentences so that you can go back and revise from your work at a later date:2. How does Steinbeck create a peaceful atmosphere on Pg18? Look particularly at the

colours and verbs that are used.

3. Look at Pg.19-20. What are your initial impressions of George and Lennie? You should consider the use of animal references and the adjectives that Steinbeck uses.

4. What is George and Lennie’s relationship like?

5. Think about the dream that they talk about on Pg.31-32. Knowing what you know about the context of the novel, why is this dream so important to George and Lennie?

3

Week 2: Meeting other characters at the ranch.1. Read through section 2 of the novel. What are your initial impressions of: a) Candy? b)

Curley? c) Curley’s wife? d) Slim? How do you think these characters will affect George and Lennie during their time on the ranch?

2. Look closely at the description of Curley’s wife on pg.53. Using P.E.E, write an analysis of this, looking carefully at how Steinbeck chooses language to affect what the reader thinks of her.

3. Look at the description of Slim on pg.55-56. How does Steinbeck communicate his important position on the ranch? Make sure you use quotations to back yourself up.

Week 3: two violent events affect the ranch1. Read section 3 carefully.2. How does Steinbeck provoke sympathy for Candy on Pg.74-75? You should write at least

a couple of P.E.E paragraphs for this.

4

3. Why does Candy say ‘I ought to have shot that dog myself, George…’ on pg.89?

4. Using P.E.E, analyse how Steinbeck creates violence and tension in the section beginning ‘Curley stepped over to Lennie like a terrier’ on pg.90 and ending ‘he said miserably’ on pg.92.

5. How do you think these events will affect the characters at the ranch in the rest of the novel?

Week 4: Crooks the stable buck – loneliness, friendship and prejudice1. Read section 4 carefully.2. What do we learn about Crooks in terms of his appearance, history and how he is treated

on the ranch?

5

3. Why does Crooks seem suspicious of others and protective of his personal space?

4. Look carefully at pg. 102-105. Why does Crooks ‘torture’ Lennie in the way that he does?

5. Using P.E.E, analyse how Steinbeck demonstrates Curley’s wife’s anger and spite on Pg.113-114.

6. One of the main themes of the novel is loneliness. Make notes on how Crooks and Curley’s wife might be seen as lonely characters.

Week 5: Death and destruction on the ranch1. Read section 5 carefully.2. What more do we find out about Curley’s wife here? How does this make the reader feel

about her?

6

3. Look at the section from ‘Look out, now…’ on pg.127 to ‘I done another bad thing…’ on pg.128. How does Steinbeck’s choice of language make this a dramatic section? You should use P.E.E in your analysis of this extract.

4. What else is destroyed in this section? (think about Candy particularly)

5. Why is this so important to the novel as a whole?

Week 6: This is the end, my only friend…1. Read section 6 carefully.2. Look at pg.140 and compare it to pg. 18. They are similar, but Steinbeck signals what is

about to happen in very subtle ways. Make notes on how he does this. Look carefully at the time of day and the verbs that are used.

7

Pg.18 Pg.140

3. What do the visions that Lennie sees tell us about him and his relationship with George?

4. How does the ending of the novel affect the reader? Do you think what happens to Lennie is unavoidable? Use P.E.E in your answers.

Week 7: Recapping the main events and the key players1. In the space below, put together a time line of the key things that happen in each

section.

8

2. In the following boxes, put together a character profile with key quotations about their appearance, behaviour and important things that they say: George, Lennie, Candy, Curley, Slim, Curley’s wife, Crooks.

9

Lennie:

George:

10

Candy:

Curley:

Slim:

3. Using P.E.E, answer this question: What do you think of Curley? Consider: his relationship with his wife; his relationships with others on the ranch; his behaviour at the end of the novel; the way he speaks and behaves.

Week 8: Themes and writing an essay1. There are several important ideas (or themes) that underpin the novel. These are:

friendship/ loneliness/ dreams/ prejudice/ violence/ animal imagery. For each of these, 11

Curley’s wife:

Crooks:

use the blank pages at the back of this workbook to create a mind map of how these ideas feature in the novel and find quotations that relate to them.

2. Have a go at this practice exam question: How does John Steinbeck present the relationship between George and Lennie throughout the novel? Use your friendship mind-map to help you. Remember that essays should follow a P.E.E format. Attach your essay to the rear of this workbook. Here are some questions to help you get started:

a. How does George behave towards Lennie and vice versa throughout the novel? Discuss several specific examples from different points.

b. Think about the theme of loneliness. Why do George and Lennie stick together? How does this fit with the context of the novel?

c. Why does George have to do what he does at the end of the novel? What does his reaction suggest about their relationship?

This website might be useful too... http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/english_literature/prosemicemen/4prose_mice_men_sprev1.shtml

Week 9: Refreshing the context1. Go back to your notes from week one about the context of the novel. Knowing what

you know now, make notes about how the background to the novel features in the novel. For example, the way that Crooks is treated is clearly an example of racial prejudice, but how and why does prejudice affect other characters? (ie: Candy/ Curley’s wife)Attach your notes to the back of this workbook.

2. Have a go at this practice exam question in P.E.E format: Explore how dreams and dreaming affect the characters in the novel. Remember to consider the representation of the American Dream in your answer. (attach your essay to the back of this workbook)

a. Think about the different characters and their differing dreams: what are they like? What does this tell you about the lives of people at the time?

b. What happens to all of the dreams in the end? What do you think Steinbeck is saying about the American Dream as a whole?

Week 10: Up to you week!This week should be spent having a go at the things that you feel most unsure about. This could involve making revision cards about theme and characters, choosing extracts and analysing them closely (using P.E.E) or having a go at some practice essays. There are some available here: http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/micemen/study.html http://www.stmonicas.co.uk/Resources/user/docs/English/KS4%20-%20Literature%20Revision/Of%20Mice%20and%20Men/Exam%20Questions%20on.pdf

12

13