1. No talking whilst I am talking
No shouting out- hands up if you need to ask a question
No rude or disrespectful comments
Listen – do not fiddle with pens , rulers and planners.
No talking whilst I am talking
Follow instructions – no arguing with each other or teacher

2. Chapter 6 Why does George shoot Lennie ?
Why does he shoot him in the back of his head?
Why does George say to Lennie’ so you can almost see it?’
Give 3 examples how Steinbeck uses wildlife and the environment as a symbol of death?
How does Lennie drink from the pool? How is this different to the beginning of the novel?
What does Lennie imaging seeing at pool?
Describe Georges mood as he approaches Lennie?
Is Lennie happy when he dies?
How is George feeling when he shoots Lennie?

3. What do we learn about George in this extract?
The first man was small and quick, dark or face , with restless eyes and sharp, strong features. Every part of him was defined: small, strong hands, slender arms, a thin bony nose
George knelt beside the pool and drank from his hand with quick scoops. Tastes alright he admitted. Don’t really seem to be running , through. You never oughta drink water that ain’t running, Lennie ‘ he said hopelessly. ‘You’d drink from the gutter if you was thirsty.’ …………………………………

4. There were sounds of splashing down the river in the direction Lennie had taken. George stopped whistling and listened.
‘Poor bastard,’ he said softly, and then went on whistling again.
In a moment Lennie came crashing back through the brush. He carried one small willow stick in his hand. George sat up.’Awright, he said brusquely.’Give me that mouse!’
George held out his hand. Come on. Give it to me. You ain’t puttin’ nothin’ over . 3
George stood up and threw the mouse as far as he could into the darkening brush and then he stepped to the pool and washed his hands.’You crazy fool. Don’t you think I could see your feet was wet where you went acrost the river to get it? He heard Lennie’s whimpering cry and wheeled about. ‘Blubbering like a baby! Jesus Christ! A big bastard like you.’ Lennie’s lip quivered and tears started in his eyes. Aw, Lennie! George put his hand on Lennie’s shoulder.’ I ain’t takin’ it away for meaness. 4

5. What do we learn about Lennie in this extract?
George ….. I ain’t got mine. I musta lost it.’He looked down at the ground Iin despair.
‘You never had one you crazy bastard. I got both em here. Think I’d let you carry your own work card?’
Lennie grinned with relief. ‘I thought I put it in my side pocket. ‘ His hand went into the pocket again.
George looked sharply at him. ‘What’d you take outta that pocket?’
‘Ain’t a thing in my pocket, Lennie said cleverly.
‘I know there ain’t. You got it in your hand-hidin it?
‘I ain’t got nothin’, George . Honest.’

6. ‘Come on give it here.’
Lennie held his closed hand away from George’s direction. ‘It’s on’y a mouse, George.’
‘A mouse ? A live mouse?’
‘Uh-uh. Jus’ a dead mouse, George. I didn’ kill it. Honest! I found it. I found it dead.
‘Give it here!’ said George
‘Aw, leave me have it, George.’
‘Give it here!’
Lennie’s hand slowly obeyed. George took the mouse and threw it across the pool to the other side, among the brush. 2

7. What do we learn about Crooks in this extract?
annoyed
Frustrated
independent
lonely
distant
unfriendly
intelligent
disrespected
unapproachable
isolated

8. A complete separation from others
isolation

9. Question B
How does Steinbeck use language devices to display isolation?
STRUCTURE

10. Question C
Explain how isolation is important in one other part of the novel.

11. Event. Curley’s wife talks to Lennie in the barn…
Question C
EXAMPLE
Event. Curley’s wife talks to Lennie in the barn…
What?
Explain one key moment- for example: Curley’s wife lets Lennie stroke her hair.
Describe
Link to theme. For example; This suggest /implies they she is islolated because…………….In addition, this suggests…………….because…………………………
Why?
Link to historical context. For example; This is surprising / not surprising because during the Great Depression………
BBC - Learning Zone Class Clips - John Steinbeck's 'Of Mice and Men' - Historical Context (pt 2/4) - English Video

12. Question C
Explain how dreams are important in one other part of the novel.

13. Question C
Explain how anger is important in one other part of the novel.

14. Question C
Explain how isolation is important in one other part of the novel.

15. Question C
Explain how justice is important in one other part of the novel.

16. Question C
Explain how friendship is important in one other part of the novel.

17. Question C
Explain how freedom is important in one other part of the novel.

18. Historical Context
Due to the Wall Street Crash in 1929 millions of people lost their jobs and travelled to ‘Golden’ California in search of employment.
There was no dole to fall back on so food was short and the unemployed in cities couldn’t pay their rent. Some people ended up living in settlements made of corrugated iron.
Due to the desperation for food , work and money friendship was rare – it was a case of every man for himself.
Men travelled from ranch to ranch in search of employment and men never stayed in one place long enough to make friends.
Woman were low on the hierarchy. They were traditional woman with few right. They were expected to cook, clean and mother children.
Woman who settled as housewives had the only job that was safe during the Great Depression.
Men had to prove themselves by being the main earner . Many men felt they had failed when they couldn’t provide for their families.

19. Black people were discriminated and were not allowed to mix with white people.
White male employment was first priority to many so black people had it even harder to find work.
The ‘American Dream’ gave men hope. However, with lack of jobs and money , the dream had become a nightmare . What was once the land of opportunity was now the land of desperation.

20. Characters/Themes Charlotte & Witold = Slim / Violence
Shay & Mia = Crooks / Dominance
Jade & Polly = Curley / Dreams
Lewis & Kyle = Curley’s wife / Isolation
Jordan & Courtney = George / Discrimination
Kyira & Luke = Lennie / Justice

21. Lennie Dreaming Simple Caring Large Nurturing Imposing Unaffected
Fanciful
Dreaming
Simple
Caring
Large

22. Jealousy
envious
resentful
grudging

23. Extract 2 Yeah …..sometimes.’
‘Jus’ talks on , an you don’t know what the hell it’s all about ?’
Yeah……..sometimes . But not always.’
Crooks leaned forward over the edge of the bunk.’I ain’t a southern negro,’ he said. I was born right here in California . My old man had a chicken ranch,’bout ten acres. The white kids come to play at our place , an sometimes I went to play with them, and some of them were pretty nice. My ol ‘ man didn’t like that . I never knew till long later why he didn’t like that. But I know now.’ He hesitated, and when he spoke again his voice was softer. ‘There wasn’t another coloured family for miles around. And now there ain’t a coloured man on this ranch an’ there’s jus’ one family in Soledad.’ ‘If I say something, why it’s just a nigger sayin’ it.’

24. How does Steinbeck use language to show isolation in this extract?
His voice grew more persuasive .’S’pose George don’t come back no more . S’pose he took a powder and ain’t coming back. What’ll you do then?’
Lennie’s attention came gradually to what had been said. ‘What?’he demanded.
‘I said s’pose George went into town tonight and you never heard of him no more.’Crooks pressed forward some kind of victory, ‘Just s’pose that,’he repeated …………………………………………
Crooks said, ‘I didn’t mean to scare you. He’ll come back. I was talkin’ about myself. A guy sets alone out here at night, maybe readin’ books or thinkin’ or stuff like that .Sometimes he gets thinkin’, an’he got nothing to tell him what’s so an’ what ain’t so. Maybe if he sees somethin’, he don’t know whether it’s right or not. He can’t tell. He got nothing to measure by. I seen things out here . I wasn’t drunk. I don’t know if I was asleep. If some guy was with me ,he could tell me I was asleep , an then it would be all right. But I jus’ don’t know.’ Crooks was looking across the the room now, looking towards the window.

25. What do we learn about Candy in this extract?
Candy looked about unhappily. ‘No,’ he said softly .’No , I couldn’t do that . I had ‘im too long,’
‘He don’t have no fun , ‘Carlson insisted. ‘And he stinks to beat hell. Tell you what . I’ll shoot him for you. Then it won’t be you that does it.’
Candy threw his legs off his bunk. He scratched the white stubble whiskers on his cheek nervously.’ ‘I’m so used to him ,’ he said softly . ‘I had him since he was a pup.’
‘……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Candy looked helplessly at him , for Slim’s opinions were law. ‘Maybe it’d hurt him,’ he suggested.’I don’t mind taking care of him.
Pg 69

26. Homework
What happened at Weed that caused Lennie and George to leave? (Write your
answers below)
2 What happens to Candy’s dog?
3 What happens when Curley picks a fight with Lennie?
4 Why is Lennie in the barn when Curley’s wife comes in?
5 Where does Lennie go to be alone after killing Curley’s wife?

27. Task. Find as many adjectives as you can to describe Curley’s wife
Confident
lonely
curious
flirtatious
powerful
controlling

28. What do we learn about Curley’s wife in this extract?
A girl was standing there looking in. She had full, rouged lips and wide –spaced eyes, heavily made up. Her fingernails were red. Her hair hung in little rolled clusters, like sausages. She wore a cotton house dress and red mules, on the insteps of which were little bouquets of red ostrich feathers. ‘I’m looking for Curley,’ she said. Her voice had a nasal, brittle quality.
George looked away from her and then back.’He was here a minute a go, but he went.’
‘Oh!’ She put her arms behind her back and leaned against the door frame so that her body was thrown forward.

29. She stood in the doorway smiling at them , rubbing her nails of one hand with the thumb of another. And her eyestraveled from one face to another. ‘They left all the week ones here,’ she said finally. ‘Think I don’t know where they all went? Even Curley. I know where they all went.’ 2
She regarded them amusedly. ‘ Funny thing,’ she said. ‘If I catch any one man,and he’s alone, I get on fine with him. But just let two of the guys get together an’you won’t talk. Jus’ nothing but mad.’She dropped her fiingers and put her hands on her hips. ‘You’re all scared of each other, that’s what.Everr’ one of you’s scared the rest is going’ to get something on you.’ 3
‘Awright,’ cover im up if ya wanta. Whatta I care? You bindle bums think you’re so damn good,. Whatta think I am a kid? I tell ya I could of went to shows. Not jus’one, neither. An’ a guy tol’ me he could put me in pitchers….’ She was breathhless with indignation.-’Ever’body out doin’ som’pin’. Ever’body! An’ what am I doing’?
Standin’ here talkin’ to a nigger an’ a dum- dum and a lousy ol’sheep- an’ likin’ it becauuse there ain’t no one else.’ 4

30. Explain the importance of ‘dreams’ in one other part of the novel.
Question C
What
Describe
Why
Task. Write the following words in three circles, squares or columns

31. Task 2
Choose your event
Pg 32 & 33( George and Lennie talk about their dream)
Pg 86 &87 ( Candy is keen to buy into George and Lennie’s dream)
Pg 108 &109 (Crooks tries to crush Lennie and Candy’s dream )
Pg 144 &145 (The moments before the shooting of Lennie)

32. Example
………………………………………………

33. What do we learn about Slim in this extract?

34. x10 Question A George is…………….as/because………….:(quote)
Keep your eye on the time!

36. Question B / Of Mice and Men
Noun, verb, adjective , adverb, pronoun
Steinbeck uses a/an …………………………. : (quote) This suggest/ implies ……………………because……………………………………………………………………….
In addition , this suggest……………………because……………………This could also suggest………………………
: alliteration, imperative verbs, repetition, rhetorical question, etc
Steinbeck uses ……………………..: (quote) which draws your attention to the word…………………… This suggests/implies…………………………..because…………….
Also/In addition ,this highlights/emphasises……………………………

37. Learning objective- To understand and explore themes and how social and historical context link to the novel.
Of Mice and Men - In Context (Part 1 of 2) –
YouTube

38. Task: What do these words mean to you?
Isolation
Violence
Tragedy
Innocence

39. What are themes? A theme is an idea that runs through a text.
A text may have one theme or many.
Understanding the themes makes the text more than ‘Just’ a text.
Themes help us to think more deeply about the text and work out what lies beneath its surface.

40. Power, friendship, dreams etc….
Question C
Explain the importance of in one other part of the novel.
Power, friendship, dreams etc….

41. Friendship In pairs discuss the following: What makes a good friend?
Have you ever had to say or do something for a friend that they we not happy with?
Have you ever had a good friend who you have fallen out with?
Do you think good friends can be replaced?
What is more important family or friends?

42. Task. Which of the extracts below show friendship- discuss in pairs?
They had walked in single file down the path and even in the open one stayed behind the other. Both were dressed in denim trousers and in denim coats with brass buttons.
‘Lennie !’ he said sharply. Lennie , for God’ sakes don’t drink so much.’’Lennie continued to snort into the pool. The small man leaned over and shook him by the shoulder.’Lennie you are going to be sick like you were last night.’
George ‘s voice became deeper. He repeated his words rhythmically as though he had said them many times before .’Guys like us , that work on ranches,are the loneliness guys in the world
They sat by the fire and filled their mouths with beans and chewed mightily. A few beans slipped out of Lennie’s mouth . George gestured with his spoon
Lennie was delighted. That’s it – that’s it. Now tell how it is with us.’ George went on . ‘With us it ain’t like that
Look Lennie. I want you to look around here. You can remember this place ,can’t you? The ranch is about quarter mile up that way.Just follow the river? Well look Lennie- if you jus’ happen to get in trouble like you always done before , I want you to come right here an’ hide in the brush.’

43. Task. Sum up the following events .
Event. Steinbeck introduces George and Lennie into the novel as they travel to the ranch along the opening of the green pool.
They sat by the fire and filled their mouths with beans and chewed mightily. A few beans slipped out of the side of Lennie’s mouth. George gestured with his spoon.
They had walked in single file down the path and even in the open one stayed behind the other,. Both were dressed in denim trousers and in denim coats with brass buttons.

44. Extended Task . Explain in another part of the novel where Steinbeck presents friendship.

45. One question and I’m ready to go
Stop! Need help
One question and I’m ready to go
GO! GO! GO!