OF MICE AND MEN NATIONAL 5 ESSAY – THEME: RACISM

ESSAY QUESTION Choose a novel which deals with an important issue. Show how the writer deepens your understanding of this issue.

BACKGROUND TO THE THEME OF RACISM At the time John Steinbeck wrote ‘Of Mice and Men’ black people were treated as second-class citizens. The situation was particularly bad in the southern states. Black people were not allowed to share the same facilities as white people in public and on public transport. Children went to separate schools. Work was hard to come by and those who did find work, had poorly paid menial jobs. Black people did not have the right to vote.

BACKGROUND TO THE THEME OF RACISM An organisation called the Ku Klux Klan (KKK), originally formed in 1867 and then disbanded, regrouped in 1915 in an attempt to maintain white supremacy in the South. As well as attacking black people, they attacked Jews, Roman Catholics and people whom they considered to hold radical views.

BACKGROUND TO THE THEME OF RACISM From 1920 they became so powerful they were able to elect klansmen to political positions and southern juries were reluctant to convict KKK men for even the most serious crimes. One of the questions from the ‘Kloran’ – the KKK book of rules, was: ‘Do you believe in and will you faithfully strive for the eternal maintenance of white supremacy?’ Lynchings were a common form of punishments inflicted on the black people by the KKK – particularly for alleged crimes against a white person. This is what enabled Curley’s wife to threaten Crooks in the way she did in chapter 4. Now he accepts the situation by twice saying to her ‘Yes, ma’am.’

VOCABULARY LYNCH – put to death without a trial SUPREMACY – state of being supreme/the best RACISM – hostile attitude or behaviour to members of other races in the belief that one’s own race is supreme

ESSAY PLANNING What is your job in this essay? How does the novel deepen our understanding of the issue? Which parts of the novel relate to racism? What does each part tell us about the theme of racism? What should you put in your main paragraphs?

RACISM – the key points of the novel Introduction of Crooks (ch4) – shows he is treated as no better than an animal He was once invited into the bunkhouse (p41, ch 2) – shows how he was treated by the other men Crooks’childhood – shows how life has changed for Crooks and how racism is something that is learned Crooks’ behaviour and attitude towards Lennie – shows the effects of being treated in such a way; shows how it changes a person Curley’s wife’s treatment of Crooks. She is the one who speaks the truth.- shows the real danger…

INTRODUCTION Use the background information and the task to create your introduction Remember you must refer to title, genre, author, setting in time and place and sum up plot as well as refer to task. Possible opening sentences could be – ‘When Steinbeck wrote ‘Of Mice and Men’...’ ‘ ‘Of Mice and Men’ is a novel set...’ ‘During the 1930s in America...’

PARA 1 – introducing the theme To write an effective essay on the theme of racism, you will first to have to explain that one of the characters in the novel is black and it is through this character and others’ treatment of him, that the issue of racism is explored and give details about this character. Possible opening sentences could be – ‘The novel explores the theme of racism through the minor character...’ ‘Crooks is...’ ‘The reader’s understanding of the issue of racism is deepened through...’ (make sure you have done everything outlined in the above guide before moving on)

PARA 1 – the first way the novel deepens your understanding of the theme Next – choose the first way in which the novel deepens your understanding Make your point Possible opening sentences could be: ‘The character of Crooks is used to explore the theme of racism. The focus of chapter four and from the description of the setting...’ ‘The character of Crooks is used to explore the theme of racism. The way in which Steinbeck describes where Crooks lives...’ Try to develop the point... Provide context for your quotation Quote – using a new line Analyse by really focussing on words, phrases or techniques in the quotation A further example is...quote...analyse Evaluation - At this point the reader realises/understands...

PARA 2 - the second way the novel deepens your understanding of the theme Next – choose the second way in which the novel deepens your understanding Possible opening sentences: ‘In chapter 2 before Crooks appears in the novel, we learn about the time he was once invited into the bunkhouse…’ ‘Candy’s story about the time he was invited into the bunkhouse reveals..’ Try to develop the point... Provide context for your quotation Quote – using a new line Analyse by really focussing on words, phrases or techniques in the quotation A further example is...quote...analyse Evaluation - At this point the reader realises/understands...

PARA 3 - the third way the novel deepens your understanding of the theme Next – choose the third way in which the novel deepens your understanding Possible opening sentences could be: ‘Crooks’ treatment of Lennie reveals...’ ‘It is clear from the way Crooks treats Lennie that...’ Try to develop the point... Provide context for your quotation Quote – using a new line Analyse by really focussing on words, phrases or techniques in the quotation Evaluation - At this point the reader realises/understands...

PARA 4 - the fourth way the novel deepens your understanding of the theme Next – choose the fourth way in which the novel deepens your understanding Possible opening sentences: ‘When Crooks becomes friendlier towards Lennie he explains how life was different when he was a child...’ ‘The reader realises that life has not always been as tough for Crooks when he later tells Lennie about his childhood...’ ‘Despite his earlier treatment of Lennie, Crooks confides in him about his childhood which reveals...’ Try to develop the point... Provide context for your quotation Quote – using a new line Analyse by really focussing on words, phrases or techniques in the quotation Evaluation - At this point the reader realises/understands...

PARA 5 - the fifth way the novel deepens your understanding of the theme Next – choose the fourth way in which the novel deepens your understanding Possible opening sentences: ‘It is the words of Curley’s wife that reveal the truth about racism...’ ‘At the end of the chapter Curley’s wife’s treatment of Crooks reveals...’ Try to develop the point... Provide context for your quotation Quote – using a new line Analyse by really focussing on words, phrases or techniques in the quotation Evaluation - At this point the reader realises/understands...

CONCLUSION Refer back to task e.g. In conclusion, ‘Of Mice and Men’ explores the theme of racism… Sum up (briefly!) the points you have made in each para of your essay End with a thoughtful comment about something the novel made you realise to do with racism.