Writing a N5 Critical Essay Of Mice and Men

The question National 5 Critical essay questions are all phrased in a very similar way. “Choose a novel or short story which……….. By referring to appropriate techniques, show how the author has……….”

What techniques? Above the questions there is a text box, which tells you the type of techniques you could mention in your essay. Answers to questions in this part should refer to the text and to such relevant features as characterisation, setting, language, key incident(s), climax, turning point, plot, structure, narrative technique, theme, ideas, description . .

Looking at a question Choose a novel or short story in which there is an interesting character. By referring to appropriate techniques, show how the author makes the character interesting. ( From the 2016 paper) The question says “choose a novel”, but we have studied “Of Mice and Men” so that is what you will write about.

Choose a character First The first thing that you need to do for this question is: Choose a character We will choose the character of Lennie. What things make Lennie interesting? Think about: how he is described, his size and strength his actions, the way he speaks- that is called CHARACTERISATION, and is a technique that you can write about.

lennie Think about important events in the novel which involve Lennie: The incident with Curley- a key incident The killing of Curley’s wife- the turning point The climax, when George shoots him. These are all included in the “box” of techniques , and you can write about them in your essay. You would briefly describe the incident and then explain what it shows the reader about Lennie, or makes the reader feel about Lennie.

theme Another aspect of Lennie which makes him an interesting character is how the writer uses him to convey themes. Friendship ( as a contrast to loneliness and isolation) The dream of a better life. Theme is also in the “box” and so you can include it in your essay. You would explain how Lennie conveys each theme ( or one theme depending on your time.)

The structure of the essay So you have chosen your task, and chosen your character. Now you have to write the essay. Opening paragraph- remember T.A.R.T TITLE, AUTHOR, REFER to TASK

EXAMPLE A novel in which there is an interesting character is “Of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck. I intend to discuss the character and show how the writer uses various techniques to make him interesting. OR The character of Lennie in “Of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck is interesting. By discussing technques used by the writer I will show how he makes the character interesting.

What next? Briefly describe Lennie in a way that is relevant to the task: Lennie is an itinerant worker in the 1930’s in California. He travels around from ranch to ranch with his friend George. The novel centres around a few days on a particular ranch, and builds up to a tragic ending for Lennie. The writer’s description, characterisation and use of key incidents involving Lennie all make him an interesting character.

First technique- characterisation The writer uses excellent characterisation when he first introduces Lennie to show us that Lennie although a physically huge man, has the mentality of a small child. This is your topic sentence- the point you are making Now you need evidence: We see this when….. Explain what your evidence shows about him From this we can see that Lennie…. P.E.E Point Evidence Explain/ Evaluate

More characterisation Another interesting thing about Lennie is his liking for stroking soft things. He has a dead mouse in his pocket and…….. What this also tells us is that Lennie is very strong because………

Key incident A key incident involving Lennie is very interesting because it shows both his immense strength, but also his fear and his childish nature. This incident involves Curley and…….. Briefly describe what happens; quote to show something about Lennie; explain the effectiveness of the quotation in proving the point made about Lennie

Another key incident The climax of the novel in Chapter 5 also involves Lennie and is interesting because it shows how dangerous Lennie is because of his childlike nature combined with his huge strength. Briefly describe what happens; quote to support what you have said about Lennie; explain the effectiveness of the quotation in proving the point made about Lennie

theme “The theme of friendship and loneliness is conveyed through Lennie and his relationship with George, and this makes him an interesting character.” Explain how, and give evidence for this. “All of the other characters in the novel are lonely in some way, but not Lennie because he has George as his friend and protector. Give a quotation or an example to support this point, explain how it does so and analyse its effectiveness in showing that Lennie is interesting.

Another theme Lennie is also interesting because he conveys another main theme of the novel- the American Dream, the dream of a better life. Explain how, and give evidence for this. “Throughout the novel George and Lennie have a dream, which is……….” Give a quotation or example to support this point and then analyse it to show how it does so, and how it is effective in making Lennie an interesting character.

conclusion This is where you not only sum up the points you have made, but also explain what you have gained/ learned/enjoyed from reading this novel e.g how difficult life was for Lennie in an era when no-one understood people like him; how so many people who were itinerant workers like George and Lennie had the same dream, and why; how effectively a writer can portray a character in such an interesting way ( even though Lennie kills someone we still feel sympathy for him) etc.