1. Of Mice and Men Chapter 1
By John Steinbeck

2. Summaries
What do you know about George? Lennie? Their relationship. 1. Describe each 2. Describe why their relationship is… Top Tip: You need these as your study notes. To earn A you need to know what happens. To reach M/E you also need to know WHEN in the novel it happens (In chapter 3, …)

3. Summarise Chapter 1 Lennie/George Relationship. How? Why?
Setting- peaceful down by the river
Mood- relaxed, laid-back, hopeful about the future though a bit tense when George gets worked up

4. Questions- for understanding (remember to repeat key words)
George appears to get easily annoyed with Lennie. Do you think George is being honest when he says life without Lennie would be better?
What happened in the last town?
Why do you think George asks Lennie to familiarise himself with the clearing where they are staying the night?

5. Lennie – Find EXAMPLES (quotations) to support the following and EXPLAIN the context (when) this is shown.
Childlike and innocent
A loyal friend to George
A hardworker
trouble-making

6. George – Find EXAMPLES (quotation) to support the following and EXPLAIN the context (when) this is written.
Loyal to Lennie
resentful of Lennie
Clever/Responsible
Forward thinking/planned

7. NCEA 2008 Character Question: Describe a character or individual in the text whom you found interesting. Explain how the writer made the character or individual interesting to you. → Write a body paragraph (S.E.X.Y.) which answers this.

8. Theme: The American Dream is only a dream for most. (Achievable?)
Discussion:
What is the “American Dream”?
What might stop Lennie and George from living the dream?

9. Theme: The American Dream is only a dream for most. (Achievable?)
Notes:
What is George and Lennie’s dream?
What would they have to do in order to achieve their dream?

10. Dreams: It’s good to have a dream/goal/aspirations
Steinbeck is showing the reader this
WHY????
Motivation, purpose, something to achieve/know that you’re making progress
PURPOSE- psychologists have proven that you need purpose to be happy.
CHALLENGES

11. NCEA 2008 THEME Question: Describe at least ONE idea that you thought was important in the text. Explain how the writer made you think the idea was important. → Write a body paragraph (S.E.X.A.Y.) which answers this.

12. Achieved Template…
S- “One idea that I thought was important was… It is important because…”
E- “This means…”
X- “This is shown in the first chapter when…”
A- Steinbeck was trying to communicate the idea that…to the reader.”
Y- I think…
**The underlined is a repeat of the question’s key words

13. Foreshadowing Copy this:
Lennie says, “I won’t get in no trouble, George.”
What do you think is going to happen?

14. Insights (A/author analysis:): Steinbeck shows us
“, by using the contrast of Lennie’s size and his gentleness, that society can be very judgemental about people’s appearances.”
“how unusual it is for people to look after one another, especially during times of economic downturn. When men struggle for their own survival, the needs of others are secondary for most. This reveals George to be a man of outstanding generosity, loyalty and kindness.”