Section B
Of Mice and Men
Everything You Need To Know
Key Words
Soledad – The place where the book is set. It means ‘loneliness’ in Spanish
Solitaire – A card game for One person which George always plays. It shows how lonely he is.
The American Dream – The belief that people used to have when they moved to America. It was a belief that if you had a dream, and worked hard, you could achieve whatever you wanted to.
Skinner – Someone who drives the mules on a ranch
Stable Buck – Someone who looks after the horses and animals (Crooks)
The first two parts of the ‘Of Mice and Men’ question are always based on a short EXTRACT. We do not know what this extract is going to be, but in some ways is does not matter.
You know this book really well, so you will recognise where about this extract is from.
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO is read the extract and answer a few questions about it. It is just a basic COMPREHENSION like you have done since primary school. So don’t panic.
PART (A)
The first part of the question will ALWAYS ask you what we learn about a particular CHARACTER. It can be any character from the book.
TIP 1 – The question wants to know what we find out about this character FROM THE EXTRACT. So, don’t talk about things which happen in other parts of the book yet.
TIP 2 – Don’t talk about how the person looks, they only want to know about their CHARACTER/PERSONALITY.
TIP 3 – Get a highlighter and highlight any parts of the extract that give you a clue about the PERSONALITY of the character you are talking about. For example, if someone says something ‘angrily’ then we know that they have got a bit of a shirt temper.
TIP 4 – ALWAYS write in PEE. That means you always have to use a quote from the text in every paragraph.
EXAMPLE ANSWER –
One thing we learn about Slim in this extract is that he is a good listener, and he understands people. We know this because it says ‘his ear heard more than was said’. This implies that he knows and cares about what people are feeling even if they don’t say it.
Another thing which we learn about Slim in this extract is that he is kind to people and isn’t forceful. We know this because it says, ‘His voice was very gentle’. This shows that he is kind because on a ranch you would expect people to be loud or angry, but Slim is nice to people and shows them respect.
The next thing which we learn about Slim from this extract is that he believes in praising people for doing well. We know this because when George says nice things to Lennie, Slim ‘looks at him approvingly’. This shows that Slim is kind, and likes it when other people are kind too.
Notice how easy it is? The paragraphs always follow the same structure.
Make a point,
back it up with some proof from the extract,
explain what you mean!
Part (B)
Part B will always ask you about how LANGUAGE has been used. For this, you should simply write about 3 PEE paragraphs where you talk about some of the words that have been used in the extract.
The question here is, How has the author used language to present the relationship between George and Lennie is the extract?
If you don’t quite understand the question, just take the key parts of it and reword it slightly. For example, ‘What does the language in this extract teach us about George and Lennie’s relationship?’
All you have to do is highlight the parts where you learn things about George and Lennie’s relationship and turn this into paragraphs.
Here is what your answer should look like.
Example Answer:
One way that the writer uses language to tell us about George and Lennie’s relationship is by using swear words. George calls Lennie a “big bastard”. This shows that their relationship is unequal and that George doesn’t always have a lot of respect for Lennie.
Another way that the writer uses language to tell us about their relationship is by talking about facial expressions. When George gives Lennie a compliment, Lennie “smiles complacently”. This shows that Lennie looks up to George.
Another way that the writer uses language is by talking about body language and movements. Towards the end of the extract, George ‘points to Lennie with his thumb’ and he talks about him like he isn’t there. This shows that sometimes George treats Lennie like a child, as if he does not really understand what is going on, or isn’t there.
See!
Just do all of the following things:
*Always write in PEE
*Always use evidence from the text
*Always explain what you mean as fully as you can
*Always write as much as you can!
Part (C)
Part C will always ask you to find another part of the book where a certain THEME is important.
The theme can be anything, but will probably be something like:
POWER
FRIENDSHIP
OUTSIDERS
MONEY
DREAMS
ANIMALS
What you need to do is to know about 5 parts of the book so well that you can just talk about them very easily.
I am now going to list 5 parts of the book, and I am going to tell you why they are important.
1. The Brush – Near the start of the book.
Why is this part important?
POWER – This part of the book shows us lots of different types of power. We see Lennie’s physical power which becomes very important later in the book because Lennie kills Curley’s Wife. We also see the power that George has over Lennie. This is important because we see later on how Lennie causes destruction when he is left alone. This is also strange because in 1930s America, people didn’t travel around together because they were looking for work. We also see the power that dreams have over Lennie and George. They work so that can get their dream farm. George can control Lennie by threatening to not let him ‘tend the rabbits’.
FRIENDSHIP – This part of the book is very important when it comes to friendship. Firstly, it is where we are introduced to George and Lennie’s friendship which is what the story is based on. We learn that this friendship is unusual. Most people at this time were ‘loners’. In a way George is too because he always plays ‘solitaire’. But he looks after Lennie when no one else will. This is important because it shows how outsiders like Lennie don’t really have friends.
MONEY – This part of the book is very important when it comes to money. Firstly, we see how people are struggling at this time. In 1930s America, there was massive unemployment due to a great depression. Workers like George and Lennie travelled around the country and slept rough just to look for work. The rich bosses owned most of the money. Because of this, George decides to spend one last night of ‘freedom’ underneath the stars before he has to go and work. We also learn that the pair have a dream to own their own farm. To do this, they will need money which they haven’t got.
ANIMALS – This is a very important part of the book when it comes to animals. Lennie has a dead mouse in his pocket which shows his mental condition. This also shows Lennie’s strength because he has accidentally killed the mouse. The mouse is also a metaphor for the people in the book because it is thrown away and George says he can ‘easily get him another one’. This is like the people in the book who are used by the bosses and then thrown away.
2. The Bunkhouse/Curley’s Dog
Why is it important?
POWER – This is a very important scene in terms of power. Firstly, we see how Candy has no power. His dog is killed without his permission. This is because he is old, so he is an ‘outsider’. No one listens to him. Carlson is bigger and younger and bullies Candy into the decision. Slim is the one who has the social power. Everyone listens to Slim and he is the one who makes the final decision about the dog being killed.
OUTSIDERS – Again, this scene is very important here. Candy is very much an outsider because he is old and disabled. Because of this no one will listen to him. He is scared that if he steps out of line, he will be ‘canned’ (fired). In 1930s America, nobody would look after Candy if he got fired. He would get put out on the streets. Candy is worried that if he becomes useless on the ranch, they will get rid of him like they did with his dog. (not kill him, just fire him)
ANIMALS – The dog is very important in this part of the book. Firstly, it shows how things that have no use are disposed of. Lots of the people on this ranch might end up the same way. Secondly, it makes us feel sorry for Candy, the outsider. His best friend is a dog. He has no real human friends on the ranch. This shows how lonely life could be back then. Also, the dog here is very important because it is killed in exactly the same way that Lennie is killed later in the book. This is very important because firstly, it shows how and why George takes responsibility for killing his friend Lennie. Secondly, it also shows us how there is not much difference between the way animals are treated and how outsiders (Lennie) are treated.
DREAMS/MONEY – Shortly after this, George and Lennie are talking about their dream. Candy overhears them and wants to be part of it. This is very important because it shows how unhappy most people were on the ranch back then. Secondly, it is important because up until Candy offers them the money, they had never really taken the dream seriously. Once they have the money, George decides they will do it ‘in on month’. This is also very important because until Candy offers them the money, George does not really want to talk to Candy. He says ‘we was always just gonna do it ourselves.’ This shows that people are sometimes only interested in what you can offer them rather than the person you are.
3. The bunkhouse – Curley fights Lennie
Why is it important?
OUTSIDERS – This scene is very important when we think about ‘outsiders’. Firstly, Lennie is only beaten up because he is an outsider. Curley does not like him because he is much bigger than him, but he sees him as an easy target because of his mental disability. It also takes a long time for people to stick up for Lennie. This shows how people did not really understand mental illness in 1930s America. They watch him get punched for a bit before Slim says, ‘I’ll get the bastard myself’.
POWER – We see lots of different types of power in this part of the novel. Firstly, we see Curley’s power of status because he is the boss’s son. He is able to beat Lennie up and no one challenges him at first because they do not want to get into trouble. We also see Lennie’s physical power when he is able to crush one of Lennie’s hands. This is very important through the whole novel, especially when Lennie’s strength eventually leads to him killing Curley's wife by accident. We also see George’s power over Lennie. Lennie will not do anything to Curley because George told him not to get into any trouble. As soon as George says ‘get him Lennie’, Lennie starts to fight back. George has total control over Lennie. Maybe if George kept a closer eye on him, he wouldn’t get them into so much trouble. We also see how much social power Slim has on the ranch. He actually orders Curley not to get Lennie into trouble, and Curley does what he is told. This proves that Slim has got more power on the ranch than anybody.
DREAMS – This is important in this part of the book because this shows how easily dreams can be shattered. It is literally only a few minutes after George, Lennie and Candy have been planning their dream farm, when it all falls to pieces because Curley gets into a fight with Lennie. This shows that even when we have dreams, and think that things will turn out OK, they usually don’t because we don’t have full control over them. George and Lennie have ‘the American Dream’. They believe that if they work hard, they will eventually be rewarded and own their own plot of land. In reality, this is unlikely to happen, and they will probably always work for someone else until the day they die.
4. – Crooks’ Room
Why is it important?
OUTSIDERS – This part of the book shows us a lot about how outsiders are treated. Firstly, we know that outsiders are left out of the normal activities of everyone else. All of the men have gone out to town, and all of the outsiders (Candy, Crooks, Lennie, Curley’s Wife) have been left behind. This shows what attitudes towards women/disabled/black were like in 1930s America. It also shows us a little bit what it was like to be a black outsider back then. Crooks lives on his own in the saddle room of the stable. This shows us what people thought of black people back then. When Lennie comes into his room, Crooks says Lennie ‘has no right’ coming into his room. This shows us that Crooks wants to cling on to the right which he does have, even though he hardly has any. We also see how lonely Crooks is as an outsider. He says that he can understand why George hangs around with Lennie – just to have someone to talk to. He tells Lennie that when you are on your won for too long, ‘you get sick’. We also see how the outsiders find that they are much happier when they become friends. They even let Crooks get involved with the idea of the dream. However, when Curley’s Wife comes in, we find out that they will not let her be part of their circle. Curley’s Wife is ignored even by the other outsiders, meaning that she will be lonely and on her own forever. This causes Curley’s Wife to get very angry with Crooks and threaten him. She says that she will get him ‘lynched’, which means being hung from a tree (presumably by the Ku Klux Klan).
POWER – This scene shows us a lot about different types of power. Firstly, we see how little power Crooks has. He lives an awful life and nobody cares about him. He tries to show people that he has power by telling them not to come into his room, but they come in anyway. We also see that power of Lennie. When Crooks says to Lennie, ‘Say George doesn’t come back tonight’. Lennie gets very angry and aggressive, and we see another glimpse of the power which has caused many of the problems in this book. We also see the power that Curley’s Wife has as a woman. In one way she has no power whatsoever, because nobody will talk to her. However, in the end, we see that she has the power to get Crooks killed if she wants to. All she has to do is say the word. We also see the power that THE DREAM has over everybody. As soon as any of the characters hear about the possibility of owning their own farm, they become completely caught up with the idea and can’t think about anything else. Here, Crooks is the latest person to get caught up in the dream. He offers to come to the new ranch and work for nothing, just to get a roof over his head and some food. This shows how little power he has.
5. The Ending. Curley’s Wife is killed, and George Kills Lennie
Why is it important?
POWER – Lots of different types of power shown in the end of the book. Firstly, we see Lennie’s physical power. This has caused problems all the way through the novel, and now it causes a human death. We see also how George failed to control Lennie when he was his responsibility. Curley’s Wife also displays sexual power, because she is able to attract Lennie to spend time alone with her, even when none of the other men would. We then see many different types of power after Curley’s Wife has been killed. George insists on being the one responsible to kill Lennie which shows the power that he has over him as a friend and guardian. The dream still has lots of power over Lennie. He doesn’t see how bad it is that he has killed a person. All he cares about is that he won’t get to tend the rabbits anymore. We also see Curley’s power finally rise to the top. Nobody tries to stop him when he says he is going to kill Lennie. We also see how little power outsiders such as Lennie have. Nobody has any proof at all that it is him who killed Curley’s Wife, yet they all just assume that it was him anyway.
FRIENDSHIP – George and Lennie’s friendship, and George’s motive for killing Lennie are very important here. Many people say that George is being a very good friend to Lennie by killing him. This is because if Lennie was caught by Curley, he would probably be killed in a much more horrible way. Also, people see this as George taking responsibility for Lennie. Candy did not shoot his own dog, but George thinks it is his responsibility to kill Lennie, who he looks after. However, some people do question why George had to kill Lennie. They have run away before, so why couldn’t they do it again? Some people think that maybe this was the ‘final straw’ for George, and he has finally realised that if he wants a normal life, he has to get rid of Lennie. Other people question why George couldn’t just let Lennie run away and give him a chance. Whatever the reason, George obviously finds it very hard to kill Lennie because ‘his hand shakes’ when he raises the gun. Also, he makes Lennie think of the dream when he dies, so that he dies happy.
DREAMS – This part of the novel is very important when we think about dreams. Firstly, we learn about Curley’s Wife’s dream. She tells Lennie that she wanted to be ‘in the pitchers’ (movies). She tells Lennie that a guy in a bar told her he could get her a part in a movie. By the look of it, this was no more than a chat up line. Her dream of being in the movies is just as unlikely as George and Lennie ever getting their own farm. Dreams are also important here because it shows us how dreams never really work out. At the end of the novel, it looks like George has given up on the idea of getting that farm with Lennie, and he shoots him. They end up back in the same place that they started the novel to show that nothing ever really changes, and that things always go round in circles.
