Seoul International SchoolWinter Work
Due Date: January 9 (A Day) and January 10 (B Day) 2012 at the beginning of class.
Class: U.S. Literature
Teacher: Ms. Hogshead
Directions: While reading Of Mice and Men use this assignment to guide you with your understanding of the text. In class we will have a short quiz on content matter to ensure that you read the book over break. Also, to further develop critical understanding of the text we will continue examining the book in class with groupthinks and a writing assignment.
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Part I: Journal Questions
To better grasp the characters, themes, and literary techniques in Of Mice and Men, you will be required to complete journal questions for each chapter. Some questions will need only one-sentence responses, while others will demand several-sentence answers.
Of Mice and Men Journal Questions for Chapter 1
1. At one point, George says, "I could get along so easy and so nice if I didn't have you on my tail." What is George’s internal conflict regarding Lennie? Why do you think he stays with him?
2. According to George, what’s life like for “guys like us”? How are Lennie and George different?
3. Describe their dream for the future. What is the tone of the men as they describe it? Include support from the text for your answer.
Of Mice and Men Journal Questions for Chapter 2
- What insightful thing does Slim say about the fact that George and Lennie travel together? What does his comment say about society, and about his character?
Of Mice and Men Journal Questions for Chapter 3
- After most of the other men leave, Lennie asks George to tell him the story of their dream. What purpose does this dream serve in their lives? Explain why you think this using examples or quotes to support your thinking.
- Why does Candy say that he should have shot the dog himself? What do you think Steinbeck is trying to say about a person’s obligation to a friend?
Of Mice and Men Journal Questions for Chapter 4
- What is the importance of Crooks’ comment, “Books ain’t no good. A guy needs somebody - to be near him.... A guy goes nuts if he ain’t got nobody. Don’t make no difference who the guy is, long’s he’s with you. I tell ya ... a guy gets too lonely an’ he gets sick.”? What condemning statement about society has Crooks just made?
- What are some of the comments Curley’s wife makes when she interrupts the three men talking? What does Curley’s wife say about the dream? Why?
- What is the conflict between her and Crooks? Who is the winner, and who is the loser? What evidence from the text shows this? What point does the author make through this, do you think?
Of Mice and Men Chapter 5 Journal Questions
1. Which details of the novel foreshadow the death of Curley’s wife?
2. After viewing the body with Candy, what does George recognize about his dream of buying a ranch with Lennie? He changes here. Describe the future life that he now predicts for himself. Why does he picture such a future? What point do you think Steinbeck is making here?
Of Mice and Men Chapter 6 Journal Questions
Write two open-ended questions of your own.
Part II: What’s the Big Idea?
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Choose two concepts from the above list to follow throughout the novel. You need to find 8 key quotations that trace the role of your concepts throughout the book. Write a well-developed paragraph for each quote that explains its significance as it relates to one of your concepts. Be sure to include the page number that so you can compile all details for each concept at the end when they will be invaluable in facilitating a writing activity. Follow the two-column format in the example below.
Example from The Lord of the Flies:
| Concept | Detail from book w/ p. # | Inference |
| Civility | “The fair boy stopped and jerked his stockings with an automatic gesture that made the jungle seem for a moment like the Home Counties” (7). | Ralph comes from a structured environment that values tidiness of appearance, which is not necessary for mere survival. Golding’s diction--“jerked” and “automatic”—also shows this a mindless habit. Ralph’s only a product of a civilized society and finds comfort in its norms but doesn’t recognize the purpose behind them. Why question what makes someone civilized? Clearly this marker of a civilized boy—looking neat—isn’t relevant here on the island, but he concerns himself with it anyway. Are there other markers of civilization that ARE important? Does Ralph mindlessly take these for granted too? |
Questions that you might want to ask yourself: What is the author’s purpose here? Is there a theme that the author seems to be developing? What is the tone/attitude toward this idea? Is it treated differently in other parts of the book? By different characters? What patterns do you notice? Is this concept treated similarly or differently than other works that we’ve read? Does it remind you of anything from the “real world”? Does it remind you of anything from your world? Are there any other questions that you have about the passage?
Part III: Character Analysis:
A. Examine the character description in the following excerpts. Annotate each passage to find any DICTION, DETAILS, IMAGERY, FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE, or SYNTAX Steinbeck uses to establish his characters.
B. Then In the small boxes on the character map, list key DICTION, DETAILS, IMAGERY, FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE, or SYNTAX Steinbeck uses. Then insightfully explain how these words or phrases shape the character and the author’s intent in the large boxes. Complete one for Lennie, George, and Curly (see example).
C. Finally, choose one of these three characters and write a thesis that states how the author uses one or two of these methods to establish a character. Use your quotes and chart to help you write a well-developed paragraph that supports your thesis.
Passage for Lennie & George Character Analyses:
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. Both wore black, shapeless hats and both carried tight blanket rolls slung over their shoulders. The first man was small and quick, dark of face, with restless eyes and sharp, strong features. Every part of him was defined: small, strong hands, slender arms, a thin and bony nose. Behind him walked his opposite, a huge man, shapeless of face, with large, pale eyes, and wide, sloping shoulders; and he walked heavily, dragging his feet a little, the way a bear drags his paws. His arms did not swing at his sides, but hung loosely.
The first man stopped short in the clearing, and the follower nearly ran over him. He took off his hat and wiped the sweat-band with his forefinger and snapped the moisture off. His huge companion dropped his blankets and flung himself down and drank from the surface of the green pool; drank with long gulps, snorting into the water like a horse. The small man stepped nervously beside him.
“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 gonna be sick like you was last night.”
Lennie dipped his whole head under, hat and all, and then he sat up on the bank and his hat dripped down on his blue coat and ran down his back. “That’s good,” he said. “You drink some, George. You take a good big drink.” He smiled happily.
George unslung his bindle and dropped it gently on the bank. “I ain’t sure it’s good water,” he said. “Looks kinda scummy.”
Lennie dabbled his big paw in the water and wiggled his fingers so the water arose in little splashes; rings widened across the pool to the other side and came back again. Lennie watched them go. “Look, George. Look what I done.”
George knelt beside the pool and drank from his hand with quick scoops. “Tastes all right,” he admitted. “Don’t really seem to be running, though. You never oughta drink water when it ain’t running, Lennie,” he said hopelessly. “You’d drink out of a gutter if you was thirsty.” He threw a scoop of water into his face and rubbed it about with his hand, under his chin and around the back of his neck. Then he replaced his hat, pushed himself back from the river, drew up his knees and embraced them. Lennie, who had been watching, imitated George exactly. He pushed himself back, drew up his knees, embraced them, looked over to George to see whether he had it just right. He pulled his hat down a little more over his eyes, the way George’s hat was. (Ch. 1)
Character Outline – Lennie
Directions: In the small boxes list key DICTION, DETAILS, IMAGERY, FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE, or SYNTAX Steinbeck uses. Then explain how these words or phrases shape the character and the author’s intent.
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Character Outline – George
Directions: In the small boxes, list key DICTION, DETAILS, IMAGERY, FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE, or SYNTAX Steinbeck uses. Then explain how these words or phrases shape the character and the author’s intent.
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Passage for Curley Character Analyses:
At that moment a young man came into the bunk house; a thin young man with a brown face, with brown eyes and a head of tightly curled hair. He wore a work glove on his left hand, and, like the boss, he wore high-heeled boots. “Seen my old man?” he asked.
The swamper said, “He was here jus’ a minute ago, Curley. Went over to the cook house, I think.”
“I’ll try to catch him,” said Curley. His eyes passed over the new men and he stopped. He glanced coldly at George and then at Lennie. His arms gradually bent at the elbows and his hands closed into fists. He stiffened and went into a slight crouch. His glance was at once calculating and pugnacious. Lennie squirmed under the look and shifted his feet nervously. Curley stepped gingerly close to him. “You the new guys the old man was waitin’ for?”
“We just come in,” said George.
“Let the big guy talk.”
Lennie twisted with embarrassment.
George said, “S’pose he don’t want to talk?”
Curley lashed his body around. “By Christ, he’s gotta talk when he’s spoke to. What the hell are you gettin’ into it for?”
“We travel together,” said George coldly.
“Oh, so it’s that way.” George was tense, and motionless. “Yeah, it’s that way.”
Lennie was looking helplessly to George for instruction.
“An’ you won’t let the big guy talk, is that it?”
“He can talk if he wants to tell you anything.” He nodded slightly to Lennie.
“We jus’ come in,” said Lennie softly.
Curley stared levelly at him. “Well, nex’ time you answer when you’re spoke to.” He turned toward the door and walked out, and his elbows were still bent out a little.
Character Outline – Curly
Directions: In the small boxes, list key DICTION, DETAILS, IMAGERY, FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE, or SYNTAX Steinbeck uses. Then explain how these words or phrases shape the character and the author’s intent.
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