1. Of Mice and Men
Today we will focus on
Steinbeck’s characterisation
and use of narrative
techniques.

2. 5 minutes…
• Top 5 things you can remember
about the opening of the story.
• Try and think of things that other
people WILL NOT say.

3. Matching images and sections
from the text
• You have got some
sections of text and
some pictures.
• Match the sections
of text with the
pictures that you
think best fit.
• On a Post-it note,
say why you have
matched them
together – use the
examples here to

4. Reading – section 3
• The characters:
How would you order
• George these characters to show:
• Lennie
• Slim
•The most important to the
• Candy
• Carlson least important?
• The Boss
• Curley’s Wife •The most sympathetic to
• Curley the least sympathetic?
• Crooks
•The best developed to the
least developed?

5. Section 3 – Of Mice and Men
Important events in section 3
• Lennie’s true strength is revealed
• We see how much control George has over Lennie –
with George missing, more problems would happen
• Curley’s true nature is revealed
• The idea of ‘red’ as a theme is developed
• Slim’s authority is revealed – even over Curley
• We learn the past of Lennie and George
• Candy has enough money to make the dream a reality
– George lets him in
• The death of the dog = foreshadowing later events,
creating tension, drives Candy to want to join George
and Lennie (motivation), we see Candy’s emotions
(responsibility), we see some intolerance from the
characters.
(Numbers = my order of importance)

6. Language, Structure, Form
The sound of
• Get a blank double The
silence is
page and make a box mountains
emphasised
in the centre. are
described
• Write in it The as strong
Description of
George
Description of
• Look at the example the setting
– I have commented
on how the setting is
described. Do the
same for the
character of George. shape
The
The peaceful
• Add evidence from and layout setting is
the text to support. of the
described as
bunkhouse is
Look in chapter 1. described if it is heaven

7. Language, Structure, Form
• Now add another layer to your
explanations – what’s the effect of the
description?
This
The
creates
effect The The sound of an
of this mountains silence is effect
languag are emphasised of…
e is… described
as strong
Physical
description of
the setting
The shape
and layout
of the The peaceful
bunkhouse is setting is described
as if it is heaven

8. What can we say about the
way Steinbeck uses...?
Language Structure Form
• Clearly
created
characters –
description,
speech, the
way others
respond to
them and
actions.
• Very simple,
but effective
language –
reflective of
the way most
people
spoke.
• Very vivid

9. Character Tops Trumps
• Use pencil.
• On the back, give each character a
rating from 1-10 for the categories
(1=weak, 10 super powers).
• Add examples where they are
asked for.
• On the front, write some key words
or quotes about that character.