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 help.

4. Reading – section 3
• The characters:
How would you order these
• George characters to show:
• Lennie
• Slim
•The most important to the least
• Candy
• Carlson important?
• The Boss
• Curley’s Wife •The most sympathetic to the
• Curley 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
• Get a blank double page The mountains The sound of
silence is
and make a box in the are described
emphasised
centre. as strong
• Write in it The
Description of George
• Look at the example – I Description of the
have commented on how setting
the setting is described.
Do the same for the
character of George.
• Add evidence from the
text to support. Look in The shape and The peaceful
chapter 1. layout of the
setting is
bunkhouse is
described described as if it
clearly is heaven

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

8. What can we say about the way
Steinbeck uses...?
Language
• Clearly created
Structure Form
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 and
carefully crafted
imagery.

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.