6. Part A
Make sure you focus on the question and extract you
have been given and analyze it in detail – in the same
way you would analyze key words/phrases in the poetry.
Develop this with single word analysis.
Analyse any language features including key words and
their connotations which then leads to different
interpretations.
What could Steinbeck have been suggesting?
7. Section A – close language analysis
• Key words and connotations
• Symbolism
• Dialect
• Use of questions (interrogatives)
• Foreshadowing
• Semantic fields
• Listing
8. Part B
This time you need to refer to the rest of the text and
the key theme you have been asked to focus on.
Choose 2 or 3 relevant points from across the text and
relate them to context (life in 1920/1930s America).
You also need to link this to Steinbeck’s ultimate
purpose in creating this particular character/event.
9. Context
• Discrimination
• Segregation
• Roles in society
• Work
• The American Dream
• The Wall Street Crash and its knock on effect
• Migrant Workers
• Disabilities in 1930s America
• Attitudes towards women
• Hierarchy of ranch – microcosm of society
• Characters represent different attitudes
• Attitudes towards black people
• Attitudes towards old people
• Places to represent hierarchy – house/bunk/stable/harness room
