This document provides a 6-point plan for analyzing language in Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck: 1. Each paragraph should make a point about a theme, then use a quote as evidence. 2. The analysis should explain what the quote shows, analyze specific words/techniques, discuss Steinbeck's purpose, and consider the reader's response. 3. To achieve high grades, language analysis must analyze specific words or techniques, Steinbeck's purpose in telling us something about society, and relate it to the historical context of migrant workers and racial segregation in America.

1. Of Mice and Men
Language analysis

2. Language analysis – what you need to include.
• Not just a PQE/PEE – this is too simple for GCSE now!
• Your explanation needs to be more detailed in order to achieve the top
grades (C-A*)
• Each section of language analysis must:
• 1. Analyse specific language (words) or language techniques (simile,
metaphor)
• 2. say what Steinbeck’s purpose is – is he trying to tell us something
about society at the time?
• 3. Relate to context (American Dream, migrant workers, racial
segregation etc.)
• 4. say how the reader feels towards the character or description

3. The 6 point plan
Each paragraph that you write needs to be focused on making a point
and then using a quote to prove this point.
An excellent paragraph will use all of the 6 points, and keep relating
the analysis back to the original point they made.
Point (theme)
Quote or evidence
Explanation about what the quote shows us (brief)
One word/phrase/technique analysis – what does the use of this
word suggest?
Purpose/message (Steinbeck’s)
Reader’s response

4. You should ask yourself if you have
done these things…
Assessment Objectives:
1. Confident interpretation of texts
• Have you interpreted a theme?
• Have you interpreted something about the character?
• Have you considered the reader’s response to the text, or alternative
interpretations?
2. Confident engagement with writer’s ideas
• Have you commented on what Steinbeck’s purpose is?
• Have you commented on what his message may be to his readership?
• Have you related his ideas to the context of the time?
3. Confident analysis of language and structure
• Have you analysed specific words/techniques in the quote?
• Have you commented on why Steinbeck has used this language or technique?
• Have you analysed structure (either in the quote (sentence length etc) or the
position of the quote in the novel (beginning, middle, end etc)?