Of Mice and Men Lesson Plans Day #1 • Pick up books • Handout oppionairre, have students complete and discuss • Hand out History Activity document and have students complete activities #1 and #2; go over answers and discuss • Pass out Reading Packet Homework: 1. Students should complete Vocab. List #1 in Reading Packet Day #2 • Go over vocabulary words • Complete Mental Retardation activity o Have students read the supplementary article and answer questions o Discuss as a class, using the related notes in the Reading Packet • Discuss prejudices and problems that mentally handicapped people are faced with each day; how are these challenges different from challenges that mentally handicapped people faced in the 1920s? Use this discussion to set up the first scene of the novel where George and Lenny are kicked off of the bus. Homework: 1. Rd. Ch. 1 (p. 1-16 in Of Mice and Men) 2. Study for quiz on Vocab. List #1 Day #3 • Vocabulary Quiz #1 • Address any student questions about Ch. 1 • Show Great Depression power point to students. Discuss the images as a group. Then have student journal about the image that affected them the most profoundly and why.
Transcript
Of Mice and Men Lesson Plans
Day #1• Pick up books• Handout oppionairre, have students complete and discuss• Hand out History Activity document and have students complete activities #1 and #2; go over answers and discuss• Pass out Reading Packet
Homework:1. Students should complete Vocab. List #1 in Reading Packet
Day #2• Go over vocabulary words• Complete Mental Retardation activityo Have students read the supplementary article and answer questionso Discuss as a class, using the related notes in the Reading Packet• Discuss prejudices and problems that mentally handicapped people are faced with each day; how are these challenges different from challenges that mentally handicapped people faced in the 1920s? Use this discussion to set up the first scene of the novel where George and Lenny are kicked off of the bus.
Homework:1. Rd. Ch. 1 (p. 1-16 in Of Mice and Men)2. Study for quiz on Vocab. List #1
Day #3• Vocabulary Quiz #1• Address any student questions about Ch. 1• Show Great Depression power point to students. Discuss the images as a group. Then have student journal about the image that affected them the most profoundly and why. • Begin reading aloud if time.
Homework:1. Rd. Ch. 2 (p. 16-37)
Day #4• Address any student questions about Ch. 2• On the board: divide of characters into three categories: Ranch family/ Ranch Hands/ Newcomers; have students place characters in the proper categories and create character descriptions. • Use these categories to discuss how the theme of power is used throughout the novel; how would students rank character power in the novel so far?
Homework:1. Rd. Ch. 3 (p. 38-66)Day #5• Address any student questions about Ch. 3• Break students up into groups of 3 or 4; they will need their books and they should take the period to complete the Review Activity for Ch. 1,2 and 3.
Homework:1. Rd. Ch. 4 (p. 67-84)2. Complete Vocabulary list #2
Day #6• Address any student questions for Ch. 4• Have students sit in groups from yesterday and go over the review activity; all students should be taking notes during this period. • Break class up into pairs and have them complete the Power Ranking activity
Homework:1. Go over Vocabulary #22. Rd. Ch. 5
Day #7• Address any student questions about Ch. 5• Have students finish Power Ranking activity and then discuss as a class• In pairs, Complete the Ch. 5 review activity and go over as a class
Homework:1. Rd. Ch. 6
Day #8• Give students 10 minutes to write an answer to the following question: Did George do the right thing concerning Lenny?• Discuss journal question and euthanasia at length.• Handout “How to Attack and Poem” and read through it with the students.• Do a group reading of the two poems in the Reading Packet: “To a Mouse” and “Harlem”; as a class, discuss their connection to the book as a whole• Discuss Animal Imagery and foreshadowing the in the novel
Homework:1. Complete Theme Chart activity
Day #9• Go over Theme Chart activity• Hand out “Letter to George” assignment and have students begin
Homework:1. Students should have a draft of their “Letter to George” ready for peer evaluation tomorrow.
Day 10• Peer evaluation of “Letter to George”• Begin to review for test using study guide in Reading Packet
Of Mice and Men, by John SteinbeckMulti-Paragraph essay prompt
Of the four characters in the novel who are on the lowest end of the power scale (Curley’s Wife, Candy, Lennie and Crooks), who deserves the most pity? Who did Steinbeck intend for the reader to pity the most?
ENGLISH I- MISS PARKERPeriod 1Essay Question Writing Practice
1.
Q: Contrast the characters of Lennie and George. Mention at least three personality traits of each. Use specific incidents from the novel to illustrate your point. Also, be sure to discuss the connection between the two.
A: The characters George & Lennie in the novel “Of Mice and Men” are very different people. Lennie is a very large man. George, however, is rather small. Lennie loves mice. George doesn’t. Lennie kills most creatures that he touches. George, well doesn’t. But, their connected by friendship. They different in many ways but, they are bonded together forever.
2.
Q: Muder is a crime, in some states punishable by death. By all definitions, George plans and carries out the murder of his best friend. But there seems to be no concern for taking a human life. Why do you think this is so? Is it at all justified?
A: No one is concern of George taking Lennies life away because they thought he was being annoying and also he was “slow”. But that’s no way to treat someone if they don’t understand something. You need to explain it to them and make shure they understand. I think that George did it on purpose because he wouldn’t do it own his own. Everyone was telling him that they really didn’t trust him. But I can give George some credit because he wanted Lennie to die peacefully because everyone else was going to torture him. But George just went on and did it and know it’s over.
3. Q: The American Dream is for every man to have a place of his own, to work and earn a position of respect, to become whatever his will and determination and hard work can make him. In the novel, the land becomes a symbol, a hope of better things. Discuss how land (dream farm) is a symbol of the American Dream in the novel.
A: The dream farm, or land, is a wonderful example of the American Dream. The American Dream is for everyone to have a place of their own and a well paying job doing what you want to do. If you have land, or in this case, the dream form, that right there takes care of two parts of the American Dream. One part it takes care of is that you have a place to call your own. Another part it takes care of is that you have a job, because on a farm you grow produce. Selling food usually pays quite well because of the great demand for it. If you love to farm, or you have a “dream farm” in mind, it also takes care of the third part of the American Dream because you are doing what you want. For these reasons the dream farm, or land, is a wonderful example of the American Dream.
Is a person guilty of a crime if he doesn’t know that he has committed it? 1) Use your books to find specific examples of this occurrence. 2) On a piece of looseleaf, draw two columns. In the first column list the reasons why it should be considered a crime. In the second column list the reasons why it should not. 3) On the same piece of paper, try and come up with at least one or two real life instances in which this debate could arise.
Group #2:
In Chapter 2, Lennie begs George to leave the ranch. 1) Find this excerpt in your books. 2) Reread it aloud within your group. 3) On a piece of paper, write down why Lennie wants to leave the ranch ( at least 2 reasons), write down what this says about his character (at least 2 things), and write down at least 2 ways that this affected the outcome of the novel.
Group#3:
There is a section of the novel in which Candy admits that he should have killed his own dog. 1) Find this section in the book . 2) Reread it aloud within your group. 3) On a piece of paper, list the reasons why the dog was killed, why Candy should have killed it himself, and examine what situation this foreshadows.
Group #4:
Crooks is the African-American ranch hand who lives in a hut by himself. There is a part of the book in which Lennie goes to visit Crooks, and Crooks ends up being very mean to him. 1) Find the section of the book in which this occurs. 2) Reread it aloud to your group. 3) On a piece of paper, explain why Crooks is mean to Lennie, is Crooks behavior justifiable or not, and list at least 3 ways that Crooks and Lennie are similar.
Group #5:
In the book Crooks decides to take part in the “dream farm” idea with Lennie and George, but he later retracts his offer and decides to stay by himself. 1) Find the section of the book in which this occurs. 2) Reread it aloud to the group. 3) On a piece of loose leaf, explain why Crooks takes back his offer to take part in the “dream farm”. What does this say about him?
6. Why does Curley’s wife not have a name?7. Why is the book named Of Mice and Men?
Of Mice and Men, by John SteinbeckBasic History: The Great Depression, Migrant Farming and the Dust Bowl
ACTIVITY #1: Read the following passage. Take notes in the margins or underline important passages.
Causes and Results of the Great DepressionThe Great Depression took place from 1930 to 1939. During this time the prices of stock fell 40%. 9,000 banks went out of business and 9 million savings accounts were wiped out. 86,00 businesses failed, and wages were decreased by an average of 60%. The unemployment rate went from 9% all the way to 25%, about 15 million jobless people. The stock market crash that began on a black Friday in October 1929 and deepened in the ensuing months had immediate repercussion in Europe. Indeed, even before this, the
superheated boom in stock prices that marked the bull market of 1928 siphoned money from Europe. The pricking of the bubble sent shock waves throughout the world. The American market for European imports also dropped sharply as the entire American economy went into shock; and, to compound trouble, congress insisted on passing a high tariff law in 1930, against the advice of almost all economists. Effective operation of the international economy required that the United States import goods to allow foreign governments to pay for American loans. Moreover, the raising of tariffs set off a chain reaction as every government tried to protect itself against an adverse trade balance leading to currency deterioration. The result was a drying up of world trade that further fueled the economic downturn. These exceptions may seem more numerous than the rule, but the United States and most parts of Europe did enjoy relatively favorable economic conditions between 1924 and 1930. But it turned out that this prosperity rested on American loans and American markets, which now almost vanished. A European economy still recovering from the trauma of the war and its aftermath was too frail to weather this storm.By 1933, 26.6% of people who were wage earners were unemployed. Workers were either fired, laid off, or had extra work to do with less pay if they still had their job. The domestic market was affected and many lost their lands because they couldn't keep up with the payments, and most factory workers had to work twice as hard to earn the same amount of money they did before the Depression hit.Obvious results of the Great Depression in America were widespread hunger, unemployment, and severe poverty. People were forced to stand in bread lines to obtain what little food was available. Additionally, entire families were forced to move from state-to-state in order to find work. This led to the migrant worker phenomenon and probably one of the darkest times in all of American history.
Migrant FarmingAfter World War I, economic and ecological forces brought many rural poor and migrant agricultural workers from the Great Plains states, such as Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas to California. Following WWI, a recession led to a drop in the market price of farm crops, which meant that farmers were forced to produce more goods in order to earn the same amount of money. To meet this demand for increased productivity, many farmers bought more land and invested in expensive agricultural equipment, which plunged them into debt. The stock market crash of 1929 only made matters worse. Banks were forced to foreclose on mortgages and collect debts. Unable to pay their creditors, many farmers lost their property and were forced to find other work. But doing so proved very difficult, since the nation’s unemployment rate skyrocketed, peaking at nearly twenty-five percent in 1933.
The increase in farming activity across the Great Plains states caused the precious soil to erode. This erosion, coupled with a seven-year drought that began in 1931, turned once fertile grasslands into a desertlike region known as the Dust Bowl. Hundreds of thousands of farmers packed up their families and few belongings, and headed for California, which, for numerous reasons, seemed like a promised land. Migrant workers came to be known as Okies, for although they came from many states across the Great Plains, twenty persent of them came from Oklahoma. Okies were often met with scorn by
California farmers and natives, which only made their dislocation and poverty more unpleasant.
ACTIVITY #2: Please answer the following questions. Some can be answered by looking back at the passage, while others require you to think for yourself and put down your own opinion.
1. When did the Great Depression occur? What was most likely the inciting force of the Depression?
2. How was the rest of the world affected by the collapse of American economy?
3. What were the results of the Great Depression in this country?
4. In your own words, describe various factors that brought migrant farm workers to California.
5. What is the Dust Bowl and how was it created?
6. Why do you think California was viewed as a promised land? What about it might have seemed to special?
7. Why were migrant workers known as “Okies”?
8. How did the native Californians treat the “Okies”?
9. How would you explain the reception of the “Okies” by the native Californians?
10. Are there any similarities in the treatment of migrant workers from the Great Depression and the treatment of migrant workers today?
ACTIVITY #3: View the photographs of the Great Depression era and answer the following questions.
1. What is the most striking thing that you see in these photographs?
2. Which photograph (s) stays with you? Why?
3. Based on the photographs, why might this era have been called the Great Depression?
• LITERARY ELEMENTS• SETTING-• CHARACTERS-• PLOT-• THEME-• POINT OF VIEW-
• CONTRASTS• Lennie’s love for little things vs. his big body• Bunk house and its furnishings vs. George and Lennie’s dream• Lennie(big) doesn’t want to hurt anyone/anything vs. Curley (little) wants to hurt anyone larger than himself• Lennie’s acceptance to Crooks vs. Curley’s wife’s rejection o fhim
• IRONY• George is accused of stealing Lennie’s wages by the boss, but in truth, no amount of money could make caring for Lennie pleasant• Big lennie pleads with little George to protect him from little Curley• Being on the ranch is a hardship that they must endure to reach their dream, but being on the farm is actually what kills the dream• Through trying to express her own dream, Curley’s wife inadvertently kills Lennie’s dream• We see how much Curely’s wife hates Curley and then we see how he wants to kill Lennie because of her death• Lennie cannot remember simple things that would have saved him, but he could remember to go hide in the bushes by the river• AT the end of the novel, George is granted the freedom that he always wanted, but it is tragic because he is alone and has to live with the death of Lennie
• MOTIFS• WATER-Had to hide in a water-filled ditch to escape from Weed1st night- peaceful camp by the riverGeorge tells Lennie to hide by the river if he gets in troubleGeorge kills Lennie next to the river• RABBITSLennie’s dream involves caring for the rabbits1st scene special attention to rabbits at riverWhen Lennie drinks from the stream, he is compared to an animal
Rabbit hallucination at the end
• LIFE & DEATHLennie doesn’t care if soft things are dead or aliveThe death of Candy’s old dogThe birth of the puppies & the murder of the 4The death of Lennie’s puppyThe death of Curley’s wifeThe death of Lennie
• THEMES• COMPANIONSHIPAll men need someone to love and to love themThe dream is worthless for George without Lennie Their relationship sets them apart from the other workersCandy and his dogCrooks is the ultimate example of lonliness• LONLINESSCrooks, Curley’s wife and Candy• MERCY KILLINGPuppies by SlimCandy’s dogLennie• RESPONSIBILITY TO NURTURECandy and dogLennie and GeorgeNo Curley and wife
*Cyclical nature of the book*go over killing of Curley’s wife scene & discuss how the writing concentrates on Lennie
• Meaning of the book:• Compassion for the below-average and down-trodden• Wanted a large audience of readers to come to an understanding of a class of people entirely different from their own• Each character is ultimately destroyed by his own limitationGeorge trusts Lenny too much and as a result he kills Curley’s wife and George’s dream at the same time.
Even though Lennie’s dream is never realized, he dies believing in it.
Curley’s wife died because part of her dream involved being well-liked, and when she attempts to make friends with Lennie and in the process is killed.
ENGLISH I- MISS PARKER
Period 2Essay Question Writing Practice
1.
Q: Contrast the characters of Lennie and George. Mention at least three personality traits of each. Use specific incidents from the novel to illustrate your point. Also, be sure to discuss the connection between the two.
A: The characters of George and Lennie are very opposite to each other. George is smart and clever, while Lennie is stupid and mentally handicapped. For example, Goerge is the one who does all of the talking when they interview for a new job. George doesn’t let Lennie talk because he knows that Lennie will say something that they will both regret later. Goerge is also the one who is always making the plans for what they should do next. Goerge is always thinking, while Lennie is just trying to remember what George tells him.
Another example of George and Lennie being opposite to each other is George acts like a father figure to Lennie, while Lennie is the small child because of his disability. George watches over Lennie trying to do what is right for him. Like when George saved Lennie from being killed, when Lennie was accused of rape.
One final contrast between the two is that George is that George is easily excepted, but even though people like Lennie they don’t ask him to join in activities. Like when the workers invited George to go to town with them to a bar, Lennie was left behind at the plantation. But the two don’t only have contrasts, they have connections too. They both dream of larger and better things, and they both love each other very much, like a father would a son.
2.
Q: Muder is a crime, in some states punishable by death. By all definitions, George plans and carries out the murder of his best friend. But there seems to be no concern for taking a human life. Why do you think this is so? Is it at all justified?
A: There was no concern for Lennie’s death because he was hated by the people in the town he had killed the wife of Curley, a very important person, who had a lot of influence. This was not justified. I believe that Lennie did commit a serios crime but he did not no he did. You can’t punish a person who in his mind hasn’t done anything rong.3. Q: Muder is a crime, in some states punishable by death. By all definitions, George plans and carries out the murder of his best friend. But there seems to be no concern for taking a human life. Why do you think this is so? Is it at all justified.
A: There are no concerns there because they don’t know that he did it. For explame, he hid neer the river where no one can here them or see them. Also it wouldn’t mater
anyways because some people was looking for him to kill him for somethink he did meen to do. For example, when he saw the lady at the store and he thought that her dress was pretty and he touch it and she got scared and start screaming and he rip the dress and she called rape. Now in our state it is a problem b/c here if they find out that some body was killed, And if you was the only persona round they will cuse you of murder. That is the way it is down here.________________________________________________________________________
Of Mice and Men, by John SteinbeckReading Packet
Please do not lose this packet; place it in the literature section of your notebook. You will be referring to it each day, and will need to bring it to class as we study the novel.
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS: Keep these questions in the back of your mind as you read the text; they will direct and give import to your journey with it.
1. What does it mean to be a friend, in the deepest sense of the word?2. Is it possible for all people to achieve the American Dream? What role do race, class, gender, and ability play in the achievement of one’s dreams?3. Is “mercy killing” or euthanasia morally right or just?4. Should mentally disabled people be punished for crimes in the same way that non-disabled people are?5. What effect does loneliness have on people? Is it possible for a person to live a happy and satisfied life without a companion?_______________________________________________________________________
LITERARY TERMS: Fill out this chart and keep up with the examples from the text as you read.
VOCABULARY LISTS: Each word on these lists is taken directly from the text. You will need to define these words on this sheet in order to fully comprehend the novel.
READING JOURNAL PROMPTS: As you read the novel, you will be assigned various journal entries. These journal entries must be about a page in length and should be treated as formal pieces of writing. When you are assigned a journal entry, you may pick any prompt from the list below but do not use the same prompt more than once. Be aware that each journal entry will be evaluated by one of your classmates, so put forth your best effort.
Why does the character/ author …Why doesn’t the character/ author…What surprised me the most was…I predict that …The author’s writing style is …I noticed that the author uses…The main character wants/ is …If I could, I’d ask the author/ character…The most interesting idea/ event in this book is…I realized …That main conflict/ idea in this book is …I wonder why …One theme that keeps coming up is …I found the following quotation interesting…I _____________ this book because…I think _______________ because…A good example of _______________ is …This reminds me of ________________ because…__________________ was important because…The author is saying that …I would/ would not live in the time and place of the novel because …
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: Do not answer these until you are instructed to do so.
Chapter 11. Where did the bus drop the two men off? 2. How is George described? 3. How is Lennie described?
4. What does Lennie do with the water that makes him proud of himself? 5. What does Lennie not have in his pocket? 6. Why does Lennie not have it in his pocket? 7. What does Lennie take out of his pocket that gets him yelled at by George? 8. What did Lennie want to do with this item? 9. Where are George and Lennie going? 10. From where are George and Lennie coming? 11. When they get to where they are going, what does George tell Lennie to do? 12. Why did George and Lennie leave the last place they were at? 13. When Lennie goes out to get wood for a fire, what does he bring back that George takes away? 14. Who used to give Lennie mice? 15. Why did she stop giving Lennie mice? 16. What does Lennie want with his dinner that they don’t have? 17. What does George imply happened in Weed with the girl? 18. What dream does George and Lennie share? 19. Where does George tell Lennie to go if he gets in trouble? Chapter 21. According to the old man, why was the boss mad at George and Lennie? 2. What does George find in the box by his bed and what does he assume? 3. Describe the “stable buck.” What physical attributes does he have? What does the boss use him for? 4. Describe the fight between the “stable buck” and Smitty. 5. What is Lennie’s last name? 6. What does the boss suspect George of doing to Lennie? What makes him think this? 7. What reason does George give for taking care of Lennie? 8. What is George’s last name? 9. Who is Curley? 10. What does the swamper tell George about Curley’s left hand? 11. Describe Curley’s wife. 12. Why does she come into the bunkhouse? 13. Describe Slim. What is his job on the ranch? What are some of his character traits? 14. What did Slim do to four of his pups? Why? 15. What does Lennie want George to ask Slim? Chapter 31. What does Slim say he would have done to the dog if he hadn’t given it to Lennie? 2. What does Slim say he finds funny? 3. George says if he were really smart he would be doing what? 4. What is the story behind why Lennie and George travel together? 5. What can the reader infer about Lennie’s childhood and family life? 6. What did George do once that made him stop playing jokes on Lennie? 7. What card game does George play? 8. What does George tell Slim happened in Weed? 9. What sneaky thing does Lennie try to do? 10. What game has the other guys been playing while George and Slim talk? 11. What is Carlson’s problem and what does he tell Candy to do?
12. What reason’s does Carlson give for wanting Candy’s dog shot? 13. What does Whit show Slim? 14. What does Carlson say he has? 15. What does Slim tell Carlson to take with him when goes to shoot Candy’s dog? Why? 16. Whit says that George and Lennie must have come to work. What reason does he give? 17. What does Whit invite George to do “tomorrow” night? 18. Why don’t the guys visit Clara’s house instead of Susy’s? 19. Why does George say he will go and get a drink but that he isn’t going to pay for a flop? 20. What is Curley looking for? 21. What does Curley think Slim is doing? 22. What is Slim really doing in the barn? 23. Who has been listening to and finally interrupts George and Lennie’s conversation about the ranch? 24. For what reason would the people sell the ranch for only $600? 25. How did Candy get $250? 26. What is George afraid will happen to them if others find out they are going to buy a ranch? 27. What does Candy tell George he wishes he had done? 28. Why was Lennie smiling? 29. About what does Curley think Lennie smiling about? 30. What happens between Curley and Lennie? Chapter 41. What are two books that Crooks owns? 2. How does Crooks react to Lennie when he comes to visit? 3. For what reason did Lennie come to the barn? 4. Where is George? 5. What do we learn about Crooks family? 6. What does Lennie tell Crooks, even though he probably shouldn’t have? 7. What is Crook’s opinion of George and Lennie desire to get land? 8. About what did Candy want to talk to Lennie? 9. Where is George’s money going, according to Crooks. 10. Who visits Crooks, Candy, and Lennie? 11. What do we learn about Curley’s wife? 12. Before Curley’s wife leaves, what does she notice about Lennie? 13. What does Curley’s wife say she could have done to Crooks? 14. What is the last thing Crooks says to Candy? Chapter 5 1. What day and time is it at the beginning of chapter 5? 2. What is Lennie doing in the barn by himself? 3. Why does Lennie think that he might not get to tend the rabbits? 4. Who visits Lennie in the barn? 5. According to Curley’s wife, why isn’t anyone going to leave the horseshoe tournament?
6. According to Curley’s wife, how come she didn’t get into show business? 7. What can we infer is the reason Curley’s wife married Curley? 8. What plan does Lennie have to avoid getting in trouble? 9. What did Lennie lose that he wishes he had now? 10. For what does Curley’s wife yell at Lennie? 11. What did Lennie do to Curley’s wife? 12. Who finds Curley’s wife? 13. What does Candy hopefully ask George? 14. What favor does George ask of Candy? 15. What does Carlson think happened to his Luger? Chapter 616. Where is Lennie hiding? 17. With whom does Lennie have his first imaginary conversation? 18. With whom/what does Lennie have his second imaginary conversation? 19. What story does George tell Lennie? 20. What does he do while telling him this story? _______________________________________________________________________
BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Mental Retardation
Mental retardation is defined in three ways:• sub-average intellectual functioning (IQ= 70-75 range or below)• mental deficit results from injury, disease, or abnormality that existed before the age of 18• the individual is impaired in his or her ability to adapt to the environment
IQ growth does not occur after the age of 16—thus a child with an IQ of 50 would be expected to have a mental age of about 8 as an adult. An 8-year-old with a IQ of 75 would have a mental age of 6.
LEVELS OF MENTAL RETARDATION
MILD MODERATE SEVEREIQ 50-75 25-50 Less than 25Educability Y N NTrainability Y Y NIndependent living Often With supervision Custodial or residential care requiredSelf-care Y Y Limited or noneEmployment Often In a sheltered environment Limited or none
Bear in mind that there is no physical component of mental retardation, except in the case of Downs Syndrome. Therefore, a mentally impaired individual would look like everyone else, but would appear to be very childlike and probably emotional.
STUDY GUIDE: Use this to study for the test on the novel.
• Terms and their examples from the text:o CONTRAST—two things that are opposites which are placed next to each other in order to better show the differences. Lennie’s love of small things vs. his large size Bunk house and its furnishings vs. George and Lennie’s “dream farm” Lennie (big) doesn’t want to hurt anyone/ anything vs. Curley (little) wants to hurt anyone larger than himself Lennie’s acceptance of Crooks vs. Curley’s wife’s rejection of him
o Motif—images or things that are repeated throughout a piece of writing; they most likely represent something else. Water• Hid in the water-filled ditch in Weed• 1st night peaceful camp by the river• George tells Lennie to hide by the river if he gets into trouble• George kills Lennie next to the river Rabbits• Lennie’s dream involves caring for rabbits• 1st scene pays special attention to rabbits• When Lennie drinks from the river he is compared to an animal• Rabbit hallucination at the end Life and Death• Lennie doesn’t care if the soft things are dead or alive• The death of Candy’s dog• The birth of the puppies and the drowning of the 4• The death of Lennie’s puppy• The death of Curley’s wife• The death of Lennie
o THEME—lessons about life in general that the author is trying to teach through the book COMPANIONSHIP• All people need to love and be loved in return• The dream of the farm is worthless to George without Lennie• The relationship that George and Lennie share set them apart from the other characters in the book.• Candy’s love for his dog.• Crooks as the ultimate example of lonliness.• Hoe miserable Curley and his wife are without real companions. LONLINESS• Crooks –African- America ranch hand• Curley’s wife• Candy—how he feels after his dog is dead Mercy killing (euthanasia)
• The puppies by Slim• Candy’s dog by Slim• Lennie by George Responsibility to nurture• Candy and his dog• Lennie and George• No nurturing in the marriage of Curley and his wife
Of Mice and Men, by John SteinbeckReading Packet
Please do not lose this packet; place it in the literature section of your notebook. You will be referring to it each day, and will need to bring it to class as we study the novel.¬________________________________________________________________________
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS: Keep these questions in the back of your mind as you read the text; they will direct and give import to your journey with it.
1. What does it mean to be a friend, in the deepest sense of the word?2. Is it possible for all people to achieve the American Dream? What role do race, class, gender, and ability play in the achievement of one’s dreams?3. Is “mercy killing” or euthanasia morally right or just?4. Should mentally disabled people be punished for crimes in the same way that non-disabled people are?5. What effect does loneliness have on people? Is it possible for a person to live a happy and satisfied life without a companion?_______________________________________________________________________
LITERARY TERMS: Fill out this chart and keep up with the examples from the text as you read.
VOCABULARY LISTS: Each word on these lists is taken directly from the text. You will need to define these words on this sheet in order to fully comprehend the novel.
READING JOURNAL PROMPTS: As you read the novel, you will be assigned various journal entries. These journal entries must be about a page in length and should be treated as formal pieces of writing. When you are assigned a journal entry, you may pick any prompt from the list below but do not use the same prompt more than once. Be aware that each journal entry will be evaluated by one of your classmates, so put forth your best effort.
Why does the character/ author …Why doesn’t the character/ author…What surprised me the most was…I predict that …The author’s writing style is …I noticed that the author uses…The main character wants/ is …If I could, I’d ask the author/ character…The most interesting idea/ event in this book is…I realized …That main conflict/ idea in this book is …I wonder why …One theme that keeps coming up is …I found the following quotation interesting…I _____________ this book because…I think _______________ because…A good example of _______________ is …This reminds me of ________________ because…__________________ was important because…The author is saying that …I would/ would not live in the time and place of the novel because …
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: Do not answer these until you are instructed to do so.
Chapter 11. Where did the bus drop the two men off? 2. How is George described?
3. How is Lennie described? 4. What does Lennie do with the water that makes him proud of himself? 5. What does Lennie not have in his pocket? 6. Why does Lennie not have it in his pocket? 7. What does Lennie take out of his pocket that gets him yelled at by George? 8. What did Lennie want to do with this item? 9. Where are George and Lennie going? 10. From where are George and Lennie coming? 11. When they get to where they are going, what does George tell Lennie to do? 12. Why did George and Lennie leave the last place they were at? 13. When Lennie goes out to get wood for a fire, what does he bring back that George takes away? 14. Who used to give Lennie mice? 15. Why did she stop giving Lennie mice? 16. What does Lennie want with his dinner that they don’t have? 17. What does George imply happened in Weed with the girl? 18. What dream does George and Lennie share? 19. Where does George tell Lennie to go if he gets in trouble? Chapter 21. According to the old man, why was the boss mad at George and Lennie? 2. What does George find in the box by his bed and what does he assume? 3. Describe the “stable buck.” What physical attributes does he have? What does the boss use him for? 4. Describe the fight between the “stable buck” and Smitty. 5. What is Lennie’s last name? 6. What does the boss suspect George of doing to Lennie? What makes him think this? 7. What reason does George give for taking care of Lennie? 8. What is George’s last name? 9. Who is Curley? 10. What does the swamper tell George about Curley’s left hand? 11. Describe Curley’s wife. 12. Why does she come into the bunkhouse? 13. Describe Slim. What is his job on the ranch? What are some of his character traits? 14. What did Slim do to four of his pups? Why? 15. What does Lennie want George to ask Slim? Chapter 31. What does Slim say he would have done to the dog if he hadn’t given it to Lennie? 2. What does Slim say he finds funny? 3. George says if he were really smart he would be doing what? 4. What is the story behind why Lennie and George travel together? 5. What can the reader infer about Lennie’s childhood and family life? 6. What did George do once that made him stop playing jokes on Lennie? 7. What card game does George play? 8. What does George tell Slim happened in Weed? 9. What sneaky thing does Lennie try to do? 10. What game has the other guys been playing while George and Slim talk?
11. What is Carlson’s problem and what does he tell Candy to do? 12. What reason’s does Carlson give for wanting Candy’s dog shot? 13. What does Whit show Slim? 14. What does Carlson say he has? 15. What does Slim tell Carlson to take with him when goes to shoot Candy’s dog? Why? 16. Whit says that George and Lennie must have come to work. What reason does he give? 17. What does Whit invite George to do “tomorrow” night? 18. Why don’t the guys visit Clara’s house instead of Susy’s? 19. Why does George say he will go and get a drink but that he isn’t going to pay for a flop? 20. What is Curley looking for? 21. What does Curley think Slim is doing? 22. What is Slim really doing in the barn? 23. Who has been listening to and finally interrupts George and Lennie’s conversation about the ranch? 24. For what reason would the people sell the ranch for only $600? 25. How did Candy get $250? 26. What is George afraid will happen to them if others find out they are going to buy a ranch? 27. What does Candy tell George he wishes he had done? 28. Why was Lennie smiling? 29. About what does Curley think Lennie smiling about? 30. What happens between Curley and Lennie? Chapter 41. What are two books that Crooks owns? 2. How does Crooks react to Lennie when he comes to visit? 3. For what reason did Lennie come to the barn? 4. Where is George? 5. What do we learn about Crooks family? 6. What does Lennie tell Crooks, even though he probably shouldn’t have? 7. What is Crook’s opinion of George and Lennie desire to get land? 8. About what did Candy want to talk to Lennie? 9. Where is George’s money going, according to Crooks. 10. Who visits Crooks, Candy, and Lennie? 11. What do we learn about Curley’s wife? 12. Before Curley’s wife leaves, what does she notice about Lennie? 13. What does Curley’s wife say she could have done to Crooks? 14. What is the last thing Crooks says to Candy? Chapter 5 1. What day and time is it at the beginning of chapter 5? 2. What is Lennie doing in the barn by himself? 3. Why does Lennie think that he might not get to tend the rabbits? 4. Who visits Lennie in the barn?
5. According to Curley’s wife, why isn’t anyone going to leave the horseshoe tournament? 6. According to Curley’s wife, how come she didn’t get into show business? 7. What can we infer is the reason Curley’s wife married Curley? 8. What plan does Lennie have to avoid getting in trouble? 9. What did Lennie lose that he wishes he had now? 10. For what does Curley’s wife yell at Lennie? 11. What did Lennie do to Curley’s wife? 12. Who finds Curley’s wife? 13. What does Candy hopefully ask George? 14. What favor does George ask of Candy? 15. What does Carlson think happened to his Luger? Chapter 616. Where is Lennie hiding? 17. With whom does Lennie have his first imaginary conversation? 18. With whom/what does Lennie have his second imaginary conversation? 19. What story does George tell Lennie? 20. What does he do while telling him this story? _______________________________________________________________________
BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Mental Retardation
Mental retardation is defined in three ways:• sub-average intellectual functioning (IQ= 70-75 range or below)• mental deficit results from injury, disease, or abnormality that existed before the age of 18• the individual is impaired in his or her ability to adapt to the environment
IQ growth does not occur after the age of 16—thus a child with an IQ of 50 would be expected to have a mental age of about 8 as an adult. An 8-year-old with a IQ of 75 would have a mental age of 6.
LEVELS OF MENTAL RETARDATION
MILD MODERATE SEVEREIQ 50-75 25-50 Less than 25Educability Y N NTrainability Y Y NIndependent living Often With supervision Custodial or residential care requiredSelf-care Y Y Limited or noneEmployment Often In a sheltered environment Limited or none
Bear in mind that there is no physical component of mental retardation, except in the case of Downs Syndrome. Therefore, a mentally impaired individual would look like everyone else, but would appear to be very childlike and probably emotional. ______________________________________________________________________
