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© Boardworks Ltd 20061 of 141 of 14 © Boardworks Ltd 2006
Of Mice and Men
Section ThreeThese icons indicate that teacher’s notes or useful web addresses are available in the Notes Page.
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For more detailed instructions, see the Getting Started presentation.
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Complete the plot summary by filling in the blanks.
Plot summary (Section Three)
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Vocabulary
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Cinematography
Reread the first three pages of the third section. Notice how the writing has an almost cinematic quality. The characters’ movements, the lighting effects and the ‘sounds off’ are recounted with the same level of detail a dramatist might include in a play or film script.
See how many ‘cinematic’ moments you can identify!
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Cinematography
What kind of atmosphere is created by these techniques? (Hint: you might want to consider the contrast between the bunk house interior and the game outside, and the way the light plays on different
characters.)
Can you think of any other reasons why Steinbeck might have adopted a cinematic style?
Try rewriting the first two or three pages of this section of the novel as a screenplay. Remember to include stage directions!
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Words for Slim
Can you think of some words used to describe Slim?
Godlike
calm
quiet and receptive
invitation to confidence
the light was not on his face gentle
kindly
ageless
majesty
the prince of the ranch
understanding beyond thought
gravity
“Hell of a nice fella”
delicate
Slim’s opinions were law
“Nobody don’t know what Slim can do”
Slim’s eyes were level and unwinking
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The role of Slim
Think about the character of Slim.
Slim is generally seen as the moral centre of the novel. Beyond that, however, some critics find him uninteresting. According to this point of view, Slim isn’t a properly rounded character: he’s just a tool used by Steinbeck to tell his readers what their moral stance ought to be.
For instance, we might easily suspect, as the boss does, that George is taking advantage of Lennie in some way. Slim’s acceptance of George’s account of their friendship shows that this is not so.
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The author’s stand-in?
A more interesting way of putting this is to say that Slim represents the author. With his ‘calm’, ‘Godlike’, ‘level and unwinking’ eyes he, like the author, sees and knows everything. What Slim thinks can, therefore, be taken as representative of the authorial viewpoint.
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Man of mystery?
However, some critics believe it is a mistake to reduce Slim to the role of the author’s moral mouthpiece. Such commentators point to the ambiguities in Slim’s character and argue that he is disturbingly complex.
Which aspects of Slim’s character could be interpreted in both a positive and a negative way?
If we conclude that Slim is flawed, can we still take his word on the moral issues in the novel – or do these issues defy any easy resolution? (There is no right answer!)
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Hotseat
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Questions
Why do you think Candy finally agrees to have his dog shot? (Hint: there may be more than one reason.)
Why does Candy want to join George and Lennie in their dream of the farm?
What is the significance of Candy saying “I should’ve shot that dog myself” at the moment he does?
Why does Curley agree to say that he caught his hand in a machine?
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Revision anagrams
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Predictions
We are now halfway through the novel, and have reached the first major narrative climax.
Candy’s offer of financial help has made George and Lennie’s dream of owning their own farm seem possible…
…but Lennie and George have narrowly escaped being sacked after Curley attacked Lennie.
Choose a character and, writing or speaking from that character’s perspective, say what you think will happen next – and why.
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Extension work
1. Imagine you are one of the characters in the novel. Write an account of events in the bunk house that evening using the first person narrative voice. Try to imitate the characters’ style of speech!
2. The dialogue in the novel sounds more authentic because it uses a lot of contemporary slang. See if you can track down the meanings of some of the following: whing-ding; looloo; yella-jackets; jail bait; set on the trigger; kewpie doll; goo-goos; handy; can; punk.