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The Language Exam Last minute A-A* Exam support Tackling the Of Mice and Men Section Approx. Reading time for study at home – 2 hours

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Page 1: Language Paper Exam Support

The Language Exam Last minute A-A* Exam

support Tackling the Of Mice and Men

SectionApprox. Reading time for study at home – 2 hours

Page 2: Language Paper Exam Support

How to use this pack:

1. Study carefully the mark scheme.2. Take note of Steinbeck’s overall

intentions and key themes. 3. Understand how different

characters use language and why.4. Read over examples of how to

closely analyse language.5. Read the frequently asked

questions to support exam confidence.

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The Layout of the Exam The paper is 1 hour 45 minutes long

Section A – Of Mice and Men – 40 marks Section B – Writing task – 24 marks

You should spend: 60 minutes on Section A45 minutes on section B.

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Section A - Of Mice and Men layout Question Type Marks Time you

should spend on it

Question 1 You will be given a short extract. You will be asked to comment on how Steinbeck uses language to influence our views on a character, theme or setting

16 25 minutes

Question 2 You will be asked to find an extract from a different part of the novel, and to comment on how another character, theme or setting is presented in this extract.

24 35 minutes

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Timing is everything-You have 1 hour for Of Mice and

Men.

- You should spend 25 minutes for the

first question-35 minutes for the

second.

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The mark scheme-You are assessed on one

Assessment Objective:

A03 – Studying written language

-It is broken up into 3 key skills....

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The different skills A03 wants you to show:

What this means:

- You can read and understand texts

- select appropriate material, collate material from different sources

- make comparisons and cross-references between language use as appropriate

-Show that you really understand the ideas of the novel -Use evidence from different parts of the same extract to support your ideas -Find patterns in language use in the same passage -Explore the overall impression we get towards a character, theme or setting by referring to specific language features in different parts of the same passage

- Develop and sustain interpretations of Steinbeck’s ideas and perspectives

- When you interpret how a character, theme or setting is presented, you are able to fully develop your ideas by uncovering many layers of meaning. -When discussing a character or theme, you show that you are aware of the different perspectives in the novel -Always suggest what Steinbeck is trying to show us through these different perspectives.

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iii) Explain and evaluate how Steinbeck uses language, grammar and structure to achieve effects and engage and influence the reader.

-Refer very closely to specific word choices and discuss meaning of words and phrases -Identify a range of different language techniques Steinbeck uses -Suggest where and why words occur in a passage by asking: what added information does this word / language feature give us?-Always talk about the effects these have on the reader -Always suggest why Steinbeck uses different language features and what he is trying to show us

The different skills A03 assesses you on:

What this means:

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What impresses the examiners Evidence that you have understood Steinbeck’s

ideas and purpose for presenting a character / theme in a certain way.

The widespread ability to select relevant examples of Steinbeck’s language, with a grasp of a range of language features.

Offering comments that relates these examples to the themes and ideas of the novel.

A sensitive understanding and empathy with different characters.

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The bottom line.....

The examiner wants you to show that you understand:

1. The impressions that language gives the reader.

2. Why Steinbeck chooses to use specific words to present a character / theme in a certain way.

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Steinbeck and his novel 1. The novel has an underlying

morality that cuts beneath all the characters and the central themes

2. Steinbeck shows a deep and profound concern for victims and human suffering through his characters.

A* Take-awaysWhen analysing how a character is presented through language, try to take a sensitive and sympathetic view of them; always look for hints of their hidden emotions, motives and feelings, and contrast them with their outer appearances. Recognise that Steinbeck’s characters

attempt to hide their feelings in order to survive the hostile conditions on the ranch. This will take you naturally towards

commenting on Steinbeck’s intentions and how he subtlety reveals the many layers of human suffering and the trapped victims in his

novel.

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Victims and emotional suffering

Hopes and dreams

Hostility and aggression

Isolation and loneliness

Friendship, loyalty and dependency.

Key themes

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Steinbeck’s characters: Most are in some way mentally, physically or

emotionally impaired or scarred. Despite the hardness of their exterior,

Steinbeck’s language reveals a hidden softness or vulnerability in them.

We are encouraged to feel sympathetic towards his characters– they all have different hopes and dreams, and experience frustration, loneliness or isolation, and are victims to the hostile conditions on the ranch.

Take-awaysWhen analysing how language influences our view of different characters, look out for any of the key ideas

above, and consider how these characters embody these ideas through the language Steinbeck uses.

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On the following slides, you will find an overview of how

Steinbeck uses different language features to define

his characters.

Use these as an idea of the types of things the examiner is looking for you to comment on

when you closely analyse a passage.

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Characteristic language use:

Crooks’ speech is frequently defensive, scornful and is used as a way of protecting himself. The verbs and adverbs Steinbeck

uses to describe his actions suggest inbuilt apprehension, suspicion and emotional distance and guardedness from the

other men. His character and the language Steinbeck uses to describe him and his environment, physically embodies the

themes of loneliness and isolation, as well as hostility developed from years of mistreatment.

Although on the surface Crooks’ character is hardened and bitter, Steinbeck reveals through language Crooks’ emotional frustrations, the effects of maltreatment, and

how hard he tries to disguise his vulnerabilities. Therefore, all language is intended to present him as a

sympathetic character to the reader and to provoke feelings of pity towards his isolation.

Crook’s – an isolated black

man on the ranch – he has faced

years of discrimination

Crooks and language – apply these key ideas to passage analysis in exam

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Characteristic language use:His child-like nature and simplicity is

frequently expressed through is speech – Steinbeck uses simple, single syllabic words

to express his thoughts and ideas.

The language used to describe him suggests that he is vulnerable and needs protecting from the world. Steinbeck frequently uses similes to

liken him to an animal to show that he is instinctive, and unguarded.

In his speech, he frequently repeats words, phrases and ideas to show us how

preoccupied he can become with insignificant things, and how his own perceptions of the

world centre around his own childish desires. Think of how “rabbits” are frequently repeated

in the same passage.

Frequent use of George’s name in his speech suggests that he is dependent and over-reliant

on George to control his actions.

Lennie Small

a simple, kind-

hearted and

innocent character

Lennie and language – apply these key ideas to passage analysis in exam

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Characteristics of language use continued:

His childish nature is shown through his speech which is generally “tunnel-visioned” – shown through frequent use of the first person pronoun “I” and repetition of George’s

name. The world centres around himself and George, reflected through language use.

He is simple and has limited ulterior motives. Steinbeck makes his thoughts plain and clear to see through the use of

verbs: he frequently “smiles” to himself, which also shows that he is centred upon his own world and desires; not connected to

the shared world of the men around him.

Furthermore, he does not understand the significance of guarding himself verbally through his speech, or disguising his

thoughts.

His actions are generally over-exaggerated, shown through Steinbeck’s use of verbs and adverbs to descibe what he does–

George is frequently able to read him through what his body does. Consider how fixated he becomes with Curley’s wife:

“stares” openly.

He can become over-exciteable, which is reflected in punctuation use

Lennie and language – apply these key ideas to passage analysis in exam

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•Socially savvy and aware - verbs and adverbs to describe his actions suggest that he is constantly evaluating the world around him, and that he is frequently searching for hidden motivations in people.

•Senses and perceives threats and danger – hostile reaction to Curley’s wife – derrogatory language to refer to her - as well as sharp plosive words to warn Lennie away from her – same for Curley - Understands human motives

•Can be seen as a lonely character; longs for mutual friendship with someone on his own emotional and intellectual level – shown through the adjectives he uses to refer to Lennie – he calls him “crazy” – as well as his frequent outbursts – his frustration towards Lennie revealled through short sentences, exclamation marks, plosives etc.

•Protective of Lennie and secretly devoted to Lennie • – uses positive adjectives to big up Lennie’s strength in front of the men. •Dependent on Lennie•Doesn’t fully believe in dreams, yet uses them to keep Lennie’s in line •Emotionally guarded - has a “poker face” with people to hide his feelings, as a method to protect himself •Dejected and sad – hints of saddness through some of the adverbs to describe his facial expressions

George – overview of character and language

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• A suspicious character, reflected through the verbs and adverbs to describe his actions

• Jealous and possessive over his wife: reflected through accusations and questions to other characters; also verb use when he enters the room searching for his wife: active verbs,

suggests he is on a cat-and-mouse chase – presented as a pitiable character to the reader (this can create a type of sympathy in and

of itself for his character) • Insecure: marks and matches his competiton – sizes up his

competitors • Makes other characters feel uncomfortable and on guard

•Confrontational and upfront: suggested when he places Lennie on the spot.

• Use of imperatives in his speech – suggests he tries to dominate and control others

• Attempts to bully, harass and intimidate others • Singles individuals out

• Heavily guarded character – frequently short, clipped sentences – find out little about him • Picks on people’s vulnerabilities

• Tries to attain status • Volitile and aggressive

• Carrys the themes of hostility • Steinbeck uses language to show us the true hostility and

aggressiveness of this climate.

Curley and language Characteristics of Steinbeck’s language for Curley:

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Carlson is a relatively minor character in the novel; however, his character serves to define and reinforce the sense of hostility on the ranch and advance the

themes of loneliness in characters such as Candy. He is responsible for the death of Candy’s dog. He complains bitterly of the dog’s smell and how old he is in Chapter 2 and 3, and then presses the issue that the dog should

be shot, until Candy finally gives in.

• Steinbeck presents him as:

• A bully • Influential • Dominant

• Leading questions to Candy assert dominance and control over him

•Inconsiderate of the meaning Candy attaches to his dog

Carlson and language – apply these key ideas to passage analysis in exam

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Curley’s wife is significant in the novel in the ways that she communicates the themes of loneliness, hopes and dreams and victims.

Language:She is presented as predatory and dangerous, due to her influential position on the ranch as Curley’s wife. Steinbeck presents her as attention seeking through language used to describe her: Steinbeck frequently uses nouns draw attention to her body and physical posture – to suggest that she dangerously sexualised and flirtatious; furthermore, verbs to describe her actions reinforce her sexually teasing nature.

Her language with the men on the ranch is playful – frequently addresses her “targets” directly by name. •Intentionally provokes anger within the men on the ranch – they refer to her in a derrogatory way frequently (think about when she is in Crooks’ barn)

•Her childish nature is reflected in the simplicity of her speech – monosyllabic words, short, simple sentence use – she is naïve and vulnerable – innocent to the hostile conditions of the ranch Her speech reflects need for company – she provokes, questions, targets, threatens and insults through words to get attention. •Need to be heard: lengthy, one-sided monologue in section 5 used to put forward her side of the story • Dismissed and shunned by others: abusive language others use for her show she is unwelcome and unable to interact with others on the ranch •Emotionally unfulfilled•Can be viewed as a deeply sympathetic character

Curley’s wife and language – apply these key ideas to passage analysis in exam

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Characteristic language use: The verbs and adverbs frequently used to describe his actions and movement

suggests vulnerability, old age, uselessness –e.g. “slowly came into the room”; as well as the adjectives to describe him – e.g. “old man”

His speech reflects low, inferior status on the ranch, passiveness, and submissiveness.

The verbs and adverbs Steinbeck uses to describe Candy suggests that he is cautious around the other men.

Steinbeck uses Language shows that he is taken in easily by dreams, but his dreams is more of the need to be valued and taken in, and for companions

Candy – an old man with low status on the ranch; bullied

into allowing dog to be killed by Carlson;

buys into George and Lennie’s dreams of owning their own

farm

Candy and language – apply these key ideas to passage analysis in exam

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Examples of how to apply these ideas to key passages

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Example 1:

Explore how the language in the extract influences your view of

Crooks

Extract taken from chapter 4 (approx 2 pages in – just after the description of his room)

Take-aways:You can use this passage in the exam to explore the how the theme of isolation or hostility is reflected

through Crook’s character

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Crooks’ characterNoiselessly Lennie appeared in the open doorway

and stood there looking in, his big shoulders nearly filling the opening. For a moment Crooks did not see him, but on raising his eyes he stiffened and a scowl came on his face. His hand came out from under his shirt.

Lennie smiled helplessly in an attempt to make friends. Crooks said sharply, “You got no right to come in my room. “This here’s my room. Nobody got any right in here but me.”

Lennie gulped and his smile grew more fawning. “I ain’t doing nothing,” he said. “Just come to look at my puppy. And I seen your light”, he explained.

“Well, I got a right to have a light. You go on get outta my room. I ain’t waned in the bunk house, and you ain’t wanted in my room.”

“Why ain’t you wanted?” Lennie asked.“Cause I’m black. They play cards in there, but I

can’t play because I’m black. They say I stink. Well, I tell you, you all of you stink to me.”

Lennie flapped his big hands helplessly. “Ever’body went into town,” he said. “Slim an’ George an’ everybody. George says I gotta stay here an’ not get in no trouble. I seen your light.”

“Well, what do you want?”

Crooks is defensive, the verb phrase

“came out from his shirt”

suggests that he is instantly on guard, and is

ready to use his hands for

protection The adverb “sharply” is cutting and

harsh, suggests that his defences are raised, and he is using the

tone of his voice to shield, protect

and guard himself against possible danger

The word “right” is repeated

three times in this passage This

tells us that Crooks is

sharply aware of when someone else infringes

upon his rights. He is using

these words to guard his

territory and personal space from Lennie.

The collective pronoun

“They” shows us how he perceives

himself to be cut off and

isolated from others

Question cuts straight to the chase, finding out Lennie’s

motivations for visting him –suggests his suspicious

nature

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“Nothing – I seen your light. I thought I could jus’ come in an’ set”

Crooks stared at Lennie, and he reached behind him and took down the spectacles and adjusted them over his pink ears and stared again. “I don’t know what you’re doin’ in the barn anyway” he complained. “You ain’t got no skinner. They’s no call for a bucker to come into the barn at all. You ain’t no skinner. You ain’t got nothing to do with the horses.”

“The pup” Lennie repeated. “I come to see my pup.”“well go see your pup, then. Don’t come in a place

where you’re not wanted.Lennie lost his smile. He advanced a step into the

room, then remembered and backed to the door again. “I looked at ‘em a little. Slim says I ain’t to pet ‘em very much.”

Crooks said, “Well, you been takin ‘em out of the next all the time. I wonder the old lady don’t move ‘em someplace else.”

“Oh, she don’t care. She lets me.” Lennie had moved into the room again.

Crook’s scowled, but Lennie’s disarming smile defeated him. “Come on in, and set a while,” Crooks said. “Long as you won’t get out and leave me one, you might as well set down.” His tone was more friendly. “All the boys gone into town, huh?”

Effects of

Crook’s on

Lennie – shows Crooks intends to hold people

at a distance

Verb “defeated

” suggests

that beneath

his hardened exterior,

he is really a gentle

and benign

character

The adjective “friendly” to describe his

tone suggests Crooks

becomes pleasant and

inviting – beneath his

outer shell, he really does

appreciate the company. Links to

loneliness. Tag question

“huh?” shows that he’s keen

to engage Lennie further

in conversation

Example exam response next slide

Repeated verb: “stared” suggests hostility –

attempts to threaten Lennie.

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Explore how the language in the extract influences your view of Crooks. In the extract, Steinbeck uses language to present Crooks as

a hostile, physically and emotionally guarded character. From the onset of the passage, the verbs used to describe his movement suggests defensiveness and guardedness: when Lennie enters the room, his posture involuntarily “stiffened” and his face contorts into a “scowl”. These verbs signal how he feels threatened by the intrusion of one of the non-black men, further reinforced by the sentence: “His hand came out from under his shirt”, again, we see that he is on guard and is physically utilising his body as a way of protecting himself against Lennie’s perceived threat. He further marks his personal space and territory through his dialogue and actions: he repeats the word “right” three times to Lennie: “You got no right to come into my room”. This suggests that he is keen to hold people at a distance, and also suggests that Crooks is sharply aware of what limited rights he possesses, and when someone else infringes upon them; he finds safety in these rights from the intrusion upon his personal space. This repetition suggests his territorial nature.

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We also see a character who is deeply wounded and who is suffering from years of accumulated injustice. In the sentence: “They say I stink. Well, I tell you, you all of you stink to me”, a direct, accusatory tone is created by the short, clipped sentence which collects in strength and anger by the use of the collective pronoun “they”. Crooks is clearly using this opportunity to speak back against his persecutors, through ventilating and directing his anger towards Lennie. By repeating the second person pronoun “you” three times, it is clear that Lennie, in his mind, is part of the collective “they” who have shunned and dismissed him. This creates the sense of a man whose exterior is hardened and brutalised by harsh treatment, who is bitter, isolated, and victimised through segregation, and one who is emotionally and physically isolated.

Steinbeck uses these words as a method of advancing the themes of loneliness and frustration through Crooks’ character, showing us, with human concern, the full angst and depths of Crooks’ suffering; here, painting a portrait of Crook’s as a sympathetic character, whilst drawing attention to the longevity of the hostile treatment that he has experienced as a black man. This sympathetic side of his character is further reinforced when “Lennie’s disarming smile defeated him” – the verb “defeated” here suggests a softness to his character, one that rests beneath the thorny exterior. The adjective “friendly” to describe his tone immediately after this suggests that Crooks is prepared to reveal his inner character momentarily to Lennie– and also that beneath his outer shell, he really does appreciate the company – perhaps a way of temporarily allieviating his loneliness. Furthermore, the tag question “huh?” shows that he’s keen to engage Lennie further in conversation, and is keen to elicit a response from Lennie.

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Example 2:

Explore how the language in the extract influences your view of George

Extract taken from chapter 1 (about half way through, after Lennie asks George for Ketchup, George explodes and shouts

at him) Take-aways:This is a good passage to keep hold of for section B – as there are multiple ways of interpreting it, and you

can read many of the important themes from it.

You can use this passage in the exam if you are asked to explore the how the theme of emotional isolation,

victims, hostility, friendship, or dreams is reflected in another part of the novel.

Important

advice!

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“Well, we ain’t got any”, George exploded. “Whatever we ain’t got, that what you want God a’mighty, if I was alone I could live so easy. I could go get a job an’ work, an’ no trouble. No mess at all, an when the end of the month come I could take my fifty bucks and go into town and get whatever I want. Why, I could stay in a cat house all night I could eat any place I want, hotel or any place, and order every damn month. Get a gallon of whisky or set in a pool room and play cards and shoot pool.” Lennie knelt and looked over the empty fire at the angry George. And Lennie’s face was drawn with terror. “An’ whatta I got” George went on furiously “I got you! I can’t keep a job and you loose me every job I get. Jus’ keep me shovin’ all over the country alla time. And that ain’t the worst. You get in trouble. You do bad things and I got to get you out.”

The word “alone”

suggests the burden of

their friendship The repeated

connective “and” creates a list and series of items, which

suggests George’s dreams to have options; ones that come

easily by to other men, but not him

because of Lennie’s

dependency in their relationship

Deep seated anger and frustration,

volatile eruption and

outburst First person pronoun: “I”

repeated throughout

shows us how he dreams of

travelling alone and

unaccompanied; he also desires to be fully be in control of what

he does; suggests he perceives

Lennie to be a burden

The short sentence and

exclamation mark suggests the

virulence of his anger towards Lennie at this

moment in time

The use of the second person pronoun “you”

shows us how he sees himself as a victim and passes blame effortlessly

onto Lennie (scapegoating)

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His voice rose to nearly a shout. “You crazy son-of-a-bitch” you keep me in hot water all the time.” He took on the elaborate manner of little girls when they are mimicking one another.

“Jus wanted to feel that girl’s dress? ... I wisht I could put you in a cage with about a million mice an let you have fun”. His anger left him suddenly. He looked across the fire at Lennie’s anguished face, and then he looked ashamedly at the flames.

It was quite dark now, but the fire lighted the trunks of the trees and the curving branches overhead. Lennie crawled slowly and cautiously around the fire until he was close to George. He sat back on his heels. George turned the bean cans so that another side faced the fire. He pretended to be unaware of Lennie so close beside him.

Plosive words: “bitch”

His remorse is revealed by the verb use: “he looked

across the fire at Lennie’s anguised

face”

Lock Lennie away with his imagination

a softer side emerges to

his character, when, after he verbally

attacks Lennie, he is

quick to realise he is

being unfair – he recognises

the “anguished” effects of his

words on Lennie;

reveals to us that deep

down George is considerate of Lennie’s

feelings

George feels guilt and

remorse at the effects on

Lennie – emotionally connected and in tune with each

other.

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In this passage, George is presented as being angry, hostile and aggressive. This is captured in the verb use “exploded” which shows us the full force of George’s anger towards Lennie. This suggests that George is resentful of their relationship and how much he has to personally sacrifice himself for Lennie, and how much of himself that he devotes to Lennie. The use of the first person pronoun – “I” suggests a dream and desire to break away from Lennie and dedicate his time to looking after himself. The repeated connective “and” creates a list and series of items, which suggests George’s dreams to have options; ones that are come easily to other men, but not him, however, because of Lennie’s dependency in their friendship. The nouns George uses to describe what he could have if he travelled alone are everyday, commonplace, and simple nouns: he wishes he can go to “town”, eat “any place” drink “whisky”, which suggest the simplicity of his desires. However, these reinforce the sense of George’s frustrations, even suffering, even further, because they are within his grasp and very realistic, yet Lennie is the thing that gets in the way of these simple desires of his.

However, the accusatory tone created by the repeated use of second person pronoun “you”, as well as the lengthy, unbroken one-sidedness to his speech suggests that he could be being unreasonable towards Lennie, and that he is an emotionally volatile character, who needs to ventilate his anger and frustrations.

Example A grade Response

Example A* response on next slide

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In this extract, Steinbeck presents George as being frustrated and trapped in having to care for Lennie. This is revealed through his aggression and verbal attack towards Lennie. The verb “exploded” captures the deep-seated anger and frustration within George; further suggesting a volatile, almost volcanic eruption and outburst, that has been developing within him for a long time. Through his words we see an outlet for his frustrations and emotional suffering.

George talks early on in the passage of his dream to be “alone” – which in itself suggests the burden of their friendship in his mind. Furthermore, the repeated and overused first person pronoun: “I” throughout shows us how he fully he dreams of travelling by himself, unaccompanied.

When George reels off a list of things he could do by himself, he over-uses the conjunctive “and” which suggests the fervency and passion of his dreams to break away from Lennie– each item comes as a continuous and unbroken afterthought, to create the sense that the possibilities and freedom he could entertain by himself are limitless; and that within his mind, George sees himself as currently being chained and bound to Lennie.

The short sentence and exclamation mark suggests the virulence of George’s anger towards Lennie at this moment in time “I got you!” It’s sharp, cutting, direct and attacking, and reinforces the sense of George’s victimhood in the novel. However, Lennie’s reaction, as he passively kneels there in “terror” suggests that George’s extreme and acute emotional reaction is just that: an over-reaction, and that he is actually being deeply unfair towards Lennie. The use of the second person pronoun “you” shows us how George may see himself as a victim, but it could also reveal that he is scape-goating Lennie, and that he is effortlessly passing blame onto Lennie for his frustrations and unattained dreams.

Example A* Response

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Furthermore, a forceful, accusatory tone is created by the lengthy, unbroken speech – which suggests that he could be being unreasonable towards Lennie, and is using this opportunity to ventilate his anger and frustrations, where there may be no other outlet available. Lennie’s reaction to him “on his knees” “drawn with terror” reinforces the sense that George is being unfair to him as Lennie is emotionally vulnerable and unable to defend himself; therefore George is scolding him as a parent would do a child, possibly unfairly.

Nonetheless, Steinbeck still uses language to control our sympathies towards George in this passage, even if he is over-reacting and placing blame on Lennie. Steinbeck suggests that there may be an emotional imbalance in their relationship – the emotional one-sidedness of their relationship is reflected in the one-sidedness of George’s speech. This one-sideness suggests that they have different emotional depths – and that, despite their co-dependency, they are very emotionally distanced from one another, which exposes George’s loneliness, emotional isolation and suffering. Furthermore, the one-sideness of George’s unbroken monologue tells us that his outburst is involuntary and uncontrolled, and it is revealing of the depths of his emotional torment.

This sympathy is further reinforced, when a softer side emerges to his character, when, after he verbally attacks Lennie, he is quick to realise he is being unfair – he recognises the “anguished” effects of his words on Lennie; which reveals to us that deep down George is connected to, and is sensitive of Lennie’s feelings; but Lennie is unable to do the same. George shows guilt, which is signalled by the adverb “ashamedly” when he looks “ashamedly” yet he never verbalises this apology to Lennie, which suggests that again he is mentally trapped, and emotionally isolated: there are no full words he can say to express, in ideas that Lennie can understand, the multi-faceted nature of his feelings on their relationship.

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Example 3:

Explore how the language in the extract influences your

view of George

Extract taken from chapter 4Take-aways:

You can use this passage in the exam to explore the how the theme of emotional isolation, victims or hostility is

reflected through George’s character

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George was watching the door. He said ominously, “Well, he better watch out for Lennie. Lennie ain’t no fighter, but Lennie’s strong and quick and Lennie don’t know rules.” He walked to the square table and sat down on one of the boxes/ He gathered some of the cards together and shuffled them.

The old man sat down on another box. “Don’t tell Curley I said none of this. He’d slough me. He just don’t give a damn. Won’t ever get canned ‘cause his old man’s the boss.”

George cut the cards and began turning them over, looking at each one and throwing it down on a pile. He said “This guy curley sounds like a son-of-a-bitch to me. I don’t like mean little guys”

“Seems to me like he’s worse lately,” said the swamper. He got married a couple of weeks ago. Wife lives over in the bosses house. Seems like Curley is cockier n ever since he got married.”

George grunted, “Maybe he’s showin’ off for his wife.”

The swamper warmed to his gossip. You seen that glove on his left hand?”

“Yeah I seen it.”

George’s character – chp 4 Threateningly – forewarning

the men – instilling fear

towards Lennie –

creating a reputation for

him George takes control and the lead –

controls his own actions and those of

the swamper’s:

verbs “walked” “sat

down” “shuffled” – show us how

he is asserting

himself in this new

environment

“throwing” and

“grunted” both

aggressive verbs – used to project a menacing image of

himself – as the newest

members on the ranch, they are

both vulnerable

and susceptible

to maltreatment = way of

covering their backs

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“Well, that glove’s fulla vaseline.” “Vaseline? What the hell for?”“Well I tell ya what – Curley says he’s keeping that

hand for his wife.”George studied the cards absorbedly. “That’s a dirty

thing to tell around,” he said. The old man was reassured. He had drawn a

derogatory.statement from George. He felt safe now, and he spoke

more confidently. Wait’ll you see Curley’s wife.”George cut the cards again and put out a solitaire lay,

slowly and deliberatley, “Purty?” he asked casually.“Yeah. Purty...but –” George studied his cards. “But what?”“Well- she got the eye.” “Yeah? Married two weeks ago and got the eye? Maybe

that’s why Curley’s pants is full of ants”“I seen her give Slim the eye. Slim’s a jerkline skinner.

Hell of a nice fella. Slim don’t need to wear no high-heeled boots on a grain team. I seen her give Slim the eye. Curley never seen it. An’ I seen her give Carlson the eye.”

George pretended a lack of interest. “Looks like we was gonna have fun.”

The swamper stood up from his box. “Know what I think?” George did not answer. “Well, I think Curley’s married... A tart”.

Game-playing,

“absorbedly” suggests he is taking great time and care to make sure to say the

right words to elicit the

right amount of

information out of the swamper

“casually”and “pretended”

suggests that he is deliberately concealing his interest, but

finds this information to be

significant and valuable – shows us how socially

savvy and aware George is – he is

sizing up and assessing the

situation – Steinbeck shows

how this is needed to

survive in this hostile

enviornment,

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Threateningly – forewarning the men ominously– instilling fear towards Lennie – creating a reputation for him Lennie’s strong and quick Lennie don’t know rules.”

George takes control and the lead – controls his own actions and those of the swamper’s: verbs “walked” “sat down” “shuffled” – show us how he is asserting himself in this new environment

“throwing” and “grunted” both aggressive verbs – used to project a menacing image of himself – as the newest members on the ranch, they are both vulnerable and susceptible to maltreatment = way of covering their backs

Game-playing, “absorbedly” suggests he is taking great time and care to make sure to say the right words to elicit the right amount of information out of the swamper

“casually”and “pretended” suggests that he is deliberately concealing his interest, but finds this information to be significant and valuable – shows us how socially savvy and aware George is – he is sizing up and assessing the situation – Steinbeck shows how this is needed to survive in this hostile enviornment,

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Example 4:

Explore how the language in the extract influences your view of

Lennie

Extract taken from chapter 1 – just after George gets angry with Lennie; Lennie threatens to run off

Take-aways:You can use this passage in the exam to explore the how the theme of friendship and dependency, is reflected

through George’s character

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It was quite dark now, but the fire lighted the trunks of the trees and the curving branches overhead. Lennie crawled slowly and cautiously around the fire until he was close to George. He sat back on his heels. George turned the bean cans so that another side faced the fire. He pretended to be unaware of Lennie so close beside him.

“George,” very softly. No answer. “George!” “Whatta you want?” “I was only foolin’, George. I don’t want no

ketchup.”George still stared morosely at the fire. “When I

think of the swell time I could have without you, I go nuts. I never get no peace.”Lennie still knelt. He looked off into the darkness across the river. “George, you want I should go away and leave you alone?”

“Where the hell could you go?”“Well, I could. I could go off into the hills

there. Some place I’d find a cave.” “Yeah? How’d you eat. You ain’t go no

sense enough to find nothing to eat.”“I’d find things, George. I don’t need no

nice food with ketchup. I’d lay out in the sun and nobody’d hurt me. An’ if I foun’ a mouse, I could keep it. Nobody’d take it away from me.”

Animalistic in his movement: captured by the

verbs and adverbs:

“crawled” “slowly”

“cautiously” “sat on his heels” shows that Lennie is

instinctual Use of question shows that Lennie is

testing their friendship

andis discerning how

much George values it The repetition

of “I could” suggests that

he wants George to think that he is strong

and capable enough to cope

by himself

Lennie says he can go into the “hills there” the

preposition “there” shows us the limitations of his imagination,

and also the unlikely hood of

his survival. Links to

dependency. Like George, Lennie has a

similar need to be on his own

with “nobody’d”, so that he

doesn’t have to compromise his actions. The use of repetition of

“nobody’d reinforces this

dream with clarity in his

mindThe repeated first

person pronoun “I” suggest how

Lennie is precoccupied and fixated on himself

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George looked quickly and searchingly at him. “I been mean, ain’t I?”

“I you don’ want me I can go off in the hills an’ find a cave. I can go away anytime.”

“No – look! I was jus’ foolin’, Lennie. ‘Cause i want you to stay with me. Trouble with mice is you always kill ‘em.” He paused. “Tell you what I’ll do, Lennie. First chance I get I’ll give you a pup. Maybe you wouldn’t kill it. That’d be better than mice. And you could pet it harder.”

Lennie avoided the bate. He had sensed his advantage. “If you don’t want me, you only jus’ go to say so, and I’ll go off in those hills right there – right up in those hills and live by myself. An’ I won’t get no mice stole from me.”

“George said “I want you to stay with me, Lennie. Jesus Christ, somebody’d shoot you for a coyote if you was by yourself. No, you stay with me. Your aunt Clara wouldn’t like you running off by yourself, even if she is dead.”

Lennie spoke craftily, “Tell me – like you done before.”“Tell about what?”“About the rabbits” George snapped, “You ain’t gonna put nothing over on

me.”Lennie pleaded, “Come on, George. Tell me. Please

George. Like you done before.”

Lennie is quite cunning

and can be manipulative,

albeit in a simplistic way, for

simplistic gains

Repetition of “right” shows us again how

Lennie is testing

George’s devotion to

him

Repetitionof

“George” shows us the child-

like nature of Lennie – pleadingl

y persuasive use of

his name

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Steinbeck presents Lennie as animalistic which is captured by the verbs and adverbs to describe his movement: “crawled” “slowly” “cautiously” “sat on his heels” which reinforces the sense of Lennie being instinctive; furthermore, his actions are centred and gravitated around George, which suggests that he is like a pet, and George is his master. It also suggests that Lennie needs George’s company, and finds it difficult to interpret the need of George’s silence and his desire for personal space.

In the sentence: “George,” very softly. No answer. “George!” The repeated word “George” shows us how he needs constant attention and stimulation; the increase in tone from “softly” to a raised tone, captured by the exclamation mark, shows us that he is centred upon his own needs, and fails to recognise the significance of emotion behind George’s silence and his desire for personal space and silence. This links to the ideas of friendship, and reinforces ideas of physical closeness VS emotional distance.

Furthermore, the of the question “George, you want I should go away and leave you alone?” shows us that Lennie is testing his and George’s friendship and how much George values it. Lennie is presented here as “crafty” in the way in which he engages George in a type of game; “Lennie avoided the bate. He had sensed his advantage.” The verb use “avoided” and “sensed” as well as the noun “advantage” Lennie is quite cunning and can be manipulative, albeit in a simplistic way, for simplistic gains – the simplicity of his desires is revealled through his desire for George to tell him a simple story about their friendship, hopes and dreams.

Example exam response

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Frequently Asked questions....

Supporting your confidence when in the

exam.

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Frequently Asked questions How much should I write for each section?

There is no set amount that you should be writing on the exam; some students make their points more concisely than others.

Make sure that you make as many possible points that you can within the allowed time limits.

Make sure your ideas are fully developed by linking language features to what we learn about key themes, ideas and/or character, commenting on the effect on the reader and on Steinbeck’s intentions.

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Frequently Asked questions For question part (b) I need to refer to ‘one other’

part of the novel. How long should this ‘other part’ be?

You should aim to find an extract of up to 2 pagesAny thing longer means that you may start to discuss ideas

vaguely, and start to lose your close language focus. What is important is that your response focuses on just

ONE part of the novel, which addresses the question, and allows you to comment closely on examples of language.

As much as you may wish to show off your overall knowledge of the novel, do NOT refer to more than one part of the novel, as you will NOT be given marks for it.

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Frequently Asked questions For question part (b) I need to refer to ‘one other’ part of

the novel. How does the examiner know what extract I am referring to?

You should make it clear in the opening of the response which part of the novel you are talking about.

Offer a brief description of where you are taking your chosen extract from, and what happens in this extract.

Examples: The extract I have chosen is at the start of section 4; this

extract outlines Crook’s room by describing in detail the objects in his room.

The extract I have chosen is part way through section 3, when Slim first enters the bunkhouse; there is a brief description of his physical appearance, and our attention is drawn towards the ways in which the other characters view him.

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Frequently Asked questions What are the key differences between a language

response and literature response?

There should be no difference in commenting on the writer’s use of language in the English Language and English Literature paper.

Where language analysis is marked on both papers, the approaches are essentially the same.

You will be using the same close language skills that you used even in the poetry exam.

Unlike the Literature OMAM paper, you do not need to refer to historical context, or to different parts of the novel – your responses should be sharply focussed on the passage you are commenting on.

In question 2 when you choose a passage from elsewhere in the novel, stick very closely to the wording in this passage.

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Frequently Asked questionsWhat characters / themes are unlikely to come up?

The paper was newly introduced last June.

Last June:Section (a) Extract was on Slim’s character Section (b) How another male character is presented in one other

part of the novel.

In January 2012:Section (a) Extract was on George and Lennie’s hopes and dreamsSection (b) What we learn about hopes and dreams in another part

of the novel.

Therefore, it is unlikely that you will have a passage on Slim, or on the themes of hopes and dreams.

However, if you are asked to focus on a different character, you can still discuss this character’s hopes and dreams if it is relevant.

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Frequently Asked questions I know that I am supposed to refer to

Steinbeck’s language techniques. In order to reach the top marks, do I need to comment on things like “simile” ,“metaphor” etc?

Whilst you should be referring to language features in your response, you are awarded marks for how well you can comment on what language tells us about a character, setting or theme.

Therefore, even if you don’t use the technical term, but still talk about the effects of a word choice, then you will be awarded marks.

Remember: the exam is looking for you to comment on how a word is used to enhance a reader’s views about a character or theme.

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Frequently Asked questions How detailed should the language

analysis be? Should I only be focussing on specific words?

Language analysis does not only have to be focussed on individual words.

Also talk about any aspect of language used by Steinbeck (i.e. The use of short sentences, lists, imperatives, statements / facts, questions, imagery, the use of dialogue, verbs, adverbs etc) so long as you mention why they are used.

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Frequently Asked questions The Assessment Objective, Ao3,

encourages me to comment on ‘language technique’. If I comment on things like punctuation use, is this alright?

Yes. This is encouraged. When you are closely analysing an extract, if punctuation use is important i.e. if it tells us about how a character is feeling, or influences our responses to a character / theme in any way, then by all means comment on it.