• Analyze literary devices, their effect and purpose, and consider how they develop themes, AND relate to the historical context, author’s life, and other texts.
• Examine how power is presented and how the theme of the weak and the strong, in particular, is presented.
• Consider life for various marginalized groups in 1930s America.

Essential Question

Complete the analysis table. Find three literary devices or interesting pieces of lexical choice used by the author which develop themes and add to the story.

Answer ALL of the Consider This questions.

Four of the five can be answered in note or bullet format. However, ONE question must be answered in CL.E.A.R paragraph format. It is up to you which one.

Question One: In the bunkhouse, on the walls by some of the men’s beds are nails which hang neckties. However, in Crooks’ room, a room off of the stable, there is a nail which hangs trace chains. What is the significance of Crooks’ living conditions?

Question Two: Many of the characters on the ranch can be described as ‘outsiders’: they don’t fit into normal society because they have characteristics that make them different from supposedly ‘normal’ people. For each of the following characters, identify the characteristics that make them outsiders (including at least one quote):

a) Candy

b) Curley’s Wife

c) Lennie

d) Crooks

Question Three: Crooks questions Lennie and George’s dream and whether it can ever be achieved. What does he say, and do you think he is correct?

Question Four: Crooks eventually buys into Lennie and George’s ‘dream’ and offers to work on their farm for free. However by the end of this chapter his dream is dead. What exactly causes him to retract his request and abandon his dream?

Click the button below which will take you to a reflection video to check your own work.

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