Of Mice And Men Essay Plan

Question -

Choose a novel or short story in which there is an obvious climax or turning point. Show how the author arrives at the turning point and then discuss the consequences of it for the final outcome of the story. You may wish to mention techniques such as characterisation, structure, description or any other appropriate feature.

Introduction

Setting

• Depression era
• Background to George and Lennie’s story – on the run from their last job.
• Turning point: when Lennie accidentally kills Curley’s wife.

The character of Lennie

• Lennie’s strength and lack of intelligence described early on
• Word choice portrays Lennie’s childish behaviour:

Lennie dabbled his big paw in the water and wiggled his fingers so that the water arose in little splashes … ‘Look George, look what I done.’

• Shows immaturity
• ‘paw’ suggests that he is more like an animal than a man.
• Loves animals and collects pet mice, ends up killing them with his great strength.

Animal imagery

• Lennie looks forward to keeping rabbits, showing his kind and gentle nature.
• The death of Candy’s dog makes him join Lennie and George’s scheme.
• ‘Of Mice and Men’ = animals; as well as the Robert Burns poem.
• Like the mouse in the poem, after the death of Curley’s wife, the men’s plan comes to nothing.
• Title of novel prepares reader for turning point and climax

The suffering of ordinary people

• Main theme of the novel
• Shown in the scene where Curley attacks Lennie and has his hand crushed:

Curley stepped over to Lennie like a terrier. ‘What the hell you laughin’ at?’

• Curley decides to pick a fight with Lennie as he hates people who are bigger than him.
• Animal imagery – compared to ‘terrier’
• He uses violence to make up for the fact none of the other workers respect him.
• This incident prepares us for the death of Curley’s wife in chapter 5.

Curley’s wife

• Lonely and not tolerated by the farm workers, who visit prostitutes rather than having real relationships with women.
• Her name is not given in the book, showing that people do not really know her.
• Like Crooks, who is a victim of racism, she is isolated.
• Seeks out Lennie for friendship, but due to his strength she dies.
• The book shows us that people who have a low position in society can lead a lonely and short life.

Description
The author’s use of description is vital to the turning point:

She jerked her head sideways and Lennnie’s fingers closed on her hair and hung on … She struggled violently under his hands … And then she was still, for Lennie had broke her neck.

• It is as though Lennie has no control over his own fingers.
• We are reminded of the dead mice and the rabbits, as well as the fight with Curley.

The outcome of this turning point

• George is forced to kill Lennie before the other farm workers get hold of him.
• The reader is left with a feeling of sadness because George is a friend to Lennie to the end, and does what he has to do.
• We are made to feel pity for the poor farm workers who have no control over their lives.

Conclusion
Therefore, in ‘Of Mice And Men’ Steinbeck uses word choice and characterisation to prepare us for the turning point in the novel and its tragic ending.