“Of Mice and Men” paper assignment OF MICE AND MEN LITERARY ANALYSIS.

““Of Mice and Men” paper Of Mice and Men” paper assignmentassignment

OF MICE AND MENOF MICE AND MEN

LITERARY ANALYSISLITERARY ANALYSIS

Warmup essay question Warmup essay question observationsobservations

Big picture:Big picture: Context, especially for quotes. Introduce Context, especially for quotes. Introduce

the quote by giving it context: who is the quote by giving it context: who is saying it; where and when it is said; why saying it; where and when it is said; why it is said (in response to someone else, it is said (in response to someone else, or to a particular situation).or to a particular situation).


During this time period, many blacks were hated and treated During this time period, many blacks were hated and treated disrespectfully. “Listen, Nigger. You know what I can do to you if disrespectfully. “Listen, Nigger. You know what I can do to you if you open your trap?” (80). This is a powerful statement that shows you open your trap?” (80). This is a powerful statement that shows how much more power a white person had over an African how much more power a white person had over an African American.American.

During this time period, many blacks were hated and treated During this time period, many blacks were hated and treated disrespectfully. This is evident in the scene in Crooks’ room, when disrespectfully. This is evident in the scene in Crooks’ room, when Curley’s wife reminds Crooks of his place on the social ladder: Curley’s wife reminds Crooks of his place on the social ladder: “Listen, Nigger. You know what I can do to you if you open your “Listen, Nigger. You know what I can do to you if you open your trap?” (80). This powerful statement shows how much more power trap?” (80). This powerful statement shows how much more power a white person had over an African American.a white person had over an African American.

Warmup essay Warmup essay observationsobservations

Putting the text to workPutting the text to work

In this form of writing, it’s very effective (and in In this form of writing, it’s very effective (and in this assignment, required) to use passages this assignment, required) to use passages from the book to help support your points. This from the book to help support your points. This not only provides “evidence” for your points, it not only provides “evidence” for your points, it also adds multiple voices to your writing (as also adds multiple voices to your writing (as long as you don’t overdo it).long as you don’t overdo it).

Let’s see how this works. Let’s say we’re still Let’s see how this works. Let’s say we’re still writing our paper about Crooks.writing our paper about Crooks.


The effects of this isolation becomes clear whenThe effects of this isolation becomes clear whenCrooks confides in Lennie during a poignant moment inCrooks confides in Lennie during a poignant moment inCrooks’ room. Lennie’s mental retardation and shortCrooks’ room. Lennie’s mental retardation and shortmemory span gives Crooks the confidence to bare hismemory span gives Crooks the confidence to bare hissoul without fear of getting in trouble. After painting asoul without fear of getting in trouble. After painting aterrifying picture for Lennie of life without George –terrifying picture for Lennie of life without George –who Lennie travels with, idolizes, and loves – Crookswho Lennie travels with, idolizes, and loves – Crooksturns his harsh words inward. He tells Lennie howturns his harsh words inward. He tells Lennie howhard it is to be shunned by the other men, and howhard it is to be shunned by the other men, and howlonely it gets in the barn with just books to keep Crooks lonely it gets in the barn with just books to keep Crooks company.company.


There’s nothing wrong with that paragraph. However, it There’s nothing wrong with that paragraph. However, it becomes even more effective if we let Crooks do some of the becomes even more effective if we let Crooks do some of the talking, like this:talking, like this:

The effects of this isolation becomes clear when Crooks The effects of this isolation becomes clear when Crooks confides in Lennie during a poignant moment in Crooks’ room. confides in Lennie during a poignant moment in Crooks’ room. Lennie’s mental retardation and short memory span give Crooks Lennie’s mental retardation and short memory span give Crooks the confidence to bare his soul without fear of getting in trouble. the confidence to bare his soul without fear of getting in trouble. After painting a terrifying picture for Lennie of life without George – After painting a terrifying picture for Lennie of life without George – who Lennie travels with, idolizes, and loves – Crooks turns his who Lennie travels with, idolizes, and loves – Crooks turns his harsh words inward, saying about his own lonely life that, “A guy harsh words inward, saying about his own lonely life that, “A guy needs somebody – to be near him. A guy goes nuts if he ain’t got needs somebody – to be near him. A guy goes nuts if he ain’t got nobody” (72).nobody” (72).


We have used Crooks’ own words to help We have used Crooks’ own words to help support our point. Because they are Crooks’ support our point. Because they are Crooks’ words, we put them in quotation marks. Notice words, we put them in quotation marks. Notice that we put the page number, in parentheses, that we put the page number, in parentheses, where the quote comes from. In this seminar, where the quote comes from. In this seminar, we’re only using material from one source, so we’re only using material from one source, so we do not need to identify the author with the we do not need to identify the author with the page number; simply use the page number.page number; simply use the page number.


Proper formatting of quotesProper formatting of quotes Example: After painting a terrifying picture for Lennie of Example: After painting a terrifying picture for Lennie of

life without George – who Lennie travels with, idolizes, life without George – who Lennie travels with, idolizes, and loves – Crooks turns his harsh words inward, and loves – Crooks turns his harsh words inward, saying about his own lonely life that, “A guy needs saying about his own lonely life that, “A guy needs somebody – to be near him. A guy goes nuts if he ain’t somebody – to be near him. A guy goes nuts if he ain’t got nobodygot nobody” (72).” (72).


Writing in present tenseWriting in present tense

Because literature is timeless, it is written about in Because literature is timeless, it is written about in present tense. For example, George and Lennie present tense. For example, George and Lennie are on an endless quest for their dream because are on an endless quest for their dream because the story starts anew each time a new reader the story starts anew each time a new reader picks up the book. They are forever in the picks up the book. They are forever in the circumstances of the book. To a new reader, circumstances of the book. To a new reader, Lennie Lennie isis mentally challenged, not mentally challenged, not waswas. Even after . Even after you finish reading the book, Slim still you finish reading the book, Slim still movesmoves with with the majesty of a master craftsman. the majesty of a master craftsman.


So let’s look at some samples of how the So let’s look at some samples of how the world in the book is caught in time. It world in the book is caught in time. It never ends.never ends.

Original: When Lennie Original: When Lennie killedkilled the mice the mice and puppy, when Carlson and puppy, when Carlson killedkilled Candy’s Candy’s dog, and when the heron dog, and when the heron ateate the snake; the snake; this all this all foreshadowedforeshadowed what what happenedhappened to to Lennie at the end. Lennie at the end.

Of Mice and MenOf Mice and Men

Notice how all of the verbs or action words are in the past Notice how all of the verbs or action words are in the past tense: tense: killedkilled the mice; the mice; killedkilled Candy’s dog; the heron Candy’s dog; the heron ateate the the snake; all snake; all foreshadowedforeshadowed what what happenedhappened to Lennie. to Lennie.

The solution: simply convert the verbs to present tense.The solution: simply convert the verbs to present tense.

Revised: When Lennie Revised: When Lennie killskills the mice and puppy, when the mice and puppy, when Carlson Carlson killskills Candy’s dog, and when the heron Candy’s dog, and when the heron eatseats the the snake; this all snake; this all foreshadowsforeshadows what what happenshappens to Lennie at the to Lennie at the end. end.


Now you try one:Now you try one:

Original: George and Lennie had more Original: George and Lennie had more than just a friendship; they were different than just a friendship; they were different than any other ranch workers.than any other ranch workers.


Your correction should look like this:Your correction should look like this:

George and Lennie George and Lennie havehave more than just more than just a friendship; they a friendship; they areare different than any different than any other ranch workers. other ranch workers.


OK, your next challenge: writing in third person. This OK, your next challenge: writing in third person. This simply means taking “I,” “we,” “us,” “my,” “mine,” and simply means taking “I,” “we,” “us,” “my,” “mine,” and “our” out of your writing. Those are first-person words.“our” out of your writing. Those are first-person words.

In this type of analysis, you need to write in third In this type of analysis, you need to write in third person. Think of it as becoming a professional critic for person. Think of it as becoming a professional critic for this paper. You don’t need to say things like “I think.” this paper. You don’t need to say things like “I think.” It’s implied that It’s implied that you knowyou know. Does it make your opinion . Does it make your opinion the only right one? No, but this is your reading of the the only right one? No, but this is your reading of the book. When someone reads your analysis, you book. When someone reads your analysis, you become a source who knows what you are saying. become a source who knows what you are saying.


First-person example:First-person example:

Friendship can teach Friendship can teach usus some strange but some strange but meaningful lessons.meaningful lessons.

Solution: Simply remove “us.”Solution: Simply remove “us.”

Friendship can teach some strange but Friendship can teach some strange but meaningful lessons.meaningful lessons.


Now you try changing one from first Now you try changing one from first person to third person:person to third person:

My final example is a little more vague. My final example is a little more vague. Just before the scene where George kills Just before the scene where George kills Lennie, a heron snatches a snake out of Lennie, a heron snatches a snake out of the water.the water.


You could have done something like this:You could have done something like this:

Although not as obvious, the encounter Although not as obvious, the encounter between the heron and the snake between the heron and the snake provides a meaningful illustration of provides a meaningful illustration of foreshadowing.foreshadowing.


MISCELLANEOUSMISCELLANEOUS

Be careful with absolutes: “all black people were treated terribly”; Be careful with absolutes: “all black people were treated terribly”; “everybody on the ranch hates Crooks”“everybody on the ranch hates Crooks”

Always note that Lennie Always note that Lennie accidentallyaccidentally kills the mouse, puppy, and Curley’s kills the mouse, puppy, and Curley’s wife wife

Stay in formal diction: Avoid slang terms: “a ton of discrimination”; “would Stay in formal diction: Avoid slang terms: “a ton of discrimination”; “would totally suck to be Curley’s wife”; “George has Lennie’s back.”totally suck to be Curley’s wife”; “George has Lennie’s back.”

Sometimes, quoted material from the book can be paraphrased (restated Sometimes, quoted material from the book can be paraphrased (restated in your words), especially longer quotes.in your words), especially longer quotes.

It’s almost always more effective, especially in an attention-getter, to It’s almost always more effective, especially in an attention-getter, to make a statement, rather than ask a question.make a statement, rather than ask a question.

Stay away from “According to the dictionary…” or “Loneliness is defined Stay away from “According to the dictionary…” or “Loneliness is defined as….” as….”


SpellingSpelling Curley (with an “e”); Curley’s wife Curley (with an “e”); Curley’s wife

(lowercase “w”); Lennie (“ie” not “y”).(lowercase “w”); Lennie (“ie” not “y”). Crooks; not Cooks, CrucksCrooks; not Cooks, Crucks John Steinbeck; not John Steinaback, John Steinbeck; not John Steinaback,

John Stinebeck, John Stainback, John John Stinebeck, John Stainback, John Stienback, DEFINITELY NOT Jerry Stienback, DEFINITELY NOT Jerry Steinbeck.Steinbeck.

woman = singular; women = pluralwoman = singular; women = plural

“Of Mice and Men” paper assignment OF MICE AND MEN LITERARY ANALYSIS.

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