What do you notice about Steinbeck’s method of characterising Lennie?

‘slowly, like a terrier who doesn’t want to bring a ball back to his master, Lennie approached’

‘dragging his feet a little, the way a bear drags his paws’

‘drank with long gulps, snorting into the water like a horse’

Why has Steinbeck chosen these animals? What are the connotations?

Reading roles

• 2 narrators

• George (Mr Bell)

• Lennie

The dream is crucial

• Write down everything you can remember about George and Lennie’s dream

You have two minutes to answer each question

• 1. What do George and Lennie each get out of their relationship?

• 2. In what way are George and Lennie typical of men at the time? In what way may they be viewed as unusual or atypical?

• 3. What is interesting about the way Steinbeck writes?

• 4. What have we learned about George and Lennie’s past?

You have two minutes to answer each question

• Q. 3

This is a hard question

Consider:

Use of dialogue

Description

Imagery

Can you give quotes?

Read through your notes on George and Lennie. Prioritise the most important characteristic of

each character.

• Write this down

Now find a quotation to support this idea. Choose one character’s

attribute. If you finish you could do both.

• Write the quote under the attribute.

George and Lennie will meet these characters in chapter 2.

What role do you expect each character to play?

Curley, Slim, Crooks, Candy, Curley’s Wife