Poetry- Practise Paragraphs (GCSE) (Hide and Seek and Telephone Conversation)

Explain the mood in ‘Hide and Seek.’

The writer uses caesura to create a tense mood in the poem ‘Hide and Seek.’ This can be seen in the line ‘Don’t breathe. Don’t move. Stay dumb.’ This line creates tension as it is a contrast against the longer, more light-hearted lines in the first part of the poem. The short sentences give the impression that the boy is scared, and his thoughts are quick as he is under pressure. The writer has done this to make the reader slow down their reading from the flowing lines before, adding to the increasing feeling of dread that is felt by both the reader and the boy in the poem. The writer also creates a sinister mood in the poem. He does this by changing the structure of the poem from line 21 onwards. The first 20 lines of the poem have a regular rhyme scheme of ABCDD which gives the poem a closed form structure for the majority of the poem. However, at line 21 the rhyme scheme is lost and the poem goes into free verse. The writer has done this to reflect the way that the child is free from his hiding place, and also to create a sense on unknown. Whilst the boy was hiding from his friends, he knew that they were out looking for him in the garden. However, just as we cannot predict the rest of the poem’s structure due to the change, once the boy is out into the open he can’t see any of his friends. This creates a sense of unease and gives the poem an almost sinister end.

Explain the mood in ‘Telephone conversation.’

The writer uses caesura to create an incredulous mood in the poem ‘Telephone conversation.’ This can be seen clearly in line six when it says ‘silence.’ This line makes the reader feel incredulous as we, along with the man in the poem, are forced to stop and think about what the woman has asked him. The use of caesura means that we are forced to pause suddenly, which takes us by surprise, reflecting the comment of the woman. This adds to the overall mood of the poem, as it provides a contrast against the first few lines of the poem, which were much more light-hearted. The writer also uses ambiguity to create a humorous and light-hearted mood towards the end of the poem. This can be seen in the line ‘“wouldn’t you rather see for yourself?”’ This line is ambiguous as it could be the man asking the woman to see him before she judged him, or it could mean that the man is mocking the woman and telling her to look at his behind, which he has referenced earlier in the poem. This ambiguity creates a light-hearted contrast to the otherwise fairly serious poem, as the reader feels joy at the fact that the man is finally managing to get his own back on the landlady who has been so rude to him. 

Poetry- Example Essay (GCSE) (Piano)

Explain how the poet conveys powerful emotions in ‘Piano’

The writer uses onomatopoeia to convey powerful emotions in the poem ‘Piano.’ This can be seen in the line ‘the boom of the tingling strings.’ This line creates powerful emotions as it makes the reader feel what the child in the poem was feeling, and shows just how much of an effect the music had on the child. ‘Boom’ contrasts against ‘tingling.’ Whereas the use of ‘boom’ emphasises the power of the music and memory, ‘tingling’ is a much softer and more soothing description. The writer has chosen to do this to show the two sides to the memory felt by the child- the music though bringing him peace and calming him at the time, is able to bring back strong and overpowering memories. This suggests that, perhaps, the memory is bittersweet, as the man looking back on his childhood can feel the strength of the effect that the music has on him.

As the contrast between ‘boom’ and ‘tingling’ was used in the first stanza, the writer uses another contrast in the second to show the different emotions that the person is feeling as a child compared to being an adult. This can be seen in the line ‘with winter outside and hymns in the cozy parlor.’ This contrast between a safe, comforting place and a harsh, unforgiving place emphasises the difference between childhood and adulthood, ‘winter’ being representative of growing up and ‘cozy parlor’ being childhood innocence. The writer’s purpose in doing this was to show that the person looking back on their memories feels the pain of nostalgia for a better time. This conveys a powerful emotion, as it makes the reader remember their own past and realise that growing up is very much like looking for a place where you feel warm and protected to a place ‘outside’ where you must fend for yourself.

The writer uses the structure of the poem to further emphasise how closely linked and powerful the memories are. For example, the poem has a regular rhyme scheme of AABB. The use of rhyming couplets gives the poem lyrical quality (reflective of the song at the heart of the poem) and, therefore, adds to the sense of nostalgia. The person’s memories are so clear in their mind that they flow like a song, showing that they are immersed in the past and strengthening the emotion. Enjambment is also used for this reason, as it shows that he is unable to stop the memories taking over (‘in spite of myself.’)

Finally, the writer uses similes and metaphors to strengthen the emotions felt by the person in the poem. ‘My manhood is cast’ and ‘flood of remembrance’ are both metaphors for how the man is feeling as he is lost in his thoughts. ‘My manhood is cast’ shows that the man cannot go back to his childhood, and that makes him sorrowful. It is also a memory for ‘fishing out’ a memory, showing that he must have had to relive many different experiences and remember many different emotions in order to get to the memory he is now at. This suggests he has, for some reason, suppressed that memory, further suggesting it was not a completely joyful one. ‘Flood of remembrance’ shows that he has no control over his emotions. ‘Flood’ could mean tears, which is suggested also in the next line, ‘I weep like a child for the past.’ However, it could also be emphasising how overcome with emotions the man is, that it is like a flood, washing over him with no suggestion of stopping anytime soon. As a flood is a quick and unpredictable event, it suggests that he had forgotten how bittersweet the memory was, and was therefore taken aback when the emotion overcame him. A simile is used in ‘weep like a child.’ This shows that the man desires to be a child again, as everything was more carefree in the past. This idea is clear throughout the poem, in the contrasts used and the various language features.

Poetry- Example Essay (GCSE) (Do Not Go Gentle)

How does the writer present death in ‘Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night?’

·         Metaphors- ‘close of day,’ ‘dying of the light’

·         Language- ‘wise men,’ ‘frail deeds,’- own father etc. Irony (death- weak, dying- strong)

·         Form and structure- Villanelle poem- like a prayer/hymn- religious connotations (funeral)

·         Mood- empowering- makes the reader stop fearing death but rather see it as one final challenge.

‘Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night’ is about a son who is begging his father to fight against death, and not just let it take him without any struggle. The writer uses a variety of techniques to present death in the poem.

One way that he does this is through using metaphors. Throughout the poem, there are numerous metaphors for death, such as ‘close of day’ and ‘dying of the light.’ ‘Close of day’ suggests that death is like sleeping. This suggests that death is a peaceful thing, and perhaps that the person that is dying will wake up to something better- like a heaven. The writer’s purpose for using metaphors is to make death seem like a more understandable concept and take away the fear that is often associated with dying. By comparing death to sleep and suggesting that there may be something better waiting on the other side, the writer brings comfort to the reader and almost makes them see death as more of a peaceful thing than something that should be feared. This, however, is contradicted when the writer says things like ‘rage against the dying of the light,’ which suggests that a peaceful death is not as significant as that of someone who has fought the peace until the end.

The writer using language to strengthen these ideas about fighting against death throughout the other tercets and the final quatrain. ‘Gentle’ and ‘rave’ show a contrast in language. This is used by the writer to show the difference between what death should be met with, and what it should not. ‘Gentle’ is a calm and peaceful word, whereas ‘rave’ suggests strength, anger and will. ‘Rave’ is a much stronger word than ‘gentle,’ and so it overpowers it, like the way that the writer thinks that dying overpowers death. Irony is used by the writer. Death is described as being weak and powerless, whereas dying is considered strong and almost admirable. This shows the writers views on death, and that he believes that death is much easier than life, and so people should choose the most difficult option and fight to hold onto life. Further on in the poem, the writer suggests things about his own father. It is said that ‘wise men’ fight against death, even if they know that it is the right thing for them. This could suggest that the writer’s father is starting to give up on life, and is maybe beginning to see death as the best option for him. The writer is trying to tell his father that he must hold on, even if it is not easy and he does not want to, and that he would be a wise man if he did that. This suggests that the writer believes death to be for the weak and feeble people, as the wise people know that it must be fought against.

The writer has used a villanelle form for his poem. This gives the poem a song-like feel to it, almost like a hymn or a prayer. The writer has chosen to do this to extend the theme of death throughout the entire poem, as prayers are said at funerals after people have died. Hymns are also religious songs that are sung at funerals, and so the writer is trying to suggest that death has taken the person that the funeral is for, but that they fought death until the end. The poem is a popular choice for funerals, as it can often bring the family of the person that has died peace to hear that their loved one fought with all of their might until the very end. This emphasises the message of fighting death, as it makes the reader or listener also want to be remembered as someone that tried to live rather than gave into death, and so they will try to do the same when it comes to their death.

The mood of the poem could be described as many different things. Some may describe it as a sombre and depressing poem, as it is talking about people dying, and the writer is asking his father to try and hang onto life. However, I believe that the poem has more of an empowering mood. This is because of the thought that people should fight against death, and that the writer has used many words which, when together, form an almost unbreakable barrier between the reader and death itself. The language that the writer has used makes the reader feel, in a way, invincible against death and gives them the will to carry on fighting to live. This can really empower people and unite them against dying in an easy way, as the writer believes is wrong. The mood, in my opinion, is far from depressing, as it is not the writer talking about death, but talking about life. This emphasises the message of death, as it shows that it will never be strong enough to outdo life, and it is simply one final challenge in the lives of strong people.

Of Mice And Men- Useful Quotations (GCSE)

‘Water is lined with trees- willows fresh and green’
Who says it to whom? Narrator 
What does it refer to? The brush
What do we learn from it? The brush is described in a way that is very serene and peaceful. It is almost linked the garden of Eden, which suggests that it is the perfect place. The garden of Eden later becomes tarnished when Eve sins, which reflects the way that the brush stops being peaceful after George shoots Lennie.
 

“Let’s have different colour rabbits George”

Who says it to whom?  Lennie to George

What does it refer to? The Dream

What do we learn from it?  We learn from this that Lennie is very childlike, as he seems to think that rabbits come in a variety of different colours. It also shows that he is very excited and cares a lot about the dream, as he wants to know every single little detail about every part of it.

 

“He’s awright. Just ain’t bright”

Who says it to whom? George about Lennie

What does it refer to? They are trying to get the boss to hire them, and Lennie nearly ruins it

What do we learn from it? This shows that George does stick up for Lennie in a fatherly way, as he defends him saying that he is ‘awright.’ It also shows that George finds it difficult to express his emotions towards Lennie, as he can’t think of anything nicer to say. At the same time, George thinks that he is better than Lennie (even though he is defending him) because he says that he isn’t clever, implying that he is to have the right to say it. So he is selling them both to the boss at the same time.

“He figures he got you scared and he’s gonna sock you at the first chance he gets”

Who says it to whom? George to Lennie

What does it refer to? Curley trying to start on Lennie

What do we learn from it? We learn that Curley is a manipulative man that uses his position at the ranch as a way to control others. It also shows the extent of George’s concern for Lennie, as George admits earlier in the quote to being ‘scared.’ This all goes to show that George and Lennie have a father-son relationship, as George is constantly looking out for Lennie.

“So he reaches out to feel this red dress an’ the girl lets out a sqwuark”

Who says it to whom? George to Slim

What does it refer to? What happened in Weed

What do we learn from it? We learn about what happened in Weed. This quote also foreshadows the death of Curley’s wife, as she dies in a similar way to this, when Lennie won’t let go of her dress. The way that George says ‘sqwuark’ suggests that he thinks the girl was overreacting and shouldn’t have screamed like she did. ‘Sqwuark’ has connotations with birds, and hunting. When Lennie snaps Curley’s wife’s neck, she is killed as you would kill a bird after hunting. This almost compares the girls to Lennie’s prey. This quote also shows the trust that Slim instils in the other men, as George is willing to tell him all about what happened.

“Got a luger”

Who says it to whom? Carlson to Candy

What does it refer to? The shooting of Candy's dog

What do we learn from it? This foreshadows Lennie’s death, as he is killed with Carlson’s luger. When Carlson is talking about it in relation to the dog, he says that he will shoot it in the back of the head and that it ‘won’t hurt him none at all.’ This basically spells out what is going to happen to Lennie, as it is George’s intention to kill Lennie painlessly.

“When they can me here I wisht somebody’d shoot me”

Who says it to whom? Candy to George

What does it refer to? Candy's dog

What do we learn from it? This shows that Candy knows that he is reaching the end of his time at the ranch, and he knows that the best and kindest thing for him would be to be put down. Nobody would do this, though, as he is a human and not a dog. This quote shows the depth of Candy’s depression and worry about the future.

 

“dragging his feet a little, the way a bear drags it paws”

Who says it to whom? The Narrator about Lennie

What does it refer to? Lennie having animalistic characteristics

What can we learn from it? We learn that Lennie has animalistic qualities. This suggests that he has a lot of strength, as is associated with the animal.

“Trouble with mice is you always kill ‘em”

Who says it to whom? George to Lennie

What does it refer to? Lennie's enjoyment of petting small things

What can we learn from it? That Lennie has a lot of strength and is not very good at looking after things because of it. It suggests that Lennie has had many mice and each one has ended in death, which foreshadows the fact that Lennie has the ability to kill.

“we’re gonna get a jack together and  …live off the fatta the lan’”

Who says it to whom? Lennie to George

What does it refer to? The Dream

What can we learn from it? We learn that Lennie and George have a plan for what they are going to do, which has been thought out in a lot of detail. This suggests that the thought of it brings them comfort, as they have talked about it a lot.

“if you jus’ happen to get in trouble like you always done before, I want you to come right here an’ hide in the brush.”

Who says it to whom? George to Lennie

What does it refer to? The fact that Lennie will do something bad at some point

What can we learn from it? We learn that Lennie has systematically done something bad in every place that he has been. George now knows to tell Lennie what to do in advance because he knows that something is going to happen like it has everywhere else. This foreshadows what will happen after the death of Curley’s wife.

 

“They let the nigger come in that night”

Who says it to whom? Candy to George

What does it refer to? It refers to Crooks being allowed to come into the bunk house and the subject of racism.

What can we learn from it? We learn about the racism that was around in those times, and how Crooks was usually ostracised from the other workers because of his race, but was allowed to go into the bunk house for a drink with the others at Christmas, which was very rare. This reflects the times that the book was set in. 

“The old man came slowly into the room…And at his heels there walked a drag-footed sheep dog, gray of muzzle, and with pale, blind old eyes.”

Who says it to whom? Narrator about Candy and his dog

What does it refer to? The age of the dog

What can we learn from it? From this we can learn that the dog’s age is affecting his health. This also refers to Candy, because he is in the same sort of situation as his dog. This demonstrates a type of rare friendship that is apparent in the Candy/dog relationship, as they are still best friends even though they are both old and useless. 

“His arms gradually bent at the elbows and his hands closed into fists. He stiffened and went into a slight crouch.”

Who says it to whom? Narrator about Curley

What does it refer to? Refers to Curley's standoffish attitude 

What can we learn from it? From this we can learn that Curley is threatening and is going to be a lot of trouble to everyone else at some point in the story. From the way that he is stood, we know that he is trying to act like he is a force to be reckoned with. Curley is bracing himself by crouching slightly, as if he is ready to attack. 

“Curley’s married a tart”

What does it refer to? This refers to Curley's wife

What can we learn from it? We learn that none of the men have any respect for Curley’s wife, and she has a negative reputation. This reflects the time, as sexism was very common in the 1930s.

“He moved with a majesty only achieved by royalty”

Who says it to whom? Narrator about Slim

What does it refer to? This refers to Slim’s power and superiority over the other men.

What can we learn from it? We learn that Slim is considered like a God by the other men on the ranch, and is held with a lot of respect. This suggests that he is at the top of the hierarchy, and has earned the respect of everyone else. 

“He jus’ wanted to touch that red dress, like he wants to pet them pups all the time.”

Who says it to whom? George to Slim

What does it refer to? The incident that happened in Weed

What can we learn from it? We learn from this quote that Lennie doesn’t mean to do the things he does, and he doesn’t really know what is happening. It also foreshadows the death of Curley’s wife, because she dies in the same sort of situation. The quote shows George and Lennie’s close bond, as it is as if George is defending Lennie’s actions so that he is not told off for something he couldn’t help.

“Maybe if I give you guys my money, you’ll let me hoe in the garden”

Who says it to whom? Candy to George and Lennie

What does it refer to? The Dream

What can we learn from it? From the quote, we can learn that Candy is desperate for a place where he will be useful and wanted. This is because he is almost begging George and Lennie to let him have a part on their dream ranch (even willing to pay them) just so he can get away from the ranch where he is useless. Candy says ‘maybe you’ll let me’ which suggests that it is not that he can’t do it, but that he has not been allowed to do it. This is probably because a more able-bodied man would have taken his job. 

“I ought to have shot that dog myself”

Who says it to whom? Candy to George

What does it refer to? Candy's dog being put down

What can we learn from it? From the quote, we can learn about how close the bond between Candy and Candy’s dog was. Candy says that he shouldn’t have let a stranger shoot his dog, because he was so close to the dog that he thought that he should have been the one to put it out of its misery in the end. This shows how much Candy loved the dog, and the extent of their friendship. It also foreshadows Lennie’s death, because George shoots Lennie so that it is quick, as opposed to the other men doing it. This shows that Lennie is like the dog, in the way that he and George were good friends and George ultimately ‘put him down.’

“Curley stepped over to Lennie like a terrier”

Who says it to whom? Narrator about Curley

What does it refer to? Curley's size and angry disposition 

What can we learn from it? From the quote we learn that Curley uses his anger and threatening nature to make up for his lack of height. Terriers are associated with being small and often vicious dogs, and so by referring to Curley as such it suggests that he is the same. By contrast, Lennie is a big and gentle man, like perhaps an Irish wolfhound. Smaller dogs often go for larger dogs as a method of defence because they cannot rely on their size. This is what Curley is doing with Lennie. 

Of Mice And Men- Example Essay (GCSE)

Why are George and Lennie different from the other men?

George and Lennie are different from the other men in many ways.

One way in which they are different is through their friendship. This friendship is shown in the quote 'got kinda used to each other after a little while.' Their friendship sets them apart from other men because travelling alone was normal for the time. OMAM (Of Mice and Men) is set in 1930's America. In that time, loneliness was expected and it was unheard of for men to travel and be friends with one another. This is made apparent throughout the book when different ranch workers ask about their relationship. 'After a little while' suggests that it didn't come naturally to George and Lennie to make friends, which backs up the idea that their thoughts are typical of the time. Although they are best friends, the word 'kinda' shows that George is hesitant to show the extent of his friendship with Lennie, which once again suggests that admitting feelings for people doesn't come naturally to him. These are all typical views of the time.

Another way in which George and Lennie are different is through Lennie's mental disability. In the quote 'I wanna tend rabbits', it is obvious that Lennie's mind works in a more childish way that that of other men. Lennie's mental disability makes him act like a child. The disability sets them apart from the other men because mental disabilities were viewed differently in the 1930s. People with them were often institutionalised, or expected to stay at home about be cared for by a family member. Lennie still works on ranches with George, showing that he isn't like the other men of the time. George likes to keep Lennie's problem under wraps, as he knows that Lennie could be locked up or not given a job because of it. This is why he tells Lennie not to talk to the ranch's boss when they are looking for work. Lennie is demanding, which is shown in the word 'wanna.' This is another childish trait that he has that proves his child like nature and justifies his dependency on George.

A final way that Lennie and George are different to the other men is because all of the other ranch workers had grown to accept that they would be working on ranches their whole life, and they had given up on anything better. George talks about this in this quote: 'With us it ain't like that. We got a future.' Though the other workers have dreams too, the American Dream, they are all quite happy to carry on working and travelling from ranch to ranch. George and Lennie are not like this. They are only working until they have enough money to buy a small farm for themselves. George and Lennie had already worked everything out and knew exactly what they had to do to be able to reach their dream, which makes them different to the majority of other men in 1930's America. George knows this, and that is why he says 'with us it ain't like that.'

A/N- example essays for the GCSE subjects were written when I was studying the books, which was around the Y9-11 mark. My writing has greatly improved since then, but these essays were marked at around an A, so I thought I'd leave them as they were. I find that this gives a more accurate representation of GCSE level work.

Thank you!

Anna xx

Of Mice And Men- Example Essay (GCSE)

Explore the theme of violence and aggression in Of Mice and Men.

Of Mice and Men was set in 1930s America. In this time, The Great Depression and the Dust Bowl had meant that many men lost homes, ranches and agriculture and were forced to migrate in search for work. This created a tense environment on the ranches that the men went to work on, which is presented in the novella.

Physical violence is shown through Curley’s attitude towards the other men. Curley tries to fight Slim for supposedly sleeping with his wife, and then fights Lennie. Steinbeck has chosen to use Curley as the example of violence in the novella because it shows that he is trying to exert his dominance over the other men and make himself look threatening and tough. Curley is described as being like a ‘terrier,’ and George asks ‘what’s he got on his shoulder’ when he first meets him. This shows that he is aggressive right from the beginning, and, when Candy says that Curley has something against ‘big guys,’ it is obvious that most of the violence and aggression from Curley comes from his own insecurities. Carlson is another character that is associated with physical violence. Carlson kills Candy’s dog without hesitation and shows no remorse or empathy after doing so. This shows that men were very much pursuing their own interests and did not care for each other at the time. Steinbeck chose to do this to show the tension on the ranch at the time that the novella was set and how violence was commonplace.

Lennie, though physically violent in some parts of the novella (for example in the fight between him and Curley) does not actually mean to do this. Lennie regrets any violence he take part in. Steinbeck chose to make Lennie in this way to show the difference between Lennie and the other men on the ranch. Lennie does not really know what is going on in the grand scheme of things because of his mental disability, and so he is not as affected by the high tension or attitudes of the other men. George is aggressive but not in a way that is violent. This can be seen when he shouts at Lennie when they are sleeping by the river and tells him that he’d be better off without him. This is a result of the difficulty finding work and the fact that Lennie stops George from holding down a stable job. This fits the context of the novella because it shows the pressure on the migrant workers to find jobs and how easy it was to lose said job. Another character that is aggressive but not so much violent is Crooks, and this can be seen when he shouts at Lennie for coming in his room. Steinbeck chose to make Crooks defensive rather that violent like Curley to show that the bad treatment of Crooks had prevented him from trusting people easily. This fits the context because it reflects the way that segregation and racism in 1930s America caused divides and tension.

Overall, the theme of violence and aggression is prominent in Of Mice and Men, and this is meant to clearly reflect the times that the novella is set in and the difficulties faced in this period.

A/N- example essays for the GCSE subjects were written when I was studying the books, which was around the Y9-11 mark. My writing has greatly improved since then, but these essays were marked at around an A, so I thought I'd leave them as they were. I find that this gives a more accurate representation of GCSE level work. 

Thank you!

Anna xx

Of Mice And Men- Slim Character Profile (GCSE)

Slim

Slim is described as having a ‘hatchet face’ which is ‘ageless.’ It describes his hands as ‘large and lean’ and ‘delicate.’ The words that are used to describe him are all positive and have connotations with good things. This means that right from the beginning of being introduced to Slim, you know that he is going to be a character that you like and is good. Most of the words that are used give an instant air of authority, and this tells the reader that Slim is in charge of the ranch, even when we know that he really isn’t. The words also have religious connotations, and therefore suggest that Slim is seen as almost a God-like figure to the other men. The word ‘thought’ is repeated a few times in the description, which suggests that Slim is more intelligent than the average ranch worker. ‘He smiled kindly’ shows his personality from the offset. You know from the first introduction that he is going to be good to Lennie and George, and different from all of the other men on the ranch.

His relationships with the other characters are pretty much all positive. He likes and gets on well with George, especially when George trusts him enough to tell him the story about what happened in Weed with Lennie. I think that Slim sees himself in George, as George is intelligent and has been in charge of Lennie for a long time, as George has with the other ranch workers. George respects Slim, and trusts him from the beginning. Slim likes Lennie, because Lennie is a good worker and never does anything to annoy Slim. Lennie loves Slim, because Slim is always kind to him whereas others haven’t been most of the time. Slim doesn’t like Curley, but seems to put up with him. He doesn’t try to hide the fact that he doesn’t agree with Curley’s way of instilling terror into the other men, but doesn’t start fights with him like most of the others. Curley, though he dislikes Slim (mainly because he has more authority than Curley,) clearly respects Slim’s word like all of the other workers. For example, when Slim tells Curley to pretend that he got his hand caught in a machine, Curley listens. This is because he recognises Slim as ‘prince of the ranch.’ Slim is not as horrible about Curley’s wife as the others are. In fact, he seems to almost pity her. When she comes into the ranch, whereas most other workers ignore her, Slim jokes around with her and even calls her ‘good-looking.’ Curley’s wife most likely appreciates this, and probably respects Slim even more for it, as Slim is the only person that talks to her.

One of the key themes that is explored through Slim is power. Slim is a clearly powerful person right from the moment that he is introduced, and keeps up the position of authority all of the way through the novella. Most of the men ask Slim for advice in difficult situations. For example, it is Slim’s word that secures the death of Candy’s dog, because Candy knows that Slim is fair and would always do the kindest thing. The power that he has can especially be seen in the line ‘prince of the ranch,’ which shows that Slim is in the highest possible authority spot he could be in, given the fact that he is still just an ordinary ranch worker. Slim has many power struggles, especially against Curley, as Curley thinks that he should be more powerful but is forced to bow down to Slim instead.

Another key theme is loneliness. Slim is one of the only characters to identify that it is a lonely life as a ranch worker. This is seen when he shows that he approves of the fact that Lennie and George travel around together, and makes the point that it ‘seems like the whole god damn world is scared of each other.’ This is different to the other men, who think that travelling in pairs is strange and don’t think that there is anything wrong with being alone.

A final key theme is discrimination. Slim is the least discriminative character, as he doesn’t have a bad word to say about anyone- even those that everyone else takes pleasure in being prejudiced against. For example, he sticks up for Lennie on more than one occasion. He also talks to Curley’s wife when nobody else will and doesn’t say a single thing against anyone (except perhaps Curley) throughout the whole novella. This shows why he is described as being ‘prince of the ranch,’ as he has earned his respect from all of his peers by being kind to everyone, even those whom it was deemed socially acceptable to discriminate against.

Of Mice And Men- Lennie Small Character Profile (GCSE)

Lennie Small

Lennie is described as being a ‘huge man, shapeless of face, with large, pale eyes, with large, sloping shoulders.’ The way that he is described suggests that he is slow but gentle, as most of the words used suggest a kind and docile sort of man. As ‘large’ is used repeatedly, it suggests that he is strong and capable of inflicting some damage, and yet we still get the image of the sort of person that wouldn’t hurt a fly. His personality is reflected in the way that his physical traits are described. For example, Lennie is always getting himself into trouble, and so being a ‘huge man,’ it is easy to image than he could cause a lot of problems if he wanted to. He is described almost in the way that you would describe a large dog- docile and peaceful, but able to hurt you if he had the urge. ‘He walked heavily, dragging his feet a little, the way a bear drags his paws’ also backs up the fact that Lennie has almost animalistic qualities. Bears are also dangerous animals, but are often associated with being cuddly and soft, which gives the impression that Lennie is the same. Lennie, though he is quite slow and clearly has something mentally wrong with him, can be a clever man at times. This can be seen when he threatens George that he can go and live in a cave. He ends up getting George to tell him the story about the ranch to shut him up, and so knows how to get what he wants.

Lennie’s relationships with characters differ. With George he has a close, intimate bond, mainly because he has been looked after by George for many years. As a result of this he loves George and respects him in almost a son-like manor. George cares deeply about Lennie and tries to keep him out of trouble, again in the way that a father may look after his son. Lennie gets on okay with Slim, the well-regarded ranch worker, but doesn’t really have much to do with him. Lennie doesn’t bond much with any of the ranch workers, but, out of all of them, Slim is the nicest to him. Slim also likes Lennie, and seems to accept him even when most of the others don’t, saying to George ‘he ain’t a mean guy.’ Curley’s wife causes many issues for Lennie right from the first time he meets her. Lennie is clearly infatuated with her, most likely mesmerised by the way she dresses. George warns Lennie off her, as he knows that she will get him into trouble. Curley’s wife sees Lennie as an easy target, as she knows that he is not capable of thinking for himself about the dangers she could bring. Lennie doesn’t like Curley as he is horrible to him every time they meet, and he is always trying to cause fights. Even though Lennie isn’t the smartest, he can see that Curley is not good news. Curley hates Lennie because he is intimidated by men that are bigger than him. He is wary of Lennie after he breaks his hand, as he finds out then that Lennie is capable of hurting him and fighting back. Candy and Lennie have quite a good bond, as do Crooks and Lennie. Candy and Lennie share the dream, which means that they both get on well with each other and want to get the ranch together. Lennie doesn’t like Crooks in the beginning, nor does Crooks like Lennie. Crooks is not very nice to Lennie about George in the bunk house, which makes Lennie fear him slightly. Crooks doesn’t like Lennie because he came into his room uninvited, which was not done. By the end of their conversations, though, they end on a better relationship than they started with, and Crooks even very nearly plans to share the ranch with George and Lennie.

One of the main themes that is explored through Lennie’s character is loneliness. Unlike nearly every other character in OMAM, Lennie is the only one who is not completely alone. This is one of the main things that sets him and George apart from the other ranch workers. Lennie is aware of this, making numerous references to the fact that he has someone throughout the novella. One of the main quotes about this is when he is talking to George at the Salinas River, and says “I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you, and that’s why.”

The American dream is another main theme that is explored with Lennie. George and Lennie have the classic ‘American Dream’ of having their own place, not having to work hard every day and having security. They go into minute details about this, and plan it through completely. Lennie loves hearing about this, and he actually believes this could happen. When Lennie kills Curley’s wife, he realises that the dream is not going to happen.

Another theme that is used with Lennie is discrimination. Lennie has a mental disability, and is discriminated against throughout the novella because of it. For example, he is told not to talk when they first arrive at the ranch because George is worried that Lennie will ruin it for them by showing his disability before his work. He is called things like ‘crazy son-of-a-bitch’ all of the way through OMAM by various people (including George) for things like forgetting things, which he can’t actually help. This isolates Lennie from the rest of the men, just because he is a bit different. 

Of Mice And Men- George Milton Character Profile (GCSE)

George Milton

George is described as being “small and quick, dark of face, with restless eyes and sharp, strong features.’ He is very ‘defined,’ with small, strong hands, slender arms, a thin and bony nose. The way that his appearance is described suggests that he is intelligent and dominant, as ‘strong’ is used repeatedly. His personality is reflected in the way that his physical traits are described. For example, George must be resourceful in order to get himself and Lennie out of trouble repeatedly, and so being ‘small and quick,’ not unlike how you would describe a fox, means that he is able to be sly and sneak out of bad situations unscathed. George is a caring man, and yet he chooses to hide this behind a rough exterior- possible for protection. This is obvious when he shouts at Lennie as they are hiding near the Salinas River, but then immediately retracts his original statement when Lennie says he can leave. It is clear from this that George likes the company and deeply cares about Lennie, but is incapable of showing that he is worried about him and so expresses his worry through anger.

George’s relationships with characters differ. With Lennie he has a close, intimate bond, mainly because he has looked after Lennie for many years. As a result of this he cares about Lennie’s welfare in an almost father-like manor. Lennie looks up to George and imitates him, again in the way that a son may want to be like his parent. George gets on well with Slim, who is the well-regarded worker on the farm. George is like Slim in many aspects, as he is influential (in the case of Lennie) and has a keen sense of reality above the levels of normal ranch workers. It is clear to see that George is quick to trust Slim, which can be seen when he tells him about what happened in Weed. Slim also has a mutual respect for George, and seems to accept him almost immediately. The biggest conflicts between George and other characters come in the forms of Curley and Curley’s wife. George dislikes Curley from the offset because of his demeanour and the way that he insults Lennie, and Curley dislike George because right from the start he refuses to give Curley the respect that he thinks he deserves. Curley’s wife is not trusted by George from the beginning, because he is able to see that her flirtatious ways could get himself and Lennie into trouble with Curley. Because of this, George puts up defences around her. Curley’s wife similarly does not like George, mainly because of these defences. George straight away tells Lennie not to fall for her flirtatious manor, which angers Curley’s wife because he is shutting off her communication with other characters.

One of the main themes that is explored through George’s character is loneliness. Unlike nearly every other character in OMAM, George is the only one who is not completely alone. This is one of the main things that sets him and Lennie apart from the other ranch workers. George is aware of this, making numerous references to the fact that he has someone throughout the novella. One of the main quotes about this is when he is talking to Lennie at the Salinas River, and says “with us it ain’t like that. We got somebody to talk to that gives a damn about us.” He also mentions this to Slim later in the novella, when they are talking about Lennie and travelling around together. Ultimately, though, George does end up alone in the end, when he is forced to shoot Lennie. This just goes to prove that everyone ends up alone, even if one of the only thinks that sets you apart is that you aren’t.

The American dream is another main theme that is explored with George. George and Lennie have the classic ‘American Dream’ of having their own place, not having to work hard every day and having security. They go into minute details about this, and plan it through completely. George encourages this, and for a while (especially when Candy offers to give them money in return for a place in their plans) he actually believes this could happen. When George finds out that Lennie has killed Curley’s wife, he realises that the dream is not going to happen. This means that he has become just like all of the other ranch workers, in that he will spend all of his time drinking and spending all of his money on meaningless  things rather that a good life.

Of Mice And Men- Curley's Wife Character Profile (GCSE)

Curley’s Wife

Curley’s wife is described as having ‘full, rouged lips and wide-spaced eyes, heavily made up.’ ‘Rouge’ suggests a provocative, flirtatious and dangerous nature, as the colour red has links with all of these things. ‘Heavily made up’ suggests that she is fake and puts on a front to the others, as it almost suggests that she is hiding her face and true self. Most of the things that she has and wears are red (‘red mules,’ ‘red ostrich feathers’) which further strengthens the idea that Curley’s wife is going to be trouble later in the novella. The way that she talks is described as having a ‘nasal, brittle quality,’ which gives the impression that it is annoying. This reflects her personality in the way that she is always bothering the ranch workers and causing problem after problem for them. Every time her movements are described, they have a flirtatious and suggestive way about them. For example, ‘leaned against the door frame so that her body was thrown forward.’ This reflects her attitude around the ranch workers and suggests that she is always looking for attention in any way she can- usually on a sexual level. This not only makes us guess that she is lonely and quite a sad character, but also gives us a small bit of pity for her, based on the grounds that she feels like she must resort to using her body just so that people will give her any time out of their day. 

Curley’s wife’s relationships with other characters don’t vary that much in OMAM. She doesn’t, as a rule, like workers like George, Carlson and Candy. This is because the workers that are like this don’t like her, and frequently call her things like a ‘tart.’ This would be known by Curley’s wife, and make her feel worthless. Carlson, Candy and George all have the same opinion of her- that she is nothing more than a ‘tart’ that shouldn’t be paid any attention to because she has ‘got the eye.’ Curley’s wife gets on a bit better with Slim. She likes Slim because he seems to talk to her more than the others, and doesn’t constantly make it blatantly obvious he doesn’t like her. Slim says ‘Hi, Good-lookin'’’ when he sees her in the bunk house, and they both talk to each other in a more friendly way than she talks to/is talked to by the other men. Curley’s wife hates Curley. This is because he is never around, and feels like he can control her all of the time. Curley doesn’t hate his wife, but he certainly doesn’t care for her, and he makes it clear that he sees her as an object for him to use and then ignore during the day. Curley’s wife is horrible to Crooks. This is probably because he is the only person she can dominate, as she is a woman and he is black. She is racist to him and tries to exert her power over him by threatening to have him ‘strung up on a tree,’ saying that it would be ‘so easy it ain’t even funny.’ Crooks is fearful of Curley’s wife, as he knows that everything she says is true and she ultimately has a lot more power than he does. Curley’s wife seems to like Lennie more towards the end of the novella. This is because she realises that he has more in common with her than she thought, and she knows that she can trust him to not run off and spread everything she is saying to him. Lennie takes to Curley’s wife in the beginning, and even says to George that she’s ‘purty.’ Lennie is almost mesmerised by the way that she dresses and her soft hair, which ultimately is the reason for her death.

Themes explored through Curley’s Wife:

• ·         Loneliness- “I get awful lonely.”
• ·         American Dream- “I coulda made somethin’ of myself”
• ·         Death- “the rectangle of sunshine in the doorway was cut off”

Of Mice And Men- Curley Character Profile (GCSE)

Curley

Curley is described as being a ‘thin young man with a brown face, with brown eyes and a head of tightly curled hair.’ The fact that his hair is ‘tightly’ curled suggests that he is tightly wound, and will be easily irritated and angered by things. ‘Thin’ suggests that he has no real personality, as it gives the impression of a weedy man. ‘He wore a glove on his hand’ suggests that he keeps a lot to himself, and he hides his real personality behind a glove. This shows that he is not as strong as he makes out, but tries to make himself seem that way regardless. He is described as wearing ‘long, high-heeled boots,’ which show that he is a short man that tries to make up for it with heels. This also goes to show that he puts on a front of someone harder than he actually is. His personality is portrayed in the way that he is described. For example, all of the attributes added together create and image of a somewhat baby-faced man, short and with curly hair. This is reflected in the way that he is pathetic, and can start fights over the smallest things- he throws tantrums like those of a toddler. It is clear from the description of the way he stands that he is going to be trouble. For example, the passage says ‘his arms gradually bent at the elbows and his hands closed into fists. He stiffened and went into a slight crouch.’ This shows that he is standoffish from the very beginning, and is always poised, ready for attack.

Curley’s relationships with the other characters stay pretty much the same. With George, he tries to stay out of his way because he knows that he is intelligent and will probably be able to fight back. George hates Curley, mainly because of the threat he sees he poses to himself and Lennie. Curley sees Lennie as an easy target, noticing straight away that he is slow and will be easy to hurt. He is more scared and wary of Lennie towards the end after Lennie crushes his fist. George told Lennie to stay out of Curley’s way after the first encounter, and so Lennie is always wary of Curley. The only time Lennie actually stands up for himself is when he crushes Curley’s fist. Curley stays out of Slim’s way because he sees the power and authority that he has over the other ranch workers. Slim is the only one that isn’t genuinely scared of Curley, as he knows that Curley can’t do anything to him because of the respects he has on the ranch. Curley’s wife and Curley are never in the same place at the same time. Curley tries to control his wife, by always asking where she is and stopping her from talking to anyone. Curley’s wife clearly despises Curley, and she doesn’t try to hide this in front of the other men towards the play. She knows that he wants to control her, but she won’t let him.

One of the main themes that is explored through Curley’s character is prejudice. Curley is one of the most prejudiced characters in the whole of OMAM, and he makes it his mission to discriminate against anyone where possible. For example, he tries to bully Lennie into speaking when they first meet by making out that he’s stupid. This shows that he tries to find anything to make people feels bad about as soon as he meets them. He also is constantly asking ‘where is my wife.’ This shows that he believes his wife to be his possession, and a man should always know where she is. This shows his discriminative views against women, which weren’t unheard of at the time when the novella is set.

Of Mice And Men- Crooks Character Profile (GCSE)

Crooks

Crooks is described as a ‘proud, aloof man.’ His ‘body was bent over to the left by his crooked spine,’ and his ‘eyes lay deep in his head.’ ‘Pain tightened lips’ suggests that Crooks has had a bad life, most likely because of his race, which would have been a cause for attacks in 1930s America, when the book was set. Crooks is discriminated against throughout the novella. When Lennie goes into his room, Crooks immediately gets defensive and says that Lennie has no right to go in there, because it was his room. This is because Crooks wasn’t allowed to go into the Bunkhouse with the other men (racial segregation) and so saw it as insulting when any of them went into the space which was clearly established as his own. Crooks has a nice personality, but he has a lot of defences up which can often come off as being horrible. Mainly, though, I think that Crooks is a nice man that has just not had a very nice time, just because of his race and the time in which he lived.

Crooks doesn’t have any relationships with the majority of the men, as he is not with them for most of the novella. Crooks doesn’t like Lennie to begin with, but he starts to like him after they have been talking for a while. Crooks realises that Lennie is a good person to talk to, and sees him as company since he doesn’t normally have any. Lennie doesn’t like Crooks at first because Crooks tells him that George isn’t going to come back for Lennie, and Lennie gets really scared and upset. After a while, though, Lennie warms up to Crooks. Like Crooks, Lennie enjoys the company and the fact that Crooks will listen to him talk, even if Crooks does insult him every five minutes. Crooks and Candy have a similar relationship, but it is better established as they have known each other longer. They both get on quite well, and, when Candy is first mentioning Crooks to George and Lennie, he says that he is a ‘nice fella.’ Candy seems to be able to see past Crooks’ race better than some of the other men, focussing instead on the fact that he ‘has a lot of books in his room.’ This implies he’s been in before and had conversations with him. Crooks is incredibly scared of Curley’s wife. This is because she threatens to have him ‘strung up in a tree,’ and is always making racist and demoralising comments about him. He knows that she is more powerful than him, and so he goes back in his shell whenever she is around. Curley’s wife doesn’t like Slim, probably because he is the only person she can overpower. She knows that she can do whatever she wants to him because of his race, and uses this to her advantage.

Themes explored in Crooks:

• ·         Discrimination- “If he coulda used his feet, Smitty says he woulda killed the nigger”
• ·         Loneliness- “It’s just bein’ with another guy. That’s all.”
• ·         Friendship- "'Long as you won't get out and leave me alone, you might as well set down." His tone was a little more friendly.
• ·         American Dream- “They come, an' they quit an' go on; an' every damn one of 'em's got a little piece of land in his head. An' never a God damn one of 'em ever gets it."
• ·         The Dream- "… If you … guys would want a hand to work for nothing—just his keep, why I'd come an' lend a hand. I ain't so crippled I can't work like a son-of-a-bitch if I want to."
• ·         Racism- "This is just a nigger talkin', an' a busted-back nigger. So it don't mean nothing, see?"