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Post by sir on Oct 9, 2009 2:05:49 GMT -5
From the 2008 Higher paper:
“The world of "Of Mice and Men" is a world of harshness and violence.” To what extent do you agree with this statement?
Foundation paper is much the same, but asks you to focus on only 2 or 3 incidents.
From 2007 Higher
The title "Of Mice and Men" refers to how plans and dreams often go wrong. To what extent do you find it an effective title for the novel?
Foundation asks you to focus on Lennie's dreams, George's dreams, and other characters' dreams.
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Post by sophieg on Oct 19, 2009 6:42:48 GMT -5
I agree with this statement as throughout the novel there are no happy events which can oppose this statement. All of the major events that occur are surrounded by violence. One major incident in the novel is when George shoots Lennie in the back of the head. "George raised the gun and steadied it...His hand shock violently", this is a horrific event where Georege is forced into shooting hos best friende. These circumstances are not very common which emphasises how harsh and violent the world "Of Mice and Men" is. On the other hand this could be reinterpreted to say that this incident shows how loyal George is to Lennie and how best friends always look out for each other
Secondly, another incident is when Curley and Lennie have a fight. This
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Post by kierans on Oct 19, 2009 6:42:53 GMT -5
The title "Of Mice and Men" refers to how plans and dreams often go wrong. To what extent do you find it an effective title for the novel?
Steinbeck's novel title "Of Mice and Men" is based on a poem by Robert Burns named "To A Mouse" in which the famous quote from the poem is "The best laid plans o' mice and men/Gang eft agley" (often go awry) this theme of dreams and plans going wrong is a major theme throughout Steinbeck's book.
One way Steinbeck shows plans and dreams going wrong is with the characters: George and Lennie who dream of buying their own land
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ron
New Member
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Post by ron on Oct 19, 2009 6:42:57 GMT -5
The title Mice and men is almost portraying lennie and george. Its almost as if lennie is the mouse and george is the man/men. Also the mice in the book shows the title is to do with something in the book instead of just being a quotation for plans and dreams.
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Post by gunning on Oct 19, 2009 6:43:26 GMT -5
The title that john Steinbeck has chosen for his novel is a appropriate one as the whole novel is an appropriate one as the whole novel is really based around this theme.
Right at the beginning of the book Steinbeck uses gorges storie that he has always tell lennie to set this theme. Lenny already knows the storie as the dream is already firmly set into the minds of the tow of them. “go on now, George!-you got it by heart. you can do it yourself” this shows that they both know the exact same dream because it is so fixed in their heads.
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Post by gunning on Oct 19, 2009 6:43:42 GMT -5
The title that john Steinbeck has chosen for his novel is a appropriate one as the whole novel is an appropriate one as the whole novel is really based around this theme.
Right at the beginning of the book Steinbeck uses gorges storie that he has always tell lennie to set this theme. Lenny already knows the storie as the dream is already firmly set into the minds of the tow of them. “go on now, George!-you got it by heart. you can do it yourself” this shows that they both know the exact same dream because it is so fixed in their heads.
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zachd
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Post by zachd on Oct 19, 2009 8:29:57 GMT -5
In “Of Mice And Men” the theme of plans and dreams are presented through the characters of George and Lennie. Also some of the other characters are involved with the dream that George and Lennie have. Steinbeck uses the American dream to present this.
George and Lennie have a dream from the start of the novel to own their own ranch and to “tend the rabbits”. So then they are in charge of their own ranch giving out their own orders to their own workers instead of being workers on someone else’s ranch.
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lucyc
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Post by lucyc on Oct 19, 2009 11:49:55 GMT -5
i agree with this statement because throughout the novel their are continuous bursts of violence. One of the main events caused by violence is death. Death is repeated many times in the novel, but not all are intended. many of the deaths in the book are caused by Lennie who is clumsy due to his large, stocky and clumpy body and just like a child he doesnt know his own strength and capabilities. One part of the novel shows Lennie to have been caught up in a fight with Curley. Because he is scared Lennie holds on tight to Curleys hand and doesnt let go so he crushes Curleys hand. The main scene of violence is at the end of the novel when Lennie and Curley's wife are in the barn. the first of the two events is when Lennie killsCurleys wife. he doesnt mean to but because of his fear and childlike behaviour he doesnt know what he is doing or what he is supposed to do. This then causes the second event;Lennies death. Once Curley finds out his wife is dead he instantly assumes it is Lennie so he runs away and Only George knows where he has gone as earlier in the story he tells Lennie exactly what to do if he does get into trouble because he knew he would. George finds Lennie and puts a gun to his head "George raised the gun and steadied it." because he knows this is the best thing to do for him as a best friend.
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Post by sir on Oct 20, 2009 9:36:27 GMT -5
Ron: too simplistic an interpretation. Rethink and redo.
Most of us: where is the clear planning leading to clear paragraphs with frequent, well selected, integrated quotations?
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Post by sir on Oct 20, 2009 9:57:08 GMT -5
This took me 20 mins. I admit I haven't included accurate quotations, which might have sped me up, but I was typing which is somehing I'm terrible at. I gave up trying to correct mistakes at one stage. Apologies for that.
However, here are some useful paragraphs. Look at how they are structured and what they are doing. You need to know the book well but yu MUST be able to write better essays than I have seen on this site so far....
The title "Of Mice and Men" refers to how plans and dreams often go wrong. To what extent do you find it an effective title for the novel?
Steinbeck has chosen the quotation from Burns to be his title as it very effectively sums up the central theme of his novel.
Practically every character reveals that he or she has a dream that is not fulfilled. The most obvious instance of this is Lennie and George's dream of owning their own "ranch" with Lennie keeping his "rabbits". This dream is doomed to failure in a number of ways. Firstly Steinbeck makes it clear to the reader that [Quot something like "loads a guys have come through here saying that" - don't have novel so all quotations won't be accurate. Sorry. A task for you would be to find and provide them, in an embedded fashion]. This shows that society has become stuck ina situation where men are trapped into a social class or situation and cannot possibly achieve their dream.
The dream is further shown to be doomed with its reference to rabbits. When Lennie is first introduced, the reader is shown that he is unable to control his strength as he crushes the "mouse" he was "petting". This issue is made all the more ominous by the vague references to "what happened in Weed". By this early stage, the reader is aware that Lennie is incapable of looking after rabbits, and can thus see that teh dream is one that can only go wrong. [Look for key words so far - how often are they appearing?]
Steinbeck then reinforces the idea that society is to blame for dooming men's plans with the introduction of Slim. Despite having "God like eyes" and a "word [that] was law" among men, he is damned to always be working for another man, [Quot about making them money, not making it for yourself]. The problem is further highlighted by Steinbeck's presentation of Curley. He is not repected by the other workers; indeed they call him [Quot and quot and quot]. However, his position means tehy also fear him [quot]. This shows taht society had stagnated and no longer offered reward where it was due; hence all dreams seem doomed.
Even teh character of Curley's wife is shown to have dreams that have gone wrong - movie star - now married to Curley - always seeking him, never with him - unsatisfied - dies at end.
even the setting is evidence of this theme. Lennie and George left Weed with the idea of beginning again fresh. However, their arrival shows how hard it is to reach a dream. The bus [quot anout how it could have dropped them at the ranch but didn't] meaning they had to walk and arrive a day late.
Therefore the title is, I feel, a very effective title as it clearly refers to the disparity between mankind's dreams and the reality of life.
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zahra
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Post by zahra on Oct 22, 2009 12:36:52 GMT -5
I agree with the fact that there is a feeling of violence in this novel and the characters that I autimatically associate with a slight sense of violence are George and Lennie. "Where we goin' George?"...You're a crazy bastard!" Although George and Lennie are friends, no matter what, George clearly cares about Lennie although there is a certain amount of violence in the way in which he treats him. George gets so frustrated at how dense Lennie can act sometimes. However this sense of violence is more emotional than physical.
Another character which shows violence towards others is Curley, Curley shows a strong feeling of violence towards Lennie. "Curley stepped over to Lennie like a terrior" this gives the reader the impression that Curley is an intimidating and angry person. The word "terrior" implies he is vicious as he is compared to a visious dog. "Curley's rage exploded" this also shows Curley's violent side, it shows that he is a short tempered person and all his anger has built up and needs to escape some how.
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