Hello Y11
Well done. You've worked really well. After reading your paragraphs, it is important to ensure that you stick to analysis and do not get drawn into to telling the story.
Remember, really simply, you're assessed on
Point (make sure this is a strong point)
Evidence is your quote.
Explain the language and structure
+ link to the writers viewpoint (messages/themes)
For example, when Curley's wife is killed Steinbeck ensures the reader's sympathy for Lennie is maintained. The reader sees the killing as an inevitable consequence of Lennie's bear-like strength and Curley's wife's desire for attention. The use of simile of Curley's wife 'and he shook her; and her body flopped like a fish' creates an unsympathetic image, further emphasised with the alliterative 'f', as we tend not to feel sorry for dying fish in the way we may for a differnt animal. However, the separated clause with the semi-colon accentuates the seperation of Curley's wife from the men on the ranch; this highlights the lonliness and isolation that she felt and she is only free from 'the ache for attention' in death. The symapathy the reader may feels for Curley's wife is undercut with 'and she was still, for Lennie had broken her neck' as this seems harsh and matter-of-fact. This tone reminds the reader that Lennie would not have wanted to break her neck it was just something that happened so, even though he has commited a terrible act of violence, the reader doesn't blame Lennie. The repetition of the natural imagery, including the clear link to the animalistic imagery when Curley's hand was crushed as he 'flopped like a fish on a line', both links Curley and his wife as the enemy, but also reminds the reader of Lennie's early despcription as a bear, reiterated with his 'paw'-like hands throughout the novel. Because of this, it seems clear that this was both inevitable and natural as bears do kill fish and Steinbeck could be highlighting the predatory nature of the world; it could also suggest that Steinbeck was trying to show the constance of the natural world and Lennie is a victim in this world.
Here are some good links for you. Sparknotes and Andrew Moore's overview. OMAM has been a GCSE text for many years so there's lots of stuff online. If you find soething really good, please share it in comments.
I'll have to upload PPts later as have other work to do now, but wanted to get this up if some of you were using your afternoon to study! Hope so.
Good luck in your week of work!
Best wishes,
Ms Caldwell
Well done. You've worked really well. After reading your paragraphs, it is important to ensure that you stick to analysis and do not get drawn into to telling the story.
Remember, really simply, you're assessed on
- selecting quotes
- analysing language and structure
- linking to the writer's viewpoint.
Point (make sure this is a strong point)
Evidence is your quote.
Explain the language and structure
+ link to the writers viewpoint (messages/themes)
For example, when Curley's wife is killed Steinbeck ensures the reader's sympathy for Lennie is maintained. The reader sees the killing as an inevitable consequence of Lennie's bear-like strength and Curley's wife's desire for attention. The use of simile of Curley's wife 'and he shook her; and her body flopped like a fish' creates an unsympathetic image, further emphasised with the alliterative 'f', as we tend not to feel sorry for dying fish in the way we may for a differnt animal. However, the separated clause with the semi-colon accentuates the seperation of Curley's wife from the men on the ranch; this highlights the lonliness and isolation that she felt and she is only free from 'the ache for attention' in death. The symapathy the reader may feels for Curley's wife is undercut with 'and she was still, for Lennie had broken her neck' as this seems harsh and matter-of-fact. This tone reminds the reader that Lennie would not have wanted to break her neck it was just something that happened so, even though he has commited a terrible act of violence, the reader doesn't blame Lennie. The repetition of the natural imagery, including the clear link to the animalistic imagery when Curley's hand was crushed as he 'flopped like a fish on a line', both links Curley and his wife as the enemy, but also reminds the reader of Lennie's early despcription as a bear, reiterated with his 'paw'-like hands throughout the novel. Because of this, it seems clear that this was both inevitable and natural as bears do kill fish and Steinbeck could be highlighting the predatory nature of the world; it could also suggest that Steinbeck was trying to show the constance of the natural world and Lennie is a victim in this world.
Here are some good links for you. Sparknotes and Andrew Moore's overview. OMAM has been a GCSE text for many years so there's lots of stuff online. If you find soething really good, please share it in comments.
I'll have to upload PPts later as have other work to do now, but wanted to get this up if some of you were using your afternoon to study! Hope so.
Good luck in your week of work!
Best wishes,
Ms Caldwell
Hi ms hope your having a nice week, i was just wondering what you mean by link to the writers viewpoint? Is that just like historical context?
ReplyDeleteHello. Hope work experience is going well. I mean, what do you think Steinbeck's point is? Why has he done this and what is he trying to say? (You don't get marked for historical context, but clearly the context had an impact on him.) Could be George and Lennie = strength of male friendship. Curley's wife = corruptability of women. Broken dream = fragility of American Dream. Does this help?
ReplyDeleteAlso, I'll get the PowerPoints from the lesson up on tomorrow. Best, Ms :)
Thankyou ms i thought it was about steinbecks life influences, i get it now. see you next week
ReplyDeleteYou could also comment on his life experiences, but you need to be careful about not going on about it too much. It would be a good addition to further explanation and is something to add to conclusion. Don't let it lead you off task though.
ReplyDeleteMs :)