Summary Edexcel GCSE English Literature Of Mice and Men notes, written by Cambridge Graduate
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Course
English Literature
Institution
GCSE
Edexcel GCSE English Literature Of Mice and Men notes, written by a Cambridge graduate who received straight A* grades at both GCSE and A-Level. These notes summarise key characteristics and themes of the novel.
Of Mice and Men Final Notes
Section 1 : Introduction to setting, George and Lennie.
The scene is set clearly with a lot of description and atmosphere. “Rabbits come out of the brush” introduces the recurring theme of
rabbits throughout the novel.
We can see that many men have passed, as contextually migrant workers are an important theme in the novel.
The contrast between George and Lennie is immediately established through their descriptions. Lennie most notably is always
described using animal imagery and other similar descriptions.
George Lennie
“The first man was small and quick, dark of face with restless “Behind him walked his opposite, a huge man, shapeless of
eyes and sharp, strong features.” face, with large, pale eyes, with wide, sloping shoulders...”
USE OF ADVERBS ANIMAL IMAGERY FREQUENT
‘Angrily’, ‘sharply’ “Dragging his feet a little, the way a bear drags his paws”
But also ‘resignedly’ and ‘ashamedly’ “Snorting into the water like a horse.”
STRONG RELATIONSHIP - MIGRANT WORKERS THEME MYSTERIOUS PAST ACTIONS + FORESHADOWING
where contextually it may be rare “An’ you ain’t gonna do no bad things like you done in Weed,
“You do bad things and I got to get you out” neither.”
Introduction of Lennie’s like for small animals.
Steinbeck uses setting to reveal aspects of George and Lennie’s character, for example with the way they drink the water. He starts
out here instead of on the ranch to reveal the purest form of their relationship, undisturbed by other characters.
Steinbeck uses extremely descriptive passages and vocabulary to define the setting, clearly imaging the scene. He uses simile,
metaphor, foreshadowing and uses this descriptive structure for cyclical nature.
The language is contextually appropriate for 1930s America.
“Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world.”
Section 2 : Introduction to most of the other characters and the ranch.
The Bunkhouse is a strange mixture of homely and bare.
Homely Bare
“Made two shelves for the personal belongings of the occupant” “Soap, talcum powder, razors”
THEME OF AMERICAN DREAM MIGRANT WORKERS THEME
“Western magazines ranch men love to read and scoff at and The house is simplistic in nature, and this is reflected in the
secretly believe.” description. It is practical and bland, indicated short stay.
THEME OF LONELINESS
Very functional and practical, symbolises the character’s own
self-dependence.
At the end of this section, “The sunshine lay in a thin line under the window.” shows the story’s slow progression beginning.
, Section 3: George and Lennie talk about Slim, Curley fights with Lennie.
Significant themes/scenes:
Candy’s Dog is killed The Cat House Solitaire
“He lay back on his bunk and crossed his When the ranch men have free time and In this novel, solitaire represents the
arms behind his head and stared at the money to spend, they go to ‘Susy’s self-dependency and lonely nature of
ceiling.” place’. They can drink, talk and have sex each man on the ranch. Cards are often
with the girls. The fact that they pay from a group sport, but this game is not.
Candy isolates himself physically and this shows that they are aimless and very Self-sufficient attitude, and George is
mentally as he is in grief. The dog was desperate for companionship. forced to play this because Lennie is not
his only constant companion. mentally capable, showing George’s
Foreshadows Lennie and George. mental isolation.
Later, “I ought to of shot that dog myself,
George.” shows his love for the dog. Also
foreshadows George and Lennie.
The Fight with Curley
● Juxtaposition with “Lennie covered his face with huge paws and bleated with terror.”
● ‘Flopping like a fish’ - reduced to a liquid. Repeats later with Curley’s wife.
● “I can still tend the rabbits, George?” foreshadows the crimes later on.
The transition from the talk of the dream to the fight shows the reality of life.
Silence The silence is personified after the dog is killed.
● “The silence fell on the room again. It came out of the night and invaded the room.”
The word ‘silence’ is repeated several times and increases tension and subtextual emotion. Reflect’ Candy’s
grief and isolation as well as the men’s mutual understanding. Permeates and materialises Candy’s feelings.
Sympathy ● “Gently pulling leash”
○ Shows Carlson’s sympathy and respect for Candy.
Carlson takes the dog a long distance away from the house to show respect but also isolation. This is indicated
by the length of the silence before the shot. Subtext and inferred.
Section 4: Crooks’ room, Candy, Lennie and Curley’s Wife. The weak.
Crooks’ Room Crooks is first described as rubbing his spine with liniment, and this repeats at the end to show the cyclical
nature of the section.
‘Meager yellow light’ shows the light tracking within the novel. Reflects his status and strength.
Crooks frequently mentions his rights when Lennie enters his room, which shows he cares deeply about what
he has. Crooks uses his intellect as a means of personal revenge and a private victory on the white race.
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