English 8/9 (1)

Today students were first checked to make sure that homework from last class was complete.  Students were encouraged to make additions or amendments.

Students then discussed some different themes in Of Mice and Men.

In small groups, students found events from the story that supported the varying themes.  We then created a list as a class.

Students will need to choose a theme for next class, as we will be practicing our writing of paragraphs.

Themes in Of Mice and Men

Prejudice:

Racism - Crooks is made fun of by the rest of the men. (p.75)

Sexism  - Curley’s wife says that Curley won’t let her talk to anyone (p.95)

Ageism – They kill the dog because it is old and stinky (p.54)

Friendship:

Lennie: “I was only fooin’ George, I wouldn’t eat no ketchup… George, I would leave it all for you” (p.13). 

George: “With us it ain’t like that.  We got a future.  We got someone to talk to that gives a damn about us.” (p.15)

Lennie: “But not us, and why? Because you got me to look after you and I got you to look after me…” (p.15)

Lennie: “I been with George a long time.  He will come back to me.” (p.78)

p.115

p.43

p.99

p.49

p.79

Violence:

George has the gun at the back of Lennie’s head.  (p.117)

Lennie kills the puppy (p.93)

Lennie crushes Curley’s hand.  (p.70)

Lennie kills Curley’s wife.  (p.100)

Women:

Curley’s wife –

·      over powering

·      flirtatious (p.97)

·      reckless

·      indiscreet

·      thoughtless

·      cares about appearance (p.99)

·      jokes around

·      judgmental

·      speaks her mind (p.95)

·      gold-digger (p.31)

·      desperate

·      big-mouth

·      confident

·      self-centred

·      attention seeking

·      had dreams of the future (p.96-97)