Of Mice and MenChapter 6

By John Steinbeck

Symbols

Setting- peaceful description of nature similar to start of the book

Contrasts with the reality of nature the heron (symbol for beauty/nature) eats the

snake Ideas/Themes:

Nature is brutal; survival of the fittest Life and death is reality of nature (people

give value to life) Nature/Humans are not forgiving

Links to Chapter 1- full circle, Steinbeck uses the REPETITION Lennie is compared to a bear in both chapters

“creeping bear” (Ch 6) Lennie talked about ketchup George and Lennie have the same conversation

as in Chapter one: “If I was alone I could live so easy” (George

repeats but with no conviction) “I got you and you got me” (ironic and painful) “Tend rabbits” and “live on the fatta the land”

Aiming for Excellence

Dramatic Irony-> when a character and, more importantly, the reader knows something another character doesn’t.

In chapter 6, the dramatic irony of the line “I got you and you got me” occurs because…

A and Y

Steinbeck ensures the reader knows that in the past, George has abused his power over Lennie (telling him to jump in the river) but at the end of the novel, he uses his power to make Lennie feel safe, happy and ultimately kills him to prevent Lennie from future suffering. I think this shows that George is…

Symbolism- Lennie’s visions

Aunt Clara = Lennie’s guilt

Giant Rabbit = Society’s beliefs of Lennie, Lennie’s beliefs about himself

* find quotes to support

Foreshadowing

George held Carlson’s gun and looked at Lennie “where the spine and skull were joined” Steinbeck reminds the reader of Carlson’s

description of how he was going to shoot Candy’s dog

same gun as Candy’s dog, one of the many parallels between the two situations

Candy said he’d wished he’d shot the dog himself

Metaphors, motifs and themes Write a paragraph starting with this

Statement starter:

George killing Lennie is similar to Candy and his dog because…

Big Ideas/Themes Steinbeck’s message about the world The best laid plans of mice and men often go

awry. The American Dream is only a dream Human nature is as cruel as Mother Nature. Loneliness and Companionship determine

the quality of one’s life

“A- Steinbeck was trying to say…”

“Y- I think…” (your opinion- this idea in world)